Colenso, John William

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Colenso, John William (1814–83). Anglican bishop of Natal. He is remembered principally for the controversy caused by his papers on The Pentateuch and the Book of Joshua Critically Examined (1862–79). His studies looked especially at the implications of numbers taken literally, and challenged the historical accuracy of the books and their authorship by Moses. He was censured by the English bishops and deposed by his metropolitan. He contested the deposition, and a schism ensued in Natal which was eventually healed in 1911.

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