Hugh Turner

Henry Ernest William "Hugh" Turner (14 January 1907 – 14 December 1995) was a British Anglican priest, theologian, and academic.

Having served his curacy in the Diocese of Carlisle, Turner spent most of the next four decades of his ordained ministry as a scholar priest. From 1935 to 1950, he served as a fellow and tutor in theology at Lincoln College, Oxford: he also held other appointments at his college, including chaplain, librarian and senior tutor. He served as a Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve chaplain during the Second World War.

In 1950, Tutner moved to Durham in North East England, where he joined its university as Lightfoot Professor of Divinity and its cathedral as a Canon Residentiary. He changed chairs in 1958, and served as Van Mildert Professor of Divinity until his retirement in 1974. He additionally served as Sub-Dean of Durham Cathedral from 1959 to 1974.

Early life and education Turner was born on 14 January 1907 in Sheffield, Yorkshire, England. He was educated at King Edward VII School, then an all-boys school in Sheffield. From 1931 to 1934, he served his curacy at Christ Church, Cockermouth in the Diocese of Carlisle. He was posted abroad and saw active service in the Middle East.

Turner retired from academia and full-time ministry in 1974. He then was appointed Van Mildert Professor Emeritus by Durham University and Canon Emeritus by Durham Cathedral.

Later life Turner held permission to officiate in the Diocese of Carlisle between 1977 and 1995. The parish church at which he assisted during retirement was in the Anglo-Catholic tradition, although Turner himself was an evangelical Anglican. He lived in Eskdale, Cumbria.

Turner died on 14 December 1995, aged 88.

Personal life In 1936, Turner married Constance Parker. Together they had two sons. He was known as "Grandpa Smokey" due to frequent pipe-smoking.

Selected works