William James Hughes (1894 – 5 December 1979) was an Anglican bishopMother Church TT in the 20th century.The Times, Wednesday, 5 April 1961; pg. 11; Issue 55047; col F Anglican Churches in Africa
Life and career Born in 1894, Hughes was educated at the University of Leeds and obtained a Bachelor of Arts degree.Crockford's clerical directory1923 52nd Edition Lambeth, Church House, 1922 He was ordained Deacon in 1921 and Priest in 1922 after a course of study at the College of the Resurrection, Mirfield.Who was Who 1897–1990 London, A & C Black, 1991 After a period as curate at St Matthew's, LeicesterCrockford's Clerical Directory 1975-76 London: Oxford University Press, 1976 he was appointed Priest in charge at St Hilda's, Leicester. From there, he moved to become Vicar of St Benedict, BordesleyA church near you after which he was appointed Rector then Dean of St George's Cathedral, Georgetown, Guyana.Details of Deans past and present
In 1944, Hughes was appointed Bishop of British Honduras.Ecclesiastical News Bishop of British Honduras (Official Appointments and Notices) The Times Friday, 17 March 1944; pg. 7; Issue 49807; col C After a very short time in this post, he was translated to Barbados,The Times, Tuesday, 9 October 1945; pg. 6; Issue 50268; col B Ecclesiastical News Bishop of British Honduras to be translated to Barbados during which time he set up the Barbados Church Association to prepare for disestablishment.The Times, Tuesday, 5 August 1947; pg. 7; Issue 50831; col C Ecclesiastical News The Church in BarbadosDiocesan profile In 1951, he returned to EnglandThe Times, Monday, 18 June 1951; pg. 4; Issue 52030; col D Resignation of the Bishop of Barbados to be Vicar of St George's Church, Edgbaston,Church web site and additionally served as an Assistant Bishop of Birmingham. He was also made an honorary Canon of Birmingham Cathedral in 1952.The Times, Monday, 28 January 1952; pg. 6; Issue 52220; col B Church Appointments Two years later, however, he was enthroned as the first Bishop of Matabeleland.Ecclesiastical News First Bishop of Matabeleland (Official Appointments and Notices) The Times Tuesday, 24 February 1953; pg. 10; Issue 52554; col CThe Times, Friday, 29 May 1953; pg. 5; Issue 52634; col C Bishop of Matabeleland enthroned 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."The Times, Friday, 2 December 1955; pg. 9; Issue 53393; col A The Two-Capital City Federal Controversy of Rhodesia After four years, he became the Archbishop of Central Africa.The Times, Monday, 29 July 1957; pg. 6; Issue 53905; col G New Archbishop of Central Africa
In 1957, he was awarded a Lambeth degree by Geoffrey Fisher, the Archbishop of Canterbury.The Times, Friday, 27 December 1957; pg. 8; Issue 54033; col D Ecclesiastical News Church Appointments He was a Sub-Prelate of the Order of St John of Jerusalem from 1958Court Circular (Court and Social) The Times Wednesday, 21 May 1958; pg. 12; Issue 54156; col B and in 1961 he was translated for the final time to Trinidad.The Times, Wednesday, 15 November 1961; pg. 16; Issue 55239; col D Ecclesiastical News New Bishop of Trinidad Appointed He retired in 1970 to Canada, where he continued to minister at Holy Trinity, Port Burwell, Ontario.History of Parish He died whilst visiting friends in Harare on 5 December 1979.The Times, Thursday, 13 December 1979; pg. 14; Issue 60499; col G Obituary – The Rt Rev W. J. Hughes
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