Harry James Carpenter (b. Liss 20 October 1901 – d. Oxford 24 May 1993) was an English bishop and theologian. He was warden of Keble College, Oxford (1939–1956) and then 37th Bishop of Oxford[1] (1955[2] –1970[3]).
Carpenter was educated at Churcher's College and Queens' College, Cambridge;[4] and ordained after studying at Cuddesdon College in 1928.[5] His first post was a curacy in Leatherhead.[6]
Carpenter married Urith Monica Trevelyan, a teacher. Their son was the biographer, writer and radio broadcaster, Humphrey Carpenter.
From 1962 to 1970, Carpenter he lived in the village of Cuddesdon, where there had historically been a bishop's palace, but his successors found this impractical and in 1978 the bishops reverted to living within the city.[7] He initiated the ecumenical discussions which eventually resulted in the building of the Church of Christ the Cornerstone in Milton Keynes.
There is a parish school named after Carpenter in the Oxfordshire village of North Newington.