Jack MartinPlumley,FSA (2 September 1910 – 2 July 1999) was a BritishAnglican priest,Egyptologist and academic. Having served as a priest in theChurch of England, he wasSir Herbert Thompson Professor of Egyptology at theUniversity of Cambridge from 1957 to 1977.

Plumley was born on 2 September 1910 inPeverell,Devon, England.^[1] He was educated atMerchant Taylors' School, an all-boyspublic school inRuislip,Middlesex.^[2] In 1929, hematriculated intoSt John's College, Durham, anAnglicantheological college, to studytheology.^[2] He graduated from theUniversity of Durham with aBachelor of Arts (BA) degree in 1932.^[3] He then spent a further year at the St John's while training for ordination.^[2] In 1950, he was awardedMaster of Arts (MA Cantab) status byKing's College, Cambridge.^[3]

Plumley wasordained in theChurch of England as adeacon in 1933 during a service atSt Paul's Cathedral in London.^[2] He was ordained as apriest in 1934.^[1] He served hiscuracy in theDiocese of London.^[4] He wasVicar of Christ Church, Hoxton from 1942 to 1945, and Vicar ofSt Paul's Church, Tottenham from 1945 to 1947.^[2]

In 1947, Plumley moved to theDiocese of Ely. He served asRector of All Saints' Church,Milton between 1947 and 1957.^[2][3] He was a select preacher at theUniversity of Cambridge in 1955 and in 1959.^[3] In 1957, he was appointed to a professorship at the University of Cambridge, and therefore left full-time ministry.^[1]

Plumley heldpermission to officiate in the Diocese of Ely from 1967 to 1980, and from 1980 to 1999. In 1980, he wasPriest in Charge of St Mary's church,Longstowe;^[3] he remained as a minister of that parish until 1995.^[2] From 1981 to 1982, he was achaplain ofPembroke College, Cambridge, and its actingdean.^[3]

While in London, Plumley began taking classes in Egyptology withStephen Glanville atUniversity College London. After theWar, Glanville was appointed Sir Herbert Thompson Professor of Egyptology in Cambridge; Plumley became his assistant, and, on Glanville's death in 1956, his successor. He was chairman of the Department of Egyptology from 1957 until 1977. Plumley wrote numerous books, articles, and essays, and oversaw excavations including those atQasr Ibrim ahead of the flooding caused by the Aswan Dam. He discovered and published the scrolls of BishopTimothy of Faras. He was elected a member of theSociety of Antiquaries of London in 1966. From 1978 to 1982 he was president of theInternational Society for Nubian Studies.

In 1938, Plumley married Gwendolen Darling; she died in 1984. Together they had three sons. In 1986, Plumley married Ursula Dowle.^[2]

Plumley died in Cambridge on 2 July 1999.^[4]

• Plumley, J. Martin (1948).An Introduction Coptic Grammar. London: Home and van Thal.
• Plumley, J. Martin (1975).The Scrolls of Bishop Timotheos: Two Documents from Mediaeval Nubia. London: Egypt Exploration Society.ISBN 978-0856980442.
• Plumley, J. Martin, ed. (1982).Nubian Studies (Proceedings of the International Society for Nubian Studies). Oxford: Aris & Phillips Ltd.ISBN 978-0856681981.
• Browne, Gerald M.; Plumley, J. Martin, eds. (1988).Old Nubian Texts from Qasr Ibrim: Part 1. London: Egypt Exploration Society.ISBN 978-0856981005.

• Coptologists
• Fellows of the Society of Antiquaries of London
• British Egyptologists
• 1910 births
• 1999 deaths
• 20th-century English Anglican priests
• People educated at Merchant Taylors' School, Northwood
• Alumni of St John's College, Durham
• Alumni of King's College, Cambridge
• Professors of the University of Cambridge
• Clergy from Plymouth, Devon
• People from South Cambridgeshire District

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