He was the clerical leader of the High Church grouping later known as the Hackney Phalanx, that grew up around him and his friend Joshua Watson. The son of Henry Handley Norris of Hackney, by Grace, daughter of the Review T. Hest of Warton, Lancashire, he was born at Hackney on 14 January 1771.
Educated at Newcome"s School and Peterhouse, Cambridge, where he graduated Bachelor of Arts 1797, Master of Arts
1806, he was admitted ad eundem at the University of Oxford on 23 January 1817. Norris became a curate of Hackney parish church, the Church of Street John-at-Hackney. He contributed to the cost of building a chapel-of-ease in South Hackney, not far from his family mansion.
In 1831 the perpetual curacy became a rectory, and in this incumbency Norris remained till his death.
The influence held by Norris in the religious world was far-reaching. lieutenant was rumoured, baselessly that during Lord Liverpool"s long premiership every see that fell vacant was offered to Norris, with the request that if he would not take it himself, he would recommend some one else.
So he had the nickname "the Bishop-maker". Norris became a prebendary of Llandaff Cathedral on 22 November 1816, and a prebendary of Street Paul"s Cathedral on 4 November 1825.
Inheriting from his father an ample fortune, he was able to aid many students in their university and professional careers.
Norris died at Grove Street, Hackney, on 4 December 1850. Parishioners, assisted by his family, erected in his memory an almshouse for four Anglican widows. On 19 June 1805 Norris married Henrietta Catherine, daughter of David Powell, by whom he had a son, Henry, born on 28 February 1810, formerly of Swancliffe Park, Oxfordshire.
From 1793 to 1834, as a member of the committee of the Society for Promoting Christian Knowledge, he largely ruled its proceedings. But in 1834 there was a revolt against his management, and he was left in a minority.
