Dictionary of National Biography, 1912 supplement/Luckock, Herbert Mortimer
LUCKOCK, HERBERT MORTIMER (1833–1909), dean of Lichfield, born on 11 July 1833, at Great Barr, Staffordshire, was second son of the Rev. Thomas George Mortimer Luckock by his wife Harriet, daughter of George Chune of Madeley, Shropshire. Educated at Marlborough College (1848-50) and Shrewsbury School (1850–3), he was elected to a scholarship at Jesus College, Cambridge, and graduated B.A. with a second class in the classical tripos in 1858, proceeding M.A. in 1862 and D.D. in 1879. In 1859, 1861, and 1862 he won the members' prize for an essay. In 1860 he was placed in the first class of the theological examination (middle bachelors), and won the Carus and Scholefield prizes for proficiency in the Greek Testament and the Septuagint. In 1861 he was awarded the Crosse scholarship; in 1862 the Tyrwhitt Hebrew scholarship. Ordained deacon in 1860 by the bishop of Oxford, he worked for a time at Clewer with T. T. Carter [q. v. Suppl. II], and as a private tutor at Eton. In 1862 he was elected to a fellowship at Jesus College, took priest's orders, and was appointed to the college living of All Saints, Cambridge. From 1863 to 1865 he was rector of Gayhurst with Stoke-Goldington, Buckinghamshire, but returned to the vicarage of All Saints in 1865, held it for ten years, and completed a new church for the parish. He was select preacher at Cambridge in 1866, 1874, 1875, 1883, 1884, 1892, and 1901.
In 1873 Bishop Woodford of Ely (three volumes of whose sermons he afterwards edited) appointed Luckock one of his examining chaplains, made him hon. canon of Ely in 1874, and entrusted him with the organisation of Ely Theological College. He was principal of the college from 1876 to 1887, exercising a marked influence on the men under his care. He was residentiary canon of Ely from 1875 to 1802, and warden of the society of mission preachers in the diocese. In 1892 he was appointed dean of Lichfield, where he advanced the character of the cathedral services, and promoted the restoration of the fabric, rebuilding at his own cost St. Chad's Chapel. He died at Lichfield on 24 March 1909, and was buried there in the cathedral close.
He married in 1866 Margaret Emma (d. 1890), second daughter of Samuel Henry Thompson of Thingwall, Liverpool; of eight children six survived him.
A decided high churchman, though standing aloof from party organisation, a born teacher, unemotional and precise, Luckock exercised a wide influence, largely through his books. The more important were: 1. 'After Death,' an examination of the testimony of primitive times respecting the state of the faithful dead and their relation to the living, 1879; 5th edit, 1886. 2. 'Studies in the History of the Book of Common Prayer,' 1881. 3. 'Footprints of the Son of Man as traced by St. Mark,' 1885; 3rd edit. 1890. 4. 'The Divine Liturgy,' 1889. 5. 'The Intermediate State,' a sequel to 'After Death,' 1890; 2nd edit. 1891. 6. 'The Church in Scotland,' 'National Churches' series. 1892. 7. 'The History of Marriage, Jewish and Christian, in relation to Divorce and certain Forbidden Degrees,' 1894; 2nd edit, 1895. 8. 'Footprints of the Apostles as traced by St. Luke in the Acts,' 1897; 2nd edit. 1906. 9. 'Special Characteristics of the Four Gospels,' 1900. 10. 'Spiritual Difficulties in the Bible and Prayer Book, with Helps to their Solution,' 1906. 11. 'Eucharistic Sacrifice and Intercession for the Departed both consistent with the Teaching of the Book of Common Prayer,' 1907.
[Guardian, 31 March 1909; Church Times, 26 March 1909; Brit. Mus. Cat.; Cambridge University Calendar; private information.]