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David Sheppard: Batting for the Poor: The Authorized Biography of the Celebrated Cricketer and Bishop
Sheppard first came to prominence as a cricketer in the 1950s. An opening batsman, he was selected for England while still at Cambridge, and later captained his country. In the 1960s Sheppard was a leading figure in the campaign to sever sporting links with South Africa, a crucial factor in the ending of apartheid.
Converted in his first year at Cambridge, Sheppard was ordained into the Church of England in 1955. His curacy in Islington gave him a passion to serve the church in the inner city, a calling he fulfilled as warden for twelve years of the Mayflower Centre in Canning Town. Following his appointment as Bishop of Woolwich in 1969, he published a major text about his work in urban areas, Built as a City.
David Sheppard made his biggest mark as Bishop of Liverpool from 1975-97, forging a pioneering partnership with Archbishop Derek Worlock, his Roman Catholic counterpart. For twenty years the two worked tirelessly to revive the fortunes of the city, helping to break down its many internal divisions. In 1991 Sheppard was seriously considered for Archbishop of Canterbury following Robert Runcie’ retirement.
In 1997 Sheppard was awarded a life peerage, and played an active role in the Lords, and as a writer, speaker and preacher, until his death in 2005.
This biography draws on the papers left by Sheppard in Liverpool Central Library, other archival material, and more than 150 interviews conducted by the author.
Converted in his first year at Cambridge, Sheppard was ordained into the Church of England in 1955. His curacy in Islington gave him a passion to serve the church in the inner city, a calling he fulfilled as warden for twelve years of the Mayflower Centre in Canning Town. Following his appointment as Bishop of Woolwich in 1969, he published a major text about his work in urban areas, Built as a City.
David Sheppard made his biggest mark as Bishop of Liverpool from 1975-97, forging a pioneering partnership with Archbishop Derek Worlock, his Roman Catholic counterpart. For twenty years the two worked tirelessly to revive the fortunes of the city, helping to break down its many internal divisions. In 1991 Sheppard was seriously considered for Archbishop of Canterbury following Robert Runcie’ retirement.
In 1997 Sheppard was awarded a life peerage, and played an active role in the Lords, and as a writer, speaker and preacher, until his death in 2005.
This biography draws on the papers left by Sheppard in Liverpool Central Library, other archival material, and more than 150 interviews conducted by the author.
487 pages, Kindle Edition
Published November 21, 2019
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
August 23, 2020
David Sheppard attended Ridley Hall, Cambridge fifty years before I did, and then did his curacy at St Mary Islington, again fifty years before me. At that point the similarities between us probably end. My couple of appallingly brief outings for the Ridley Hall XI made it unlikely that any latent cricketing talent would catapult me into the England team. Neither have I have yet been made a bishop - something that I am humble enough not to put down to any unfortunate oversight on the part of the Church of England.
As this very readable and endearing biography of Sheppard goes to show, the qualities that make an exceptional bishop are rare, and David Sheppard had them in abundance. This is not an uncritical account, and the concluding chapter helpfully points out some of Sheppard's weaknesses. His middle class, public school, upbringing meant that emotional immediacy was not part of his character, and despite his incredible efforts to identify with the poorest in society, there was always a danger that he was advocating on behalf of, rather than with, the poor. As a diocesan bishop he seems to have been remote from his clergy, as indeed many diocesans end up being.
That is in the debit column, and it is dwarfed by the credit. Sheppard was a man of firm and unshakeable convictions. He was single minded in his pursuit of raising the quality of life for the inner cities, acting prophetically in standing out against the new Conservatism of Margaret Thatcher. He championed a city that the Conservatives were happy to leave to managed decline and healed sectarian divisions by closely working with his Catholic counterpart. In retrospect many would consider that he would have made a more fitting archbishop than George Carey (another St Mary's curate) but that would have meant leaving Liverpool at a time when there was still a great deal of healing (post-Hillsborough) and work to be done.
There were still a few at St Mary's who remembered the young cricketing curate when I was there. It's lovely to see the Quantrills get a mention here - David valued them greatly and spoke highly of them in his autobiography. As I seem to remember it was my suggestion that during the 2009/10 building works we incorporated a chapel that was eventually dedicated to Sheppard. A tribute from one curate to another.
As this very readable and endearing biography of Sheppard goes to show, the qualities that make an exceptional bishop are rare, and David Sheppard had them in abundance. This is not an uncritical account, and the concluding chapter helpfully points out some of Sheppard's weaknesses. His middle class, public school, upbringing meant that emotional immediacy was not part of his character, and despite his incredible efforts to identify with the poorest in society, there was always a danger that he was advocating on behalf of, rather than with, the poor. As a diocesan bishop he seems to have been remote from his clergy, as indeed many diocesans end up being.
That is in the debit column, and it is dwarfed by the credit. Sheppard was a man of firm and unshakeable convictions. He was single minded in his pursuit of raising the quality of life for the inner cities, acting prophetically in standing out against the new Conservatism of Margaret Thatcher. He championed a city that the Conservatives were happy to leave to managed decline and healed sectarian divisions by closely working with his Catholic counterpart. In retrospect many would consider that he would have made a more fitting archbishop than George Carey (another St Mary's curate) but that would have meant leaving Liverpool at a time when there was still a great deal of healing (post-Hillsborough) and work to be done.
There were still a few at St Mary's who remembered the young cricketing curate when I was there. It's lovely to see the Quantrills get a mention here - David valued them greatly and spoke highly of them in his autobiography. As I seem to remember it was my suggestion that during the 2009/10 building works we incorporated a chapel that was eventually dedicated to Sheppard. A tribute from one curate to another.
March 6, 2021
This book is extremely scholarly- Very thoroughly researched. The author was not known to David Sheppard, the subject of the biography, so it is not especially personal, affectionate or entertaining, but full of fact, quotations and accurate detail.
It’s a hard intense read requiring considerable concentration, and it is for the quality of the research that I have awarded it the four stars.
It’s a hard intense read requiring considerable concentration, and it is for the quality of the research that I have awarded it the four stars.
November 23, 2022
What's not to like. A great cricketer, who could have been even better had he not been an Anglican priest. But then, because he was an English cricketing hero he could give voice to his laudable social views, which culminated with that unique Hope St partnership with Derek Warlock. A life well lived, but could he, should he have been David Cantaur?
January 23, 2021
Nice mix of cricket, social justice and a man driven to serve the poor and disenfranchised.
July 3, 2023
A well written, in-depth account of the life and beliefs of a champion not only on the cricket pitch, but also a champion for the poor of England.
August 25, 2024
Well researched biography. Personally, I might have preferred rather more cricket and rather less religion, but that’s down to me rather than the author.
February 22, 2022
A informative if a little dry biography of the cricketer and cleric David Sheppard, the only ordained minister to ever participate in Test Cricket.
Before reading this biography I knew a little about Sheppard thorough the equally excellent book 'The Little Wonder' by Robert Winder, which covers the history of the Wisden almanacs.
I found this biography helpful in learning more about the man, and I found the insights into the life of his wife Grace, who had mental health issues equally moving and interesting in turn.
A useful biography of Sheppard which will give further insight into the man, as priest, cricket and family man.
Before reading this biography I knew a little about Sheppard thorough the equally excellent book 'The Little Wonder' by Robert Winder, which covers the history of the Wisden almanacs.
I found this biography helpful in learning more about the man, and I found the insights into the life of his wife Grace, who had mental health issues equally moving and interesting in turn.
A useful biography of Sheppard which will give further insight into the man, as priest, cricket and family man.
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews