Christopher Harrison played against Nottingham teams more than he did for them – making just a single First-Class appearance for Notts but opposing the Gentlemen of Nottinghamshire on five occasions.
Born in Brandesburton, Yorkshire, on 24 March 1847, he was educated at Shrewsbury, where he was in the XI in 1865, and represented Clare College whilst at Cambridge, though he did not get a Blue. His play whilst at Shrewsbury was commented upon: “…as a bat, shown decided improvement though still a little stiff, bowled well…fields splendidly”. He was an excellent all round sportsman and played tennis until well into his Sixties.
Ordained in 1871, he was curate at Carlton-in-Lindrick, Langar, Hickling, and Edwinstowe and then served as vicar of Bishop’s Norton, Lincolnshire, from 1879-1932. A right-hand bat and leg-break bowler, he played for a number of teams, one of which was the XXII of Melton Mowbray, making 63no for them against the United South of England Eleven – an innings that brought the invitation to play for Notts.
Harrison made his one First-Class appearance v Lancashire at Old Trafford in 1878, scoring 0 and 3 in a crushing 10-wicket defeat. He fared somewhat better in local cricket, making 107no for Lincoln Lindum in 1881, in which year he represented Lincolnshire where he was elevated to opening the batting.
He played against the Gentlemen of Nottinghamshire for the Assyrians, a nomadic side of that era, for the Gentlemen of Lincolnshire (three times) and for the county side of Lincolnshire. In 1883, for the Gentlemen of Lincolnshire, he made his only appearance at Trent Bridge, scoring 11 and 1, not calculated to make the Nottingham faithful think that they had missed out on this particular cricketing cleric.
Rev Christopher Harrison died at Bishop’s Norton on 23 February 1932 and is buried at the church where he served for many years.
June 2020
Nottinghamshire First-Class Number: 161