THE NEW BISHOP

Hokitika Guardian, 8 December 1925, Page 4

THE NEW BISHOP

A DISTINGUISHED CHURCHMAN. suffragan bishop since age OF 31. To be appointed ;i bishop at the <> 1‘ thirty-one—tlit* minimum iikc limit for a bishop, who “shall bo lull thirty years of aye" was the honour conI erred on the Right-Rev. Campbell West-Wat son. „M . A... I).I).. Suffragan bishop of Barrow-in-Furness, in the ilioeese of Carlisle, who has signiiied iiis aoceptance of iho See ol C'hristi liiirob. and is expected to arrive before Faster. Bishop \\ ost-\\ atson is a distinguished ami well-known churchman in England, and is about fortyeight years of age. He married in ie;).-, i jjj. daughter ol the .Rev. Henry Mousarrat. ami their family consists, of two sons and three daughters. The “Church News’" states that Bishop West-Watsnii will he the first Fngli“h Rishop in the history of the rnnummioii to accept an oversea diocese within the .Mritisli Kmp;re. “it is true.” the “Church News’’ adds, “that he "ill not he the first English :,is'iop to go to an over sea diocese Smith Tokio claims the distiiitciun of estal.lisliing that precedent, for l)r Awdry (a relative of the .Julius family) wiien Sull'ragan Bishop of SouthI ainpton. heeatne the first bishop in Igpt;. being net-eeded in 1 HOD by another English sull'ragan. Bishop Westilower. of Dorking. These were mis■ioiiary appointments, and Dr WcstWn tsi in is also the lirst English hishon • o go overseas to an entirely British ■ommnnity—w hich fat t has some significance. ({tittering a- we may hope. to I!),. amour propiv ol our ilioce-e. high rxrvEßsiTv noxorits. A i thi' lime of his appointment as -uijlrngiin Bisiiop of Barrow-in-Furness lie was in The important educational position of dean of Emmanuel College. Cambridge, to which he was appointed at the age of twenty-eight. Tie bad

been a fellow and lecturer at the college since 1 DDT. lie dosed his career as a university si talent w ith double lirst class honours, winning the first Gass classical and also the lirst class theological tripos, becoming a Caros Greek Xew Testament prizeman, .and a Crosse scholar, in Iho year 1901. In 11)08 he embodied his scholarship in a i immenlury on the RA . Acts ol the \postTes (for schools), lie had been associated with the (then) Bishop ol Carlisle. Dr Higgle, as examining chaplain from 1 DOT, continuing in the office fill 1920. Jn 1909. in order to give Dr Higgle assistance in the working of the large diocese, he accepted annoinl ment as his sull'ragan being allotted a territorial title in accordance with catholic custom, as Bishop, id Barrow-in-Furness, although there is no actual diocese. A sull'ragan bishop is an assistant to the diocesan bishop, discharging such ol the episcopal duties as may he allotted to him by llie diocesan. “A TRI E MAX OF GOD.” Bishop Wesi-Wat.son is spoken ol as a true man of God. “earnest and devoted." charming in manner and impressive in personality. Oversea correspondents have described him as “very charming with both derg-v and laity,” a vigorous and active man. The Arehihishop ol Canterbury's judgment of him is summed up in the noicwnrlhv addendum he attached to his cable: “1 congratulate the limit is stated that Bishop West-Watsoil has la invited to accompany Canon Wood, one of the foremost evangelical leaders in England, on an evangelist C mission to the Chinese Church, which in some parts is at the present time in some stress owing to modernist tendencies. Curiously enough--perhaps -ignilicanlly - it is stated (says the “Church Xews") tile Bislioo Wesi-\\ nlson's name was amongst i'll • very lirst mentioned in response to early semi-ollieial inquiries made privately of friends in England. But an opinion was expressed at Hie same time hv more I hail one corrcspoudeni Unit lie would he tinlikelv to leave Kiigland. and no Inrliter action was taken. The commissary has received a cable I'rotn the bishop stating that lie hoped lo leave England on February 12. mid as it is understood I hit I lie will he coming by I’nuama. lie i expected here toward. the end o| .March. As Faster falls on April I, and Palm Sunday on Hard; 28. iti i- possible that he may 1- cn:!,rmied hciore Faster. The pos-s-eniiiv is umh 1 r c insidera t ion ar the presell I I illlc. SATTSFA( TIOX EXPRESSED. Although the new bishop is persomdlv unknown to many of the clergy, mid apparently to all I tic one of two r.t the laity, (lie appointment appear.') to have given general sal i-laelinn, ami official circles, are especially pleased with, the cordial maimer in whidi hiGrace iT ■ Ari-hb’sh ip of Cuntcrh.im has given hi- assist am e. Plans for the new Bishopscotirl, and the lay-out of the grounds, have oven generally approved hv ike Siam!iu.-. Committee, and > peeilica! ions are I.- - ing prepared with a vh u m ealhn g lor tenders. A block ol about tv.o acres of land in. the old L’ishnpseuurt estate is being reserved for the purpec, and it is propose 1 to sell the surplus land for residential -ilcs. The general design ol the ! ut:-e. whidi will overlook Park Terrace, v.ill ha oh Georgian lines. The building will Ic of brick, with a slide roof. The interior will have two main II >ors and ail ill lie. The living rooms on the ground (3!IH x I SIT), a morning room, and a sfiitly (each IS ft- x itiii). and a diningroom (2(i|'t \ 18ft). with a maids' sit-ting-room and the u-itial kitchen office-;. On the liis: floor v. ill he live bedrooms, the two main rooms I.‘ing IS ft a loft each, with dressing-rooms attached: throe smaller bedrooms, two maids’ he I rooms, and tlirae bathrooms, also a sporarate .shower room intended more particularly io moot emergency

demands in a crowded house. In the attic, provision will he made for six small bedrooms. Probably ahoui eighteen months will elapse before the house will he c impletcd, and the bishop able to move in. In the meantime, inquiries are being made for a suitable temporary house lor the bishop-desig-nate.