Geoffrey Hugo Lampe

Who was Geoffrey Hugo Lampe?

Geoffrey William Hugo Lampe MC was a British theologian and Anglican Priest who dedicated his life to theological teaching and research and was Ely Professor of Divinity at the University of Cambridge from 1960 to 1970 and Regius Professor from 1970 until his retirement in 1979. He was also a member of the General Synod of the Church of England.

Lampe was educated at Blundells School between 1926 and 1931, from where he won a scholarship to Exeter College, Oxford. He obtained first-class honours in Literae Humaniores in 1935 and in theology a year later.

Lampe was a chaplain to 34 Armoured Brigade during the second half of World War II, and won the Military Cross for bravery when rescuing wounded troops when under fire.

He was particularly renowned for his dictionary of patristic Greek, i.e. of vocabulary attested in Christian authors from Clement of Rome to Theodore of Studium.