Geoffrey Tiarks

Geoffrey Lewis Tiarks (8 October 1909 – 14 January 1987) was a British Anglican bishop. He was the Bishop of Maidstone in the latter part of the 20th century.^[1]

Early life and education

Born into an ecclesiastical family — his father was Lewis Hermann Tiarks, sometime Rector of Lerwick —^[2] on 8 October 1909 he was educated at Marlborough College and St John's College, Cambridge.^[3]

Ordained ministry

Tiarks was ordained in the Church of England at Southwark Cathedral in 1932. He served his a curacy at St Peter's Church, Walworth.^[4] He was for many years a Royal Navy military chaplain.^[5] Following this, he served the Anglican Church in Rondebosch, South Africa, from 1950 to 1953. He then returned to England, and was Vicar of Lyme Regis until 1961. He served as Archdeacon of the Isle of Wight to 1965 and finally (before his appointment to the episcopate), as Archdeacon of Portsmouth.

Tiarks was consecrated as a bishop in 1969. He served as Bishop of Maidstone, a suffragan bishop of the Diocese of Canterbury, between 1969 and 1976.

Later life

Tiarks retired to Dorset in 1976.^[6] He died on 14 January 1987.

Personal life

He married Betty Lyne and had a son and a daughter.

Tiarks was one of the godfathers of Peter Phillips, the eldest grandchild of Elizabeth II.^[7]

References

1. Crockford's Clerical Directory 1975-76 London: Oxford University Press, 1976 ISBN 0-19-200008-X
2. "Scottish Episcopal Clergy, 1689-2000” Bertie, D.M: Edinburgh T & T Clark ISBN 0-567-08746-8
3. “Who was Who 1897-1990” London, A & C Black, 1991 ISBN 0-7136-3457-X
4. Information about church
5. Period as RN chaplain
6. ”Ancient and Modern-Recollections from the Countryside” Biles,T (Ed): Beaminster, Beaminster Area Team, 1986 ISBN 0-9511903-0-X
7. "Royal christening" The Times Friday, December 23, 1977; pg. 12; Issue 60194; col B

Sources

• "Genealogy". Retrieved 16 November 2013.