In his academic career, Robertson was a specialist in patristics and church history, in which field he was widely published and respected.[4] He was elected Bishop of Exeter on Easter Monday (13 April) 1903,[10] consecrated (ordained) as a bishop on 1 May (by Randall Davidson, Archbishop of Canterbury, at St Paul's Cathedral) and enthroned and installed at Exeter Cathedral on 5 May;[11] he legally took up the See upon the confirmation of his election, which took place between his election and consecration (i.e. during April 1903). In 1912 Lollards Tower on the Exeter City Wall was rebuilt and several sculpted stone tablets displaying the arms of Bishop Robertson were set into the walls, including one over the arched entrance known as Bishop Carey's Postern.[12] He served as diocesan bishop until 1916,[2] when he resigned due to ill health, retiring to Oxford, where he died at home in 1931.[4]
Robertson was strongly in favour of Great Britain's declaration of War against Germany in August, 1914. He believed that Germany's ultimate aim was to destroy Great Britain. "Whether it pleases God to give us victory or not, we believe we are fighting for the fraternity and equal right of nations, against the claim that might is right! We are, furthermore, fighting in self-defence."[13] Although frequently absent from his post because of ill-health, Robertson prepared a Briefing Note for clergy to teach parishioners about the reasons justifying the War, encouraged prayers for animals such as horses used by cavalry and artillery and praised clergy whose families were active participants. An especial mention was made of the Rector of Dartington, 5 of whose 7 sons were in the army, the sixth had been in the Royal Navy and the youngest was still at school but in the Officers Training Corps.[14]
Family
Robertson married in 1885, shortly after his arrival in Durham. His wife was Julia Mann, daughter of Charles, Rector of Mawgan-in-Meneage and St Issey, Cornwall.[2] They had three sons.[15] The eldest of these, of the same name, was the communist and atheist Archibald Robertson (atheist) (1886–1961).
Works
Robertson, Archibald, ed. (1882). St Athanasius on the Incarnation: Edited for the Use of Students with a Brief Introduction And Notes (first ed.). London: David Nutt.
Robertson, Archibald, ed. (1892). A Select Library of the Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers of the Christian Church, Second Series, Volume IV: St. Athanasius Select Work and Letters.
Robertson, Archibald (1896). Roman Claims to Supremacy. London: S.P.C.K.
Robertson, Archibald; Plummer, Alfred (1911). A Critical and Exegetical Commentary on the First Epistle of St. Paul to the Corinthians (first ed.). Edinburgh: T. & T. Clark\.