Robert Eden (priest)

Robert Eden (1804-1886) was a Scottish Episcopal clergyman and Bishop of Moray, Ross and Caithness.

Eden was born in Edinburgh, Scotland, on November 2, 1804. He was educated at Christ Church, Oxford, graduating with a Bachelor of Arts degree in 1826 and a Master of Arts degree in 1828. He was ordained a deacon in 1828 and a priest in 1829.

Early in his ministry, Eden served as curate at various parishes, including Putney and St. Mary Magdalene, Oxford. In 1838, he became Vicar of St. Mary the Virgin, Battersea, where he remained for over fifteen years.

In 1851, Eden was elected Bishop of Moray, Ross and Caithness, succeeding Bishop Low. He was consecrated on June 4, 1851, at St. Andrew's Church, Aberdeen. During his tenure as bishop, he worked to strengthen the Scottish Episcopal Church in the Highlands and Islands, focusing on mission work and theological education. He also oversaw the construction and renovation of numerous churches within his diocese.

Eden was a respected figure within the Scottish Episcopal Church, known for his piety, scholarship, and pastoral care. He was also active in various church societies and organizations. He advocated for liturgical reform and played a role in the revision of the Scottish Prayer Book.

He died in Inverness on August 26, 1886, after a long illness and was buried in the cathedral grounds there. His episcopate was one of considerable growth and consolidation for the Scottish Episcopal Church in the north of Scotland.