Richard Godfrey Parsons was an Anglican Bishop who served in three Dioceses during the first half of the 20th 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.[3] Ordained priest in 1907 he was a curate at Hampstead before four years as Chaplain at University College, Oxford[4]. 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[5] he enjoyed his time at the See of Southwark (1932–41) before translation to Hereford [6]. A devoted family man[7], he lost his son at Tobruk and died himself six years later on Boxing Day 1948.
Church of England titles | ||
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Preceded by Inaugural appointment |
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 Tom Longworth |
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