George Henry Sumner

Born on July 3, 1824, George Henry Sumner was an English Anglican clergyman who later became the first suffragan Bishop of Guildford. He was educated at Eton and Balliol College, Oxford, and came from a family deeply connected to the Church of England.

Much of his working life was spent in parish ministry. He served at places including Old Alresford, Castle Camps, and finally St Peter's, South Weald, where he remained for many years before his appointment as bishop in 1888. That long experience in everyday pastoral work seems to have shaped the practical, reflective tone of his writing.

Sumner continued as Bishop of Guildford until his death on December 11, 1909. He is remembered not only as a church leader but also as the author of religious works such as A Handbook of Prophecy and The Christian Child's Help to the Catechism, books that reflect his lifelong interest in teaching and guiding ordinary readers.