Robert Trefusis

Robert Edward Trefusis (1843-1930) was the first suffragan Bishop of Crediton from 1897 to 1930.^[1][2]

Origins

He was born in Bideford on 24 January 1843, a son of Captain Hon. George Rolle Walpole Trefusis (1793-1849), a younger son of Robert George William Trefusis, 17th Baron Clinton (1764–1797)^[3]

Career

he was educated at Cheltenham College^[4] and Exeter College, Oxford. Ordained in 1866,^[5] he began his ordained ministry as a curate in Buckingham. He was then appointed by his cousin Mark Rolle, lord of the manor and patron of the living, as Vicar of Chittlehampton.^[6] The parish church of Chittlehampton was dedicated to the little-known St Urith, believed to have been a local Saxon maiden born and martyred within the parish, and Trefusis named one of his daughters Hyeritha Trefusis in her honour. She became known to local parishioners as "Miss Urith".^[7] He subsequently served for 33 years as Suffragan Bishop of Crediton.^[8] He died on 9 July 1930.^[9]

He celebrated the dedication of the Exeter War Memorial.^[10]

Notes

1. The Times, Thursday, Feb 25, 1897; pg. 7; Issue 35136; col F Ecclesiastical Intelligence Consecration of the Bishop of Crediton.
2. thePeerage.com
3. http://www.thepeerage.com/p22810.htm#i228097
4. “Who was Who” 1897-1990 London, A & C Black, 1991 ISBN 0-7136-3457-X
5. The Times, Monday, Feb 26, 1866; pg. 9; Issue 25431; col F Diocese of Oxford-ordinations
6. "The Clergy List, Clerical Guide and Ecclesiastical Directory" London, Hamilton & Co 1889
7. Andrews, Rev. J.H.B., Chittlehampton, Transactions of the Devon Association, vol.94, 1962, pp.233-338, p.241
8. He was also additionally Archdeacon of Barnstaple from 1909- Who was Who (ibid)
9. Obituary-Bishop Trefusis A Long Ministry In Devon The Times Thursday, Jul 10, 1930; pg. 16; Issue 45561; col A
10. "Exeter's Northernhay War Memorial". Exeter Memories. 5 June 2009. Retrieved 9 September 2012.