Editing Henry Phillpotts (section)

=== Diocese of Exeter ===
As bishop he was a strict disciplinarian, and did much to restore order in a [[diocese]] whose clergy had become extraordinarily demoralized<ref name="EB1911"/> and over which he wielded considerable power.

The diocese at that time extended from the [[Somerset]] and [[Dorset]] borders to the Isles of [[Scilly]] in [[Cornwall]]. His episcopate was characterized by the establishment of many new parishes in Cornwall and considerable evangelical efforts.<ref>Brown, H. M. (1976) ''A Century for Cornwall''. Truro: Blackford; pp. 4–18</ref>

In 1841 he built for himself a palace at [[Torquay]], [[Devon]]. Bishopstowe (now the Palace Hotel) served as the bishop's residence, which he preferred as a home to the Bishop's Residence attached to [[Exeter Cathedral]]. The gardens in the {{convert|25|acre|m2}} of private land stretching to the sea are still a major attraction today together with the Bishop's Walk at the local beauty spot of Ansteys Cove.

Phillpotts was aware that his appointment to Exeter was not popular locally and knowing of his unpopularity he at times took measures to protect himself from it. He admits in a letter to Ralph Barnes, his secretary, on 14 December 1830 to being "Cautious...in admitting adverse newspapers to my table, yet the caution has not prevented me from hearing of the extreme unpopularity of my appointment to Exeter."

The year 1831 saw Phillpotts as the victim of the [[Guy Fawkes Night]] custom of burning effigies of clergymen; knowing his reputation he took action by requesting protection, thus the 7th Yeomanry Cavalry filled the palace at Exeter, while the crowd in the cathedral yard burned Phillpotts in effigy; <blockquote>.... hollow turnip as head and candle as nose, clad in [[mitre]] and [[lawn cloth|lawn]] sleeves... (Chadwick I, 1997, p 29)</blockquote>

In 1848 he placed an appeal in ''[[The Guardian (Anglican newspaper)|The Guardian]]'' of 5 January 1848, for help for the poor of [[Devonport, Devon|Devonport]]; his request was answered by [[Lydia Sellon]] who was just about to travel to Italy for her health. Philpott's inspiration of Sellon led to the formation of an Anglican order which Sellon led.<ref name=potts>{{cite book|last1=Kollar|first1=Rene|title=Foreign and Wicked Institution?, A: The Campaign Against Convents in Victorian England|date=2014|isbn=978-0227903117|page=contents|url=https://books.google.com/books?isbn=0227903110}}</ref>