James Hughes (bishop)

William James Hughes (1894–5 December 1979) was an Anglican bishop^[1] in the 20th century.^[2]

Life and career

Born in 1894, Hughes was educated at the University of Leeds and obtained a Bachelor of Arts degree.^[3] He was ordained Deacon in 1921 and Priest in 1922 after a course of study at the College of the Resurrection, Mirfield.^[4] After a period as curate at St Matthew's, Leicester^[5] he was appointed Priest in charge at St Hilda's, Leicester.^[6] From there, he moved to become Vicar of St Benedict, Bordesley^[7] after which he was appointed Rector then Dean of St George's Cathedral, Georgetown, Guyana.^[8]

In 1944, Hughes was appointed Bishop of British Honduras.^[9] After a very short time in this post, he was translated to Barbados,^[10] during which time he set up the Barbados Church Association to prepare for disestablishment.^[11][12] In 1951, he returned to England^[13] to be Vicar of St George's Church, Edgbaston,^[14] and additionally served as an assistant bishop in Birmingham diocese. He was also made an honorary Canon of Birmingham Cathedral in 1952.^[15] Two years later, however, he was enthroned as the first Bishop of Matabeleland.^[16][17] During his time in Matabeleland, he became known for his dry comments on the administration of the region – for example, when it was proposed to have a second capital at Bulawayo, he offered this quote from W. S. Gilbert: "Ambassadors cropped up like hay, Prime Ministers and such they grew as asparagus in May and Dukes were three a penny."^[18] After four years, he became the Archbishop of Central Africa.^[19]

In 1957, he was awarded a Lambeth degree by Geoffrey Fisher, the Archbishop of Canterbury.^[20] He was a Sub-Prelate of the Order of St John of Jerusalem from 1958^[21] and in 1961 he was translated for the final time to Trinidad.^[22][23] He retired in 1970 to Canada, where he continued to minister at Holy Trinity, Port Burwell, Ontario.^[24][25] He died whilst visiting friends in Harare on 5 December 1979.^[26]

References

1. Mother Church TT
2. The Times, Wednesday, 5 Apr 1961; pg. 11; Issue 55047; col F Anglican Churches in Africa
3. Crockford's clerical directory1923 52nd Edition Lambeth, Church House, 1922
4. Who was Who 1897–1990 London, A & C Black, 1991 ISBN 0-7136-3457-X
5. Crockford's Clerical Directory 1975-76 London: Oxford University Press, 1976 ISBN 0-19-200008-X
6. New church opened in 1925
7. A church near you
8. Details of Deans past and present
9. Ecclesiastical News Bishop Of British Honduras (Official Appointments and Notices) The Times Friday, 17 Mar 1944; pg. 7; Issue 49807; col C
10. The Times, Tuesday, 9 Oct 1945; pg. 6; Issue 50268; col B Ecclesiastical News Bishop of British Honduras to be translated to Barbados
11. The Times, Tuesday, 5 Aug 1947; pg. 7; Issue 50831; col C Ecclesiastical News The Church In Barbados
12. Diocesan profile
13. The Times, Monday, 18 Jun 1951; pg. 4; Issue 52030; col D Resignation of the Bishop of Barbados
14. Church web site
15. The Times, Monday, 28 Jan 1952; pg. 6; Issue 52220; col B Church Appointments
16. Ecclesiastical News First Bishop Of Matabeleland (Official Appointments and Notices) The Times Tuesday, 24 Feb 1953; pg. 10; Issue 52554; col C
17. The Times, Friday, 29 May 1953; pg. 5; Issue 52634; col C Bishop of Matabeleland enthroned
18. The Times, Friday, 2 Dec 1955; pg. 9; Issue 53393; col A The Two-Capital City Federal Controversy Of Rhodesia
19. The Times, Monday, 29 Jul 1957; pg. 6; Issue 53905; col G New Archbishop of Central Africa
20. The Times, Friday, 27 Dec 1957; pg. 8; Issue 54033; col D Ecclesiastical News Church Appointments
21. Court Circular (Court and Social) The Times Wednesday, 21 May 1958; pg. 12; Issue 54156; col B
22. The Times, Wednesday, 15 Nov 1961; pg. 16; Issue 55239; col D Ecclesiastical News New Bishop Of Trinidad Appointed
23. Unknowingly ordains a successor
24. Church details
25. History of Parish
26. The Times, Thursday, 13 Dec 1979; pg. 14; Issue 60499; col G Obituary – The Rt Rev W. J. Hughes