John Harry Gerald Ruston
Encyclopedia
John Harry Gerald Ruston OGS was the 13th Bishop of St Helena from 1991 to 1999. He was previously Bishop Suffragan of Pretoria. He died in retirement in England
in 2010.
, Hertfordshire
, where he was associated with the Parish of St Michael and All Angels, Sunnyside, before, during and just after World War II
.
Ruston was ordained a deacon in 1954 and a priest in 1955 in the Diocese of Leicester
where he served a curacy at St Andrew’s Leicester from 1954 to 1957. He furthered his theological studies at Cuddesdon
, where he was also a tutor, from 1957 to 1961.
In 1976 Ruston took up an appointment as Archdeacon of Bloemfontein and as an examining chaplain to the Bishop of Bloemfontein
and warden and chaplain of St Michael’s School
, Bloemfontein.
, being sent to oversee the Archdeaconry of the North centred on Pietersburg (now Polokwane
). Under his leadership a new diocese, the Diocese of St Mark the Evangelist
, was formed and inaugurated on 16 May 1987.
Ruston founded the British Citizenship Commission (St Helena) for the promotion of "restoration of full rights of citizenship of those British subjects who are Saint Helenian."
He served on the island until 1999 when he was succeeded by Bishop John Salt
, OGS.
, Bella Vista and Kenilworth in the Diocese of Cape Town
.
He subsequently settled back in England
, where he died on 27 April 2010. A Requiem Mass was held on 18 May 2010 at the College of St Barnabas, Lingfield
, Surrey
.
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
in 2010.
Early life
Ruston grew up at BerkhamstedBerkhamsted
-Climate:Berkhamsted experiences an oceanic climate similar to almost all of the United Kingdom.-Castle:...
, Hertfordshire
Hertfordshire
Hertfordshire is a ceremonial and non-metropolitan county in the East region of England. The county town is Hertford.The county is one of the Home Counties and lies inland, bordered by Greater London , Buckinghamshire , Bedfordshire , Cambridgeshire and...
, where he was associated with the Parish of St Michael and All Angels, Sunnyside, before, during and just after World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
.
Education and early career
Ruston studied at Sidney Sussex College, Cambridge University, where he graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree in 1952 and a Master of Arts degree in 1956. He also attended Ely Theological College in 1952.Ruston was ordained a deacon in 1954 and a priest in 1955 in the Diocese of Leicester
Diocese of Leicester
The Diocese of Leicester is a Church of England diocese based in Leicester and including the current county of Leicestershire. The cathedral is Leicester Cathedral, where the Bishop of Leicester has his seat....
where he served a curacy at St Andrew’s Leicester from 1954 to 1957. He furthered his theological studies at 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...
, where he was also a tutor, from 1957 to 1961.
South Africa
Going to South Africa, Ruston was curate of Sekhukhuneland from 1967 to 1970, serving simultaneously as principal of St Francis’ College in Sekhukhuneland. Also from 1967 he served as an examining chaplain to the Bishop of Pretoria, a role he fulfilled until 1976. In 1971 he became the sub-dean at St Alban's Cathedral, Pretoria, of which he was a canon from 1968 to 1976.In 1976 Ruston took up an appointment as Archdeacon of Bloemfontein and as an examining chaplain to the Bishop of Bloemfontein
Anglican Diocese of the Free State
The Anglican Diocese of the Free State is a diocese in the Anglican Church of Southern Africa.-History:The first service North of the Orange River to be taken by an Anglican clergyman was conducted in 1850 by Robert Gray, the first Bishop of Cape Town. In 1863, Edward Twells was consecrated the...
and warden and chaplain of St Michael’s School
St. Michael's School, Bloemfontein
St. Michael's School, established in 1874 by the Community of St Michael and All Angels, is a public school with a boarding option for girls located in Bloemfontein, Free State, South Africa....
, Bloemfontein.
Pretoria and Pietersburg
Ruston was ordained to the episcopacy as Bishop Suffragan of PretoriaAnglican Diocese of Pretoria
-History:The diocese originally covered the whole of the South African Republic, which later became the Transvaal province of South Africa. In 1922 the Diocese of Johannesburg, covering the Southern Transvaal, was formed. In the 1980s and 1990s several new dioceses were formed.The northernmost part...
, being sent to oversee the Archdeaconry of the North centred on Pietersburg (now Polokwane
Polokwane
Polokwane, meaning "Place of Safety",is a city in the Polokwane Local Municipality and the capital of the Limpopo province, South Africa. It is also often referred to by its former name, Pietersburg. Polokwane is a major urban centre, the biggest and most important north of Gauteng. The population...
). Under his leadership a new diocese, the Diocese of St Mark the Evangelist
Anglican Diocese of St Mark the Evangelist
The Anglican Diocese of St. Mark the Evangelist is a diocese in the Anglican Church of Southern Africa, in the geographical area of the Limpopo province in the north of South Africa.-History:...
, was formed and inaugurated on 16 May 1987.
St Helena
In 1991 Ruston was elected as the 13th Bishop of St Helena and was enthroned on the island at the Cathedral Church of St Paul on 14 April 1991.Ruston founded the British Citizenship Commission (St Helena) for the promotion of "restoration of full rights of citizenship of those British subjects who are Saint Helenian."
He served on the island until 1999 when he was succeeded by Bishop John Salt
John William Salt
John William Salt OGS is a retired Anglican Bishop of St Helena. Enthroned as bishop in 1999, he retired in March 2011. He has lived in the island of St Helena, which is situated in the South Atlantic Ocean.-Early life:...
, OGS.
Retirement
In retirement, Ruston returned to South Africa after a brief visit to England and worked at Bot RiverBot River
Bot River is a river in the Western Cape province of South Africa. The river mouth is located at Fischerhaven. Its tributaries include the Swart River. It falls within the Drainage system G.- See also :* List of rivers of South Africa...
, Bella Vista and Kenilworth in the Diocese of Cape Town
Anglican Diocese of Cape Town
The Anglican Diocese of Cape Town, South Africa, came into being in 1847 with the consecration of the first bishop, Robert Gray, and later expanded to become the Church of the Province of Southern Africa, now called the Anglican Church of Southern Africa....
.
He subsequently settled back in England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
, where he died on 27 April 2010. A Requiem Mass was held on 18 May 2010 at the College of St Barnabas, Lingfield
Lingfield
Lingfield can refer to:* Lingfield, County Durham* Lingfield, Surrey** Lingfield Park Racecourse** Lingfield railway station, serving the village and racecourse...
, Surrey
Surrey
Surrey is a county in the South East of England and is one of the Home Counties. The county borders Greater London, Kent, East Sussex, West Sussex, Hampshire and Berkshire. The historic county town is Guildford. Surrey County Council sits at Kingston upon Thames, although this has been part of...
.