Timothy Bavin

Timothy John Bavin (born 17 September 1935) is a religious leader. He was the Anglican bishop^[1] of Johannesburg^[2] from 1974 to 1985 and of Portsmouth^[3] from 1985 to 1995.

Life

Bavin was born the son of Lieutenant Colonel Ernest Sydney Durrance Bavin RASC and Marjorie Gwendoline (née Dew) Bavin, on 17 September 1935.^[4] He was educated at St George's School, Windsor Castle^[5] and Brighton College.^[6]

He graduated from Worcester College, Oxford^[7] with a degree in Literae Humaniores ^[8] in 1959 (Bachelor of Arts, Master of Arts 1961).^[9] During the following two years, Bavin completed his National Service in his father's old regiment. He was commissioned in 1958 and served as a Platoon Officer in Aden.^[10]

Returning to Oxford, Bavin studied for ordination at Cuddesdon College. He was ordained deacon in 1961 and priest in 1962, spending the period 1961-69 (and then 1973-85) in South Africa.^[9] He was the first Chaplain of St. Alban's College, Pretoria,^[11] then a curate at Uckfield with Little Horsted and finally Vicar of the Parish of the Good Shepherd,^[12] Brighton from 1971 to 1973.^[9]

In 1973 Bavin became the Dean and Rector of the cathedral parish of Johannesburg as well as archdeacon of the diocese^[9] and, in 1974 at a turbulent^[13] period in that country's history, its bishop,^[14] a position^[15] he was to hold until 1985.^[16] From 1985^[9] to 1995^[17] he was Bishop of Portsmouth,^[18] during which time he was appointed an honorary fellow of the Royal School of Church Music.

In 1987 he became a member of the Oratory of the Good Shepherd.^[19] After resigning his bishopric he was professed as a monk of the Benedictine community at Alton Abbey.^[20] As a result Bavin has curtailed his involvement in the Athenaeum and the Royal Yacht Squadron, although he does occasionally preach at other Christian places of worship.^[21]

Bibliography

Deacons in the Ministry of the Church ^[22] Bavin, T.J.(1988 Lambeth,Church House Publishing) ISBN 0-7151-3718-2 ^[23]

References

1. ↑ History of Anglican Bishops in South Africa
2. ↑ Bavin inspires other South Africans to become ministers
3. ↑ Re-dedicates church in his diocese
4. ↑ Birth details
5. ↑ Old school photo
6. ↑ List of notable Old Brightonians
7. ↑ Preaches at old college
8. ↑ Mentioned in Old Boys Newsletter
9. ↑ 9.0 9.1 9.2 9.3 9.4 'The Rt Revd Timothy John Bavin', Crockford's Clerical Directory (97th edn. London: Church House Publishing, 2001), p. 48
10. ↑ Debrett's People of Today: Ed Ellis,P (1992, London, Debrett's) p 1621 ISBN 1-870520-09-2)
11. ↑ Alban's College Alumni
12. ↑ Church Web-Site
13. ↑ References to historical change
14. ↑ South African years
15. ↑ School named after him
16. ↑ example of work as S.A. Bishop
17. ↑ Dedicates church in his last year
18. ↑ During this period he was one of a number of senior unmarried C of E clergy highlighted by outside pressure groups .
19. ↑ OGS Web-Site
20. ↑ Religious Community he belongs to
21. ↑ Visit to church in Jericho, Oxford
22. ↑ Background to his interest in this subject
23. ↑ Full British Library Data