Richard Godfrey Parsons

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Richard Godfrey Parsons was an Anglican Bishop who served in three Dioceses during the first half of the twentieth century. A renowned liberal scholar[1],he was born into a Lancashire family [2]on 12 November 1882 and educated at Durham School and Magdalen College, Oxford. Ordained priest in 1907 he was a curate at Hampstead before four years as Chaplain at University College, Oxford[3]. Principal of Wells Theological College from 1911-16 he was then appointed a chaplain to the forces before two Lancashire incumbencies. Ideally suited to pastoral work he became Bishop of Middleton, a Suffragan appointment in 1927. During this period he was one of several clerics who made a major contribution to the revision of the Prayer Book. A man with much sympathy to the poor[4] he enjoyed his time at the See of Southwark(1932-41) before translation to Hereford [5]. A devoted family man[6], he lost his son at Tobruk and died himself six years later on Boxing Day 1948.

Church of England titles
Preceded by
Inaugural apointment
Bishop of Middleton
1927 – 1932
Succeeded by
Cecil Wilfred Wilson
Preceded by
Cyril Forster Garbett
Bishop of Southwark
1932 – 1941
Succeeded by
Bertram Fitzgerald Simpson
Preceded by
Charles Lisle Carr
Bishop of Hereford
1942 – 1948
Succeeded by
Thomas Longworth

[edit] Notes

  1. ^ The Times, Tuesday, Dec 28, 1948; pg. 7; Issue 51264; col E Bishop Of Hereford A Liberal Scholar
  2. ^ “Who was Who” 1897-1990 London, A & C Black, 1991 ISBN 071363457X
  3. ^ Many years later he was appointed a Fellow of the College
  4. ^ Times Obit-Tuesday, Dec 28, 1948 (Ibid)
  5. ^ The Times, Friday, Sep 05, 1941; pg. 7; Issue 49023; col C Four Episcopal Appointments New Bishop of Hereford
  6. ^ He married Dorothy Streeter in 1912 “Who’s Who” (Ibid)