George Leonard Prestige (1889–1955) was Fellow and Chaplain of New College, Oxford. His theological research showed particular competence in patristics and touched on ancient philosophy, e.g., in God in Patristic Thought (1936). He is perhaps best known for his illuminating and in places entertaining work, Fathers and Heretics (1954), given initially as Bampton Lectures in 1940. Prestige also wrote a biography of Charles Gore (1935) and St Paul's in Its Glory (1955).

Leonard Prestige
Born
George Leonard Prestige

1889
Died19 January 1955(1955-01-19) (aged 65–66)
London, England
NationalityEnglish
Ecclesiastical career
ChurchChurch of England
Offices held
Canon Treasurer of St Paul's Cathedral
Academic work
DisciplineTheology
Sub-disciplinePatristics
InstitutionsNew College, Oxford
Notable worksFathers and Heretics (1954)

From 1920 to 1944, Prestige held the country living of Upper Heyford, Oxfordshire. Many of his early books were written there. He was also deputy editor of the Church Times, succeeding as editor in 1941 and in the role until 1948.[1]

In 1949 Prestige was secretary of the Church of England Council for Foreign Relations. He was also sent by Archbishop Geoffrey Fisher to Rome to explore avenues for ecumenical dialogue in the course of which he met with Giovanni Battista Montini, the future Pope Paul VI.[2] Prestige died on 19 January 1955 in London.[3] At his death Prestige was Canon Treasurer of St Paul's Cathedral.[3]

References

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  1. ^ Palmer, Bernard. "History of the Church Times". Archived from the original on 10 March 2007. Retrieved 6 October 2006.
  2. ^ Hebblethwaite, Peter (1993). Paul VI: The First Modern Pope. New York: Paulist Press. p. 223.
  3. ^ a b "Canon George Prestige". The New York Times. 20 January 1955. p. 31.
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