author
Samuel Wilberforce
1805–1873
A vivid church leader of Victorian England, he mixed charm, energy, and controversy in equal measure. Best remembered today for his role in the famous 1860 debate over evolution, he was also a powerful bishop and a prolific writer.
1 Audiobook
The rocky island, and other similitudes
by Samuel Wilberforce
About the author
Born in London in 1805, Samuel Wilberforce was the third son of William Wilberforce, the leading campaigner against the slave trade. He studied at Oriel College, Oxford, entered the Church of England, and quickly built a reputation as a gifted speaker and energetic churchman.
Wilberforce served as Bishop of Oxford from 1845 to 1869 and then as Bishop of Winchester until his death in 1873. He was deeply involved in the religious life of Victorian Britain, supporting church building, education, and clergy training, and he became known for his strong presence in both church and public affairs.
He is often recalled for his public opposition to Charles Darwin's ideas at the Oxford debate of 1860, a moment that helped fix his place in popular history. But his life was larger than that single episode: he was one of the most prominent Anglican bishops of his time, admired for his brilliance and influence even by many who disagreed with him.