Henry Handley Norris

Henry Handley Norris (1771–1850) was an English clergyman and theologian. He was the clerical leader of the High Church grouping later known as the Hackney Phalanx, that grew up around him and his friend Joshua Watson.

The son of Henry Handley Norris of Hackney, by Grace, daughter of the Rev. T. Hest of Warton, Lancashire, he was born at Hackney on 14 January 1771. Educated at Newcome's School and Peterhouse, Cambridge, where he graduated B.A. 1797, M.A. 1806, he was admitted ad eundem at the University of Oxford on 23 January 1817.

Norris became a curate of Hackney parish church, the Church of St John-at-Hackney. He contributed to the cost of building a chapel-of-ease in South Hackney, not far from his family mansion. In 1809, on becoming the perpetual curate of the chapel, he made over to trustees a fee-farm rent of £21 a year as an endowment; he also erected at his own expense a minister's residence in Well Street. In 1831 the perpetual curacy became a rectory, and in this incumbency Norris remained till his death. Norris became dissatisfied with the chapel-of-ease and in the 1840s succeeded in building the huge St John of Jerusalem church, the current parish church of South Hackney.

The influence held by Norris in the religious world was far-reaching. He came to be known as the head of the high church party, leading a group of like-minded friends based in Hackney, the Hackney Phalanx, which was regarded as the rival and counterpoise of the evangelical school or Clapham sect. It was rumoured, baselessly that during Lord Liverpool's long premiership every see that fell vacant was offered to Norris, with the request that if he would not take it himself, he would recommend some one else; so he had the nickname "the Bishop-maker". From 1793 to 1834, as a member of the committee of the Society for Promoting Christian Knowledge, he largely ruled its proceedings; but in 1834 there was a revolt against his management, and he was left in a minority.

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