frequently acted as 'a deputation' for the Society for the Conversion of the Jews, and for other religious associations. In 1832 he was much engaged in editing the 'Christian's Family Library,' a series of republications of various theological works. He was a strong protestant and 'Millenarian.' He opposed the action of the Bible Society in admitting unitarian ministers to a share in its management. While, however, he upheld the Trinitarian Bible Society which was established at this crisis, he did not separate himself from the older association. About this time Bickersteth compiled his 'Christian Psalmody,' a collection of over 700 hymns, to which he subsequently added about 200 more. This collection met with great popularity, and in about seven years after its first appearance reached its fifty-ninth edition. It long continued the most popular hymn-book of the evangelical party, and forms the basis of a collection compiled by Bickersteth's son, the Rev. E. H. Bickersteth, entitled the 'Hymnal Companion to the Book of Common Prayer.' In order to counteract the tendency of the 'Tracts for the Times,' Bickersteth, in 1836, edited the 'Testimony of the Reformers.' In the introduction to this work, afterwards republished in a separate form under the title of the 'Progress of Popery,' he made some strictures on the character of the publications of the Society for the Propagation of Christian Knowledge, which led some of the evangelical party to withdraw their support from the society, and caused considerable discussion in the religious world. With the same object he took part in 1840 in the formation of the Parker Society for republishing the works of the English reformers. An attack of paralysis in the next year incapacitated him for some months. He was active in promoting the 'Protest against Tractarianism ' of 1843, and in forwarding the formation of the Evangelical Alliance. In October 1845 he took a prominent part in the meeting held at Liverpool to settle the basis of the Alliance, and the next year answered the attack made on the meeting by the 'Christian Observer.' A severe accident befell him in February 1846. While on his way to an Alliance meeting, he was thrown out of his carriage and run over, the cart which passed over him, oddly enough, being engaged in hauling materials for the erection of a Roman catholic church. For a while his life was despaired of, and for two months he was unable to leave his room. The Maynooth grant strongly excited his indignation, and in 1847 he interested himself in the 'Special Appeal for Ireland' which the next year led to the establishment of the Irish Church Missions Society. He took part in the foundation of this society, and visited Ireland in order to promote it. Early in 1850 Bickersteth again suffered from paralysis, and died on 28 Feb. He left one son, Rev. E. H. Bickersteth, at present (1885) vicar of Christ Church, Hampstead (the author of 'Yesterday, To-day, and Forever,' a poem, and other works), and five daughters, of whom the eldest married Rev. T. R. Birks [q. v.], the author, among other books, of the life of his father-in-law. Bickersteth's works are numerous. A collective edition of the more important of them was published (London, 1853) in 16 vols. 8vo, including 'A Scripture Help,' 21st edition; 'A Treatise on Prayer,' 18th edition; 'A Treatise on the Lord's Supper, 13th edition; 'The Christian Hearer,' 5th edition; 'The Christian Student,' 2 vols., 5th edition; 'The Chief Concerns of Man,' a volume of sermons; 'A Guide to the Prophecies, embodying Practical Remarks on Prophecy,' also published separately, 8th edition; 'Christian Truth,' 4th edition; 'On Baptism,' 3rd edition; 'Restoration of the Jews,' 3rd edition; 'Family Prayers,' 18th thousand; 'The Promised Glory of the Church,' 3rd edition; 'Divine Warning,' 5th edition; 'Family Expositions,' 2nd edition; 'Signs of the Times in the East,' 2nd edition. To these must be added the 'Christian Psalmody,' 1833; a 'Harmony of the Gospels,' 1833; 'Domestic Portraiture,' 1833; 'The Testimony of the Reformers,' including the 'Progress of Popery,' also published separately, 1836; 'Letters on Christian Union,' 1845; 'Destruction of Babylon,' &c., 1848; 'Defence of Baptismal services,' 1850; together with much editorial work, prefaces, and introductions, as well as a large number of small publications, sermons, tracts, &c.
[Birks's Memoir of Rev. E. Bickersteth, 2 vols, 8vo: Memoir by Sir C. E. Eardley. Bart., 16mo, reprinted from Evangelical Christendom; Record newspaper, 1845-50; Christian Observer, 1846.]
BICKERSTETH, HENRY, Baron Langdale (1783–1851), master of the rolls, was born at Kirkby Lonsdale on 18 June 1783, and was the third son of Henry Bickersteth, and brother of Edward Bickersteth [q. v.] After receiving an education at the grammar school of his native place, he was apprenticed to his father in 1797, and in the following year was sent up to London further to qualify himself foi the medical profession under the guidance of his maternal uncle, Dr. Robert Batty [q. v.] By the advice of this uncle, in October 1801, he went to Edinburgh to pursue his medical studies, and in the following year was called home
