Arthur Preston (bishop)

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Template:Short description Template:Use dmy dates Script error: No such module "Infobox".Template:Template otherScript error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". Arthur Llewellyn Preston (1883Template:Snd19 July 1936)[1] was an Anglican bishop who served as the third Bishop of Woolwich[2] (a suffragan bishop in the Diocese of Southwark) from 1932 until his death.

Birth and education

Born in 1883 into a distinguished family — his brother Walter was the Member of Parliament for Mile End then Cheltenham between the wars — to Reuben and Frances Preston, and was educated at Charterhouse and University College, Oxford (he gained an Oxford Master of Arts {MA(Oxon)}). After a period at Oxford House, Bethnal Green, he started ministerial training at Wells Theological College in 1906;[1] he was ordained in 1905.

Early ministry

His title post (first curacy) was at St Mark's, Plumstead,[3] London (1907–1913), after which he was curate at St James the Great, Bethnal Green, London (1913–1917) and then Vicar there (1917–1922).[4] During World War I, he became an army chaplain (1915–1917); he moved from Bethnal Green to become Vicar of St James's Moor Park (Fulham, London; 1922–1924).[1]

Later ministry

Having married Nancy Ward (née Napier) in 1922 — they had three daughters —, from 1924 onwards, he was associated with Lewisham — firstly as Vicar until 1933, and additionally as a much-respected Rural Dean (1930–1932). In 1930, he was appointed a Canon Residentiary of Southwark Cathedral by Richard Parsons, Bishop of Southwark, and, in 1932, Archdeacon of Lewisham and a suffragan bishop of the diocese (as Bishop of Woolwich). He was ordained and consecrated a bishop on St Andrew's Day (30 November) 1932 by Cosmo Gordon Lang, Archbishop of Canterbury, in Southwark Cathedral.[5] In 1933, he became Sub-Dean of the cathedral and his book 'The Parish Priest in his Parish' was published.[1]

Death and legacy

In 1936, he died whilst aboard his brother's yacht.[6] He was buried at Crowhurst, Surrey.[7] At his memorial service he was described by Priestley Swain, Bishop of Burnley as “A man of great gifts, one of the most thoroughly human persons I have ever known”.[8]

References

  1. a b c d Template:Who's Who
  2. Bishopric of Woolwich — The Vicar of Lewisham Appointed (Official Appointments and Notices) The Times Thursday, 3 November 1932; p. 12; Issue 46281; col. D
  3. Details of parish Template:Webarchive
  4. History of church Template:Webarchive
  5. Template:Church Times
  6. The Bishop of Woolwich — Death in a Yacht (Obituaries) The Times Tuesday, 21 July 1936; p. 18; Issue 47432; col. D
  7. Template:Church Times
  8. The Bishop of Woolwich — Tribute by the Bishop of Burnley The Times, Wednesday, 29 July 1936; p. 14; Issue 47439; col. E
Church of England titles
Preceded byTemplate:S-bef/check Bishop of Woolwich
1932–1936 Template:S-ttl/check
Template:S-aft/check Succeeded by

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