Background
He was born in born at Kirkby Lonsdale, Westmorland, fourth son of Henry Bickersteth a surgeon.
He was born in born at Kirkby Lonsdale, Westmorland, fourth son of Henry Bickersteth a surgeon.
Bickersteth attended Kirby Longsdale Grammar School and practised as a solicitor at Norwich from 1812 to 1815.
Within space of only 11 days in December 1815 he was ordained both as a deacon and priest. In January 1816 travelled to Africa to inspect and report on the work of the Church Missionary Society. On his return to London he was made one of the secretaries of the Church Missionary Society, and continued to travel overseas in connection with mission work throughout his life.
On receiving the living of Watton, Hertfordshire, in 1830, he resigned his secretaryship, but continued to lecture and preach, both for the Church Missionary Society and the Society for the Conversion of the Jews.
He was active in promoting the Evangelical Alliance of 1845, strongly opposed the Tractarian Movement, and was one of the founders of the Irish Church Missions, and Parker, Societies.
