Philip Welsford Richmond Russell
Encyclopedia
Philip Welsford Richmond Russell (born 21 October 1919, Cowies Hill
, South Africa
) was the Archbishop
of Cape Town
, South Africa
from 1980 to 1986.
Originally trained as a quantity surveyor, he served in World War II
as part of a bomb disposal unit in the South African engineering corps
it was during this time he felt the call to priesthood and became interested in the Institute of Race Relations. As a parish priest in country towns, he started expressing his doubts about apartheid in sermons. A church council in 1962 was the first time he saw black people and white people sitting together and talking. He served on the council of Diakona, an ecumenical body which was very active in the both the spiritual and social service sides of Christian life.
From 1970 to 1974 he was bishop of the new Anglican Diocese of Port Elizabeth
and, from 1974 to 1981, he was Bishop of Natal
.
In 1980 he was named Archbishop of Cape Town
by the Episcopal Synod of the Anglican Church after the Diocese of Cape Town
was unable to decide between Desmond Tutu
and Michael Nuttall, the Bishop of Pretoria. He retired in 1986 and was succeeded by Desmond Tutu.
Russell was a bishop in Cape Town (both as a suffragan and asaArchbishop), Port Elizabeth and Natal
, during which time he was an ardent supporter of human rights through the S.A. Institute of Race Relations and the Civic Rights League. His ecumenical enthusiasm led him to an active involvement in Diakonia, Vuleka Trust, the SACC and the World Council of Churches. After the death of his wife, Russell moved to Adelaide
, Australia
, where three of his four children have settled.
Cowies Hill
Cowies Hill is a small upmarket residential suburb of Pinetown in Durban, South Africa. Its eponymous hill is a major feature in the Comrades Marathon which is held between Durban and Pietermaritzburg every year....
, South Africa
South Africa
The Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans...
) was the Archbishop
Archbishop
An archbishop is a bishop of higher rank, but not of higher sacramental order above that of the three orders of deacon, priest , and bishop...
of Cape Town
Cape Town
Cape Town is the second-most populous city in South Africa, and the provincial capital and primate city of the Western Cape. As the seat of the National Parliament, it is also the legislative capital of the country. It forms part of the City of Cape Town metropolitan municipality...
, South Africa
South Africa
The Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans...
from 1980 to 1986.
Originally trained as a quantity surveyor, he served in 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...
as part of a bomb disposal unit in the South African engineering corps
South African Army
The South African Army is the army of South Africa, first formed after the Union of South Africa was created in 1910.The South African military evolved within the tradition of frontier warfare fought by commando forces, reinforced by the Afrikaners' historical distrust of large standing armies...
it was during this time he felt the call to priesthood and became interested in the Institute of Race Relations. As a parish priest in country towns, he started expressing his doubts about apartheid in sermons. A church council in 1962 was the first time he saw black people and white people sitting together and talking. He served on the council of Diakona, an ecumenical body which was very active in the both the spiritual and social service sides of Christian life.
From 1970 to 1974 he was bishop of the new Anglican Diocese of Port Elizabeth
Anglican Diocese of Port Elizabeth
The Anglican Diocese of Port Elizabeth is a diocese in the Anglican Church of Southern Africa. The diocese was founded in 1970.-List of Bishops:* Philip Welsford Richmond Russell 1970-1974* Bruce Read Evans 1975-1993* Eric Pike 1993-1998...
and, from 1974 to 1981, he was Bishop of Natal
Bishop of Natal
The Bishop of Natal exercises episcopal leadership over the Diocese of Natal of the Church of Southern Africa.-Succession:-See also:*Anglican Church of Southern Africa*Anglican Diocese of Natal-References:...
.
In 1980 he was named Archbishop of Cape Town
Archbishop of Cape Town
The Archbishop of Cape Town is the Primate / Metropolitan of the Anglican Church of Southern Africa.The current Archbishop is the Most Reverend Thabo MakgobaRobert Gray was the first Anglican Bishop of Cape Town.-List of Bishops and Archbishops:...
by the Episcopal Synod of the Anglican Church after 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....
was unable to decide between Desmond Tutu
Desmond Tutu
Desmond Mpilo Tutu is a South African activist and retired Anglican bishop who rose to worldwide fame during the 1980s as an opponent of apartheid...
and Michael Nuttall, the Bishop of Pretoria. He retired in 1986 and was succeeded by Desmond Tutu.
Russell was a bishop in Cape Town (both as a suffragan and asaArchbishop), Port Elizabeth and Natal
Bishop of Natal
The Bishop of Natal exercises episcopal leadership over the Diocese of Natal of the Church of Southern Africa.-Succession:-See also:*Anglican Church of Southern Africa*Anglican Diocese of Natal-References:...
, during which time he was an ardent supporter of human rights through the S.A. Institute of Race Relations and the Civic Rights League. His ecumenical enthusiasm led him to an active involvement in Diakonia, Vuleka Trust, the SACC and the World Council of Churches. After the death of his wife, Russell moved to Adelaide
Adelaide
Adelaide is the capital city of South Australia and the fifth-largest city in Australia. Adelaide has an estimated population of more than 1.2 million...
, Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
, where three of his four children have settled.