Oliver Tomkins

The Rt Revd Oliver Tomkins DD
Bishop of Bristol
Diocese	Diocese of Bristol
Elected	1958
Term ended	1975 (retirement)
Predecessor	Frederick Cockin
Successor	John Tinsley
Other posts	Canon at Lincoln Cathedral (1952–1959) Warden of Lincoln Theological College (1945–1952)
Orders
Ordination	1936
Consecration	c. 1959
Personal details
Born	9 June 1908
Died	29 October 1992 (aged 84)
Denomination	Anglican
Parents	Revd Leopold Tomkins
Occupation	Author
Alma mater	Christ's College, Cambridge

Oliver Stratford Tomkins (9 June 1908–29 October 1992) was an Anglican Bishop of Bristol in the third quarter of the 20th century.

Early life and education

Born into an ecclesiastical family – his father was the Revd Leopold Charles Fellows Tomkins^[1] – Tomkins was educated at Trent College and Christ's College, Cambridge.

Ecclesiastical career

He was ordained in 1936,^[2] after which he was assistant curate of St Mary, Prittlewell.^[3] From 1940 to 1945, he was vicar of Holy Trinity, Millhouses. In 1945, he became Secretary of the World Council of Churches. In 1952 he was appointed Warden of Lincoln Theological College and a Canon at Lincoln Cathedral.

Tomkins was elevated to the episcopate in 1959 as the Bishop of Bristol,^[4] a post he held for 16 years.

Bibliography

Tomkins was also an eminent author. His works included:^[5]

• The Universal Church in God's Design (1948)
• The Wholeness of the Church (1949)
• The Church in the Purpose of God (1950)
• Intercommunion (1951)
• Life of E. S. Woods, Bishop of Lichfield (1957)
• A Time for Unity (1964)
• Guarded by Faith (1971)
• Prayer for Unity (1987)

References

1. Who's Who 2008: London, A & C Black ISBN 978-0-7136-8555-8
2. Crockford's clerical directory 1976 Lambeth, Church House ISBN 0-19-200008-X
3. Church web-site
4. The Times, Thursday, Aug 14, 1958; pg. 8; Issue 54229; col C Bishopric Of Bristol Dr. O. S. Tomkins Nominated
5. British Library web site (accessed 19:25 GMT Sunday 6 December 2009)