Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900/Gedge, Sydney
GEDGE, SYDNEY (1802–1883), divine, the youngest son of Peter Gedge of Bury St. Edmunds in Suffolk, was born in 1802. He was educated at Bury St. Edmunds grammar school, whence he proceeded to St. Catharine's College, Cambridge. He graduated B.A. in 1824, coming out fourteenth wrangler, and in the first class in classics. In the following year he was elected a fellow of his college. For a short time he read in chambers at Lincoln's Inn, but threw up his intention of being called to the bar, and received holy orders. For some years he was curate of North Runcton in Norfolk. In 1835 he was appointed second master of King Edward's School, Birmingham, where he remained until 1859. He was an enthusiastic supporter of the Church Missionary Society, and held the post of honorary secretary in Birmingham during the whole time he was there. In 1859 he was presented by Lord Overstone to the vicarage of All Saints, Northampton, which he held, with the rural deanery, until his retirement from active parochial work in 1875. Thenceforward he chiefly occupied himself in advancing the cause of Christian missions, by speaking and preaching for the Church Missionary Society. His acute reasoning power and independence in action won him much influence in Birmingham and Northampton. His readiness, especially in later years, to believe in the purity of motive of those from whom he differed in opinion procured for him the warm regard of all with whom he came in contact. In politics he was a liberal. He died in August 1883 after a few days' illness, having enjoyed to the last full vigour of body and mind. Four of his sermons were published separately.
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