Timothy Bavin

The Rt Revd Dom
Timothy Bavin
ChStJ MA(Oxon) OSB FRSCM
Bishop of Portsmouth
Diocese Diocese of Portsmouth
In office 1985 – 1995
Predecessor Ronald Gordon
Successor Kenneth Stevenson
Other posts Oblate master, Alton Abbey (?–present)
Honorary assistant bishop in Portsmouth (2012 – present)
Oblate, Alton Abbey (1996 – present) & honorary assistant bishop in Winchester
Bishop of Johannesburg (1974 – 1984)
Orders
Ordination c. 1961 (deacon); c. 1962 (priest)
Consecration c. 1974
Personal details
Born 17 September 1935
Denomination Anglican
Parents Edward Durrance & Marjorie Bavin
Occupation Oblate
Alma mater Worcester College, Oxford

The Rt Revd Timothy John Bavin (born 17 September 1935) was the bishop[1] of Anglican Diocese of Johannesburg from 1974 to 1985 and of Portsmouth[2] 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. He was educated at St George's School, Windsor Castle and Brighton College.

He graduated from Worcester College, Oxford[3] with a degree in Literae Humaniores [4] in 1959 (Bachelor of Arts, Master of Arts 1961).[5] 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.[6]

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.[5] He was the first Chaplain of St. Alban's College, Pretoria,[7] then a curate at Uckfield with Little Horsted and finally Vicar of the Parish of the Good Shepherd,[8] Brighton from 1971 to 1973.[5]

In 1973 Bavin became the Dean and Rector of the cathedral parish of Johannesburg as well as archdeacon of the diocese[5] and, in 1974 at a turbulent[9] period in that country's history, its bishop,[10] a position[11] he was to hold until 1985.[12] From 1985[5] to 1995[13] he was Bishop of Portsmouth,[14] 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. After resigning his bishopric he was professed as a monk of the Benedictine community at Alton Abbey.[15] 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.[16]

Publications

References

  1. ↑ History of Anglican Bishops in South Africa
  2. ↑ Re-dedicates church in his diocese
  3. ↑ Preaches at old college
  4. ↑ Mentioned in Old Boys Newsletter
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 5.3 5.4 'The Rt Revd Timothy John Bavin', Crockford's Clerical Directory (97th edn. London: Church House Publishing, 2001), p. 48
  6. ↑ Debrett's People of Today: Ed Ellis,P (1992, London, Debrett's) p 1621 ISBN 1-870520-09-2
  7. ↑ Alban's College Alumni
  8. ↑ Church Web-Site
  9. ↑ References to historical change
  10. ↑ South African years
  11. ↑ School named after him
  12. ↑ example of work as S.A. Bishop
  13. ↑ Dedicates church in his last year
  14. ↑ During this period he was one of a number of senior unmarried C of E clergy highlighted by outside pressure groups .
  15. ↑ Religious Community he belongs to
  16. ↑ Visit to church in Jericho, Oxford

External links

Anglican Church of Southern Africa titles
Preceded by
Leslie Stradling		 Bishop of Johannesburg
1974 – 1984 		Succeeded by
Desmond Tutu
Church of England titles
Preceded by
Ronald Gordon		 Bishop of Portsmouth
1985 – 1995 		Succeeded by
Kenneth Stevenson