Neville Gorton

Neville Gorton was the 4th bishop of the restored see of Coventry ^[1] in the modern era. He was born on 1 March 1888, the son of an Anglican Canon and educated at Marlborough College and Balliol College, Oxford, where he was an exhibitioner and Aubrey Moore student.^[2] Gorton was a career school-master who after taking holy orders spent 20 years at Sedbergh School,^[3] rising to the rank of housemaster. He was then appointed head of Blundell's School^[4] where he was to remain until the call to face the challenges of a severely bombed diocese. A passionate advocate of Christian Unity^[5] his vision was for a “People’s cathedral”.^[6] Gorton himself was a curious mixture of conventional (he passionately opposed the re-marriage of divorced people in church) and lateral thinker- his wide experience with boys gave him a very realistic view of “sin”. A master of the short, pithy sermon he was a much admired churchman.^[7] He died in office on 30 November 1955.^[8]

Notes

1. ^ "The Times", Friday, 13 November 1942; p. 7; Issue 49392; col C Ecclesiastical News New Bishop Of Coventry
2. ^ “Who was Who” 1897-1990 London, A & C Black, 1991 ISBN 071363457X
3. ^ During which time he married Ethel Ingledew Daggett, with whom he had two sons and one daughter("Who was Who"-Ibid)
4. ^ ”Gorty:Neville Gorton’s years at Blundell’s 1934-42” Margetson, J Letheringham, Letheringham Books, 1998 ISBN 0953458008
5. ^ "The Anglican Church and Christian Unity" Gorton,N London, Longmans, 1948
6. ^ Article in Time Magazine
7. ^ ”Neville Gorton:Bishop of Coventry- Reminiscences by some of his friends” Moyle, F.W (Ed) London, SPCK, 1957
8. ^ The Cathedral Church of St. Michael and the Church of the Holy Trinity, Coventry. Order of service for the burial of Neville Vincent Gorton ... Bishop of Coventry; Monday, 5 December 1955, at 12 noon.