Eric Abbott

Eric Symes Abbott KCVO (26 May 1906 – 6 June 1983) was an English Anglican priest and academic administrator. He only spent three years in parish ministry, before beginning a career as a chaplain and academic administrator. He was warden of Lincoln Theological College from 1936 to 1945, and dean of King's College, London from 1945 to 1955. He moved into secular leadership as warden of Keble College, Oxford from 1956 to 1960. His final post was as Dean of Westminster from 1959 until he retired in 1974.

Early life and education Abbott was born on 26 May 1906 in Nottingham, Nottinghamshire, England, to William Henry Abbott and Mary Symes, both schoolteachers. Having won a scholarship, he was educated at Nottingham High School, an independent boys school in Nottingham. He studied classics at Jesus College, Cambridge, attaining a first class in Part I of the Tripos in 1927 and a second class in Part II in 1928. He graduated from the University of Cambridge with a Bachelor of Arts (BA) degree in 1928: as per tradition, his BA was promoted to a Master of Arts (MA Cantab) degree in 1932. He was awarded a Lambeth Doctor of Divinity (DD) degree in 1959.

In 1936, at only the age of 30 and without a degree in theology, he was appointed Warden of Lincoln Theological College. and, following the succession of Queen Elizabeth II to the throne, he was made chaplain to the queen in August 1952. In addition to his college work, privately he provided spiritual guidance via correspondence, writing a great number of letters and even holiday postcards. the Abbey is a Royal Peculiar, He presided over the 900th anniversary celebrations of the founding of the abbey in 1965–1966. In the 1966 New Year Honours, he was appointed a Knight Commander of the Royal Victorian Order (KCVO), (although clergymen do not use the title "sir"). Despite his unstable health, he served fifteen years as dean before retiring in 1974.

In his memory the Eric Symes Abbott Memorial Fund provides for annual lectures on spirituality, held alternately in Oxford and London. The first, delivered in 1986, was by Cardinal Basil Hume. A full copy of all the previous lectures is held at King's College London.

Writings Escape or freedom? (Heffer and Sons, Cambridge, 1939) Foothold of faith (Dacre Press, Westminster, 1943) Catholicity: a study in the conflict of Christian traditions in the West (Dacre Press, Westminster, 1947) Education in the spiritual life (Doncaster, 1961) The compassion of God and the Passion of Christ (Geoffrey Bles, London, 1963)