William Champion Streatfeild
Encyclopedia
William Champion Streatfeild (born 1 September 1865 and died 15 February 1929) was the Anglican Bishop of Lewes
for a brief period in the second quarter of the 20th century. He was also the father of the novelist Noel Streatfeild
, and appears as the beloved but over-saintly father of the heroine, Victoria, in her autobiographical novel A Vicarage Family.
William was the eldest son of the Rev. William Champion Streatfeild (1839–1912) and Selina Frances Diana Leveson-Gower (1840–1916), and was educated at Marlborough
and Pembroke College, Cambridge
before being ordained in 1890. His ministry began with a curacy
at Sittingbourne
after which he was Curate
to his own father. He then began a long period as Incumbent
at several Sussex
parishes before his elevation to the Episcopate. He was only bishop for two months from December 1928. A small brass memorial to him lies in the north aisle of Chichester Cathedral
.
of Howick
, Ryton-on-Tyne
, Kings Worthy
and Frant
.
William married Janet Venn (1873–1952), daughter of Henry Venn, under whom William was curate in Sittingbourne, on 7 September 1893. Janet was from a strong evangelical
family. Her great grandfather (John Venn) was one of the founders and her grandfather (Henry Venn
) honorary secretary of the Church Missionary Society (CMS). Her uncle, John Venn
was the mathematician famous for Venn diagrams.
Two of William's brothers, Rev Claude Streatfeild (1870–1951) and Rev Roland Harry Streatfeild (1871–1952) were also Church of England Clergymen. Roland was curate to William in Eastbourne.
One of William's daughters was the children's novellist Noel Streatfeild
(1895–1986)
William died on 15 February 1929 while travelling on the 9.29 train from Lewes to Eastbourne for a dental appointment, three days after his Diocesan Bishop
Winfrid Oldfield Burrows
.
Bishop of Lewes
The Bishop of Lewes is an episcopal title used by a suffragan bishop of the Church of England Diocese of Chichester, in the Province of Canterