The Soul of a Bishop
| Company type | Novel |
|---|---|
| Industry | Literature |
| Founded | 1917 |
| Founder | H. G. Wells |
| Products | Book |
The Soul of a Bishop is a novel written by H. G. Wells and published in 1917.
Plot summary
The narrative centers on Edward Scrope, the Lord Bishop of Princhester, who undergoes a profound spiritual upheaval amid the turmoil of World War I. Plagued by uncertainties about church doctrine and questioning the relevance of his Anglicism, Scrope confides in Lady Sunderbund, a wealthy American widow. After experimenting with a drug intended to alleviate his distress, he instead encounters intense mystical visions, including appearances of "the Angel of God" and ultimately God Himself. These experiences prompt him to consider leaving the Anglican Church. Encouraged by his mentor, Bishop Likeman, to postpone any drastic decisions, Scrope continues performing his ecclesiastical responsibilities while grappling with his faith.
He conceals these inner conflicts from his wife and daughters until Lady Sunderbund visits Princhester with the ambition of becoming his spiritual disciple. Under this new influence, Scrope consumes the drug once more and perceives a vision depicting the spiritual chaos afflicting the world, largely ignored by religious leaders. This insight compels him to deliver a confirmation speech that challenges orthodox beliefs and solidifies his intention to depart from the Church. Lady Sunderbund offers financial backing for founding a new religious movement; however, during a third vision—this time experienced without the aid of drugs—Scrope realizes that this emerging faith must eschew conventional elements such as pulpits or missions. Ultimately, he comes to understand that his previous inability to trust God with his family represented a fundamental flaw in traditional religious faiths. After five years, Scrope’s spiritual turmoil finds resolution.
Themes
The Soul of a Bishop delves into themes also explored by Wells in God the Invisible King, which appeared in the same year. Both texts reject the doctrine of the Trinity, attributing its origin to the Council of Nicaea, referenced within the novel’s initial dream sequence.
During World War I, Wells experienced a brief period of religious conversion—a transformation documented by biographer David C. Smith—which echoed similar wartime reflections in France and England. Nevertheless, this phase was fleeting; Wells eventually deemed his revised form of Christianity unsatisfactory. According to biographer Vincent Brome, Wells soon returned to his typical anti-clerical perspective, although he later expressed some regret over this retreat.