Edward Bradley aka Cuthbert Bede

Edward Bradley (1827-1889) was an English clergyman, illustrator and novelist. He was born in Kidderminster and educated at Durham University, from which he took his pen name, Cuthbert Bede, after two of their patron saints.

For a year or so he worked in the clergy schools at Kidderminster. In 1850, he was ordained by the Bishop of Ely, Thomas Turton, and appointed to the curacy of Glatton-with-Holme in Huntingdonshire. He remained there for over four years, during which he described for the 'Illustrated London News' the extensive work of draining Whittlesey Mere.

In 1857, Bradley was appointed vicar of Donington in Shropshire. From 1859 to 1871, he was rector of Denton-with-Caldecote, Huntingdonshire. In 1871, he became rector of Stretton, Rutland, where he carried out a much-needed restoration of the church, at a cost of nearly £2,000. To raise the funds, he gave lectures in Midland towns, and was much in demand as an authority upon Modern Humourists, Wit and Humour and Light Literature.

In December 1858 he married Harriet Amelia, youngest daughter of Samuel Hancocks of Wolverley, Worcester.

In 1883, on the presentation of Lord Aveland, Bradley left Stretton for the vicarage of Lenton with Hanby, near Grantham. There, as elsewhere, he was indefatigable as a parochial organiser, establishing a free library, a school bank, winter entertainments, and improvement societies.

He died, greatly regretted by all who came into contact with his kindly personality, at the vicarage, Lenton, on 12 December 1889. He left two sons, the artist Cuthbert Bradley and the Rev. Henry Waldron Bradley.