Gareth Bennett
Encyclopedia
Gareth Vaughan Bennett also known as Garry Bennett, was an Anglican priest
and academic who committed suicide
in the wake of media reactions to an anonymous preface he wrote for Crockford’s Clerical Directory
.
Bennett was educated at the Royal Grammar School, Guildford
, Southend High School for Boys
and the University of Cambridge. He became a priest, published historian, Fellow in Modern History at New College, Oxford
and college chaplain, canon of Chichester Cathedral
and a member of the Church of England
's General Synod
and its standing committee. He was a well-known figure in ecclesiastical politics in England, latterly rather definedly on the conservative wing of the Anglo-Catholic movement, being a noted figure in the opposition to the ordination of women.
Crockford's Clerical Directory is a "who's who" of the Church of England, published annually by the church itself and containing brief biographical details of every cleric in Britain
and Ireland
. It was traditional for the preface to the directory to be written anonymously and to take a slightly waspish, if detached and amused, look at events in the church since the previous edition. Bennett was asked to pen the preface for the 1988 edition of the directory, which was published on 3 December 1987.
Bennett consciously took a different tack on the article and wrote a carefully constructed demolition of the hierarchy of the Church of England from a conservative viewpoint, which he himself described as "wicked". In it Bennett excoriated what he perceived as an intolerant liberal elite in the church, headed by the then Archbishop of Canterbury
, Robert Runcie
, a process which he felt would follow a trail already blazed by the Episcopal Church in the United States of America and would lead inexorably to a steep decline in the fortunes of the church. Specifically, he argued that Runcie was guilty of cronyism, appointing to high office only those whom he had known through Westcott House
or Ripon College Cuddesdon
theological colleges or else the Dioceses of Canterbury and St Alban’s.
While the explosive nature of the article in ecclesiastical circles might well have been predicted, it was more surprising that the secular press turned the issue into front page news. After a number of days of fevered speculation, it emerged that Bennett was the anonymous author and the last entries in his diary make clear that he was finding the attentions of the tabloid
press increasingly difficult to cope with.
On 7 December, Bennett killed himself. His death and the events which led up to it continue to divide those who take an interest in church matters. Conservative Anglo-Catholics and many others opposed to the ordination of women view Bennett as a martyr, hounded to his death by the machinations of the Church of England "spin machine" for saying something that everyone believed to be true. Liberals and moderates, while agreeing that his death was a tragedy, point to the fact that Bennett was not without his problems – a lonely man who never came to terms with a homosexuality
that was obvious to most, who had recently lost his mother to whom he was particularly close and who was bitter at his lack of advancement under Robert Runcie, who had been a personal friend.
Priest
A priest is a person authorized to perform the sacred rites of a religion, especially as a mediatory agent between humans and deities. They also have the authority or power to administer religious rites; in particular, rites of sacrifice to, and propitiation of, a deity or deities...
and academic who committed suicide
Suicide
Suicide is the act of intentionally causing one's own death. Suicide is often committed out of despair or attributed to some underlying mental disorder, such as depression, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, alcoholism, or drug abuse...
in the wake of media reactions to an anonymous preface he wrote for Crockford’s Clerical Directory
Crockford's Clerical Directory
Crockford's Clerical Directory is the authoritative directory of the Anglican Communion in the UK, containing details of English, Welsh and Irish benefices and churches, and biographies of around 26,000 clergy...
.
Bennett was educated at the Royal Grammar School, Guildford
Royal Grammar School, Guildford
The Royal Grammar School is a selective English independent day school for boys in Guildford, Surrey. The school dates its founding to the death of Robert Beckingham in 1509 who left provision in his will to 'make a free scole at the Towne of Guldford'; in 1512 a governing body was set up to form...
, Southend High School for Boys
Southend High School for Boys
Southend High School for Boys, also known by its acronym SHSB, is a selective secondary Academy Grammar school along Prittlewell Chase in Prittlewell, in the north-west of Southend-on-Sea, England, south-west of the roundabout of the A127 and A1159...
and the University of Cambridge. He became a priest, published historian, Fellow in Modern History at New College, Oxford
New College, Oxford
New College is one of the constituent colleges of the University of Oxford in the United Kingdom.- Overview :The College's official name, College of St Mary, is the same as that of the older Oriel College; hence, it has been referred to as the "New College of St Mary", and is now almost always...
and college chaplain, canon of Chichester Cathedral
Chichester Cathedral
The Cathedral Church of the Holy Trinity, otherwise called Chichester Cathedral, is the seat of the Anglican Bishop of Chichester. It is located in Chichester, in Sussex, England...
and a member of the Church of England
Church of England
The Church of England is the officially established Christian church in England and the Mother Church of the worldwide Anglican Communion. The church considers itself within the tradition of Western Christianity and dates its formal establishment principally to the mission to England by St...
