Hedley Sparks
Hedley Frederick Davis Sparks, (14 November 1908 – 22 November 1996) was a British biblical scholar and Church of England priest. From 1946 to 1952, he was Cadbury Professor of Theology at the University of Birmingham. From 1952 to 1976, he was Oriel Professor of the Interpretation of Holy Scripture at the University of Oxford. Early life Sparks was born on 14 November 1908 in Stoke Newington, County of London. He was the only child of the Revd Frederick Sparks (1847–1908) and his second wife, Blanche Barnes. His father died 5 weeks before his son's birth, at the age of 61. He was educated at St Edmund's School, then an all-boys private school in Canterbury, Kent. His school fees and living costs were paid for by the Clergy Orphan Corporation. In February 1927, he successfully underwent an exam and interview to win a scholarship to Brasenose College, Oxford: he was the only candidate that year. He matriculated into Brasenose College in October 1927, and studied theology and music for the next three years. In 1930, he graduated from the University of Oxford with a first class honours Bachelor of Arts (BA) degree in theology; he did not sit the final