's General Synod
General Synod
-Church of England:In the Church of England, the General Synod, which was established in 1970 , is the legislative body of the Church.-Episcopal Church of the United States:...
and its standing committee. He was a well-known figure in ecclesiastical politics in England, latterly rather definedly on the conservative wing of the Anglo-Catholic movement, being a noted figure in the opposition to the ordination of women.
Crockford's Clerical Directory is a "who's who" of the Church of England, published annually by the church itself and containing brief biographical details of every cleric in Britain
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
and Ireland
Ireland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
. It was traditional for the preface to the directory to be written anonymously and to take a slightly waspish, if detached and amused, look at events in the church since the previous edition. Bennett was asked to pen the preface for the 1988 edition of the directory, which was published on 3 December 1987.
Bennett consciously took a different tack on the article and wrote a carefully constructed demolition of the hierarchy of the Church of England from a conservative viewpoint, which he himself described as "wicked". In it Bennett excoriated what he perceived as an intolerant liberal elite in the church, headed by the then Archbishop of Canterbury
Archbishop of Canterbury
The Archbishop of Canterbury is the senior bishop and principal leader of the Church of England, the symbolic head of the worldwide Anglican Communion, and the diocesan bishop of the Diocese of Canterbury. In his role as head of the Anglican Communion, the archbishop leads the third largest group...
, Robert Runcie
Robert Runcie
Robert Alexander Kennedy Runcie, Baron Runcie, PC, MC was Archbishop of Canterbury from 1980 to 1991.-Early life:...
, a process which he felt would follow a trail already blazed by the Episcopal Church in the United States of America and would lead inexorably to a steep decline in the fortunes of the church. Specifically, he argued that Runcie was guilty of cronyism, appointing to high office only those whom he had known through Westcott House
Westcott House, Cambridge
Westcott House is a Church of England theological college based in Jesus Lane located in the centre of the university city of Cambridge in the United Kingdom.Its main activity is training people for ordained ministry in Anglican churches...
or Ripon College Cuddesdon
Ripon College Cuddesdon
Ripon College Cuddesdon is a Church of England theological college in Cuddesdon, a village outside Oxford, England.-History:Ripon College Cuddesdon was formed from an amalgamation in 1975 of Cuddesdon College and Ripon Hall...
theological colleges or else the Dioceses of Canterbury and St Alban’s.
While the explosive nature of the article in ecclesiastical circles might well have been predicted, it was more surprising that the secular press turned the issue into front page news. After a number of days of fevered speculation, it emerged that Bennett was the anonymous author and the last entries in his diary make clear that he was finding the attentions of the tabloid
Tabloid journalism
Tabloid journalism tends to emphasize topics such as sensational crime stories, astrology, gossip columns about the personal lives of celebrities and sports stars, and junk food news...
press increasingly difficult to cope with.
On 7 December, Bennett killed himself. His death and the events which led up to it continue to divide those who take an interest in church matters. Conservative Anglo-Catholics and many others opposed to the ordination of women view Bennett as a martyr, hounded to his death by the machinations of the Church of England "spin machine" for saying something that everyone believed to be true. Liberals and moderates, while agreeing that his death was a tragedy, point to the fact that Bennett was not without his problems – a lonely man who never came to terms with a homosexuality
Homosexuality
Homosexuality is romantic or sexual attraction or behavior between members of the same sex or gender. As a sexual orientation, homosexuality refers to "an enduring pattern of or disposition to experience sexual, affectional, or romantic attractions" primarily or exclusively to people of the same...
that was obvious to most, who had recently lost his mother to whom he was particularly close and who was bitter at his lack of advancement under Robert Runcie, who had been a personal friend.
Quotes
"His clear preference is for men of liberal disposition and a moderately Catholic style which is not taken to the point of having firm principles. If in addition they have a good appearance and are articulate over the media, he is prepared to overlook a certain theological deficiency." (Of Archbishop Robert Runcie)Sources
- By Sex Divided: Church of England and Women Priests, Jonathan Petre, Zondervan, 1995.
- Oxford Theologian Tied to Criticism of Prelate is Found Dead, New York Times, 9 December, 1987
- That Fateful Preface, New Directions, January 2006.
- An Unhappy Anniversary, New Directions, December 1997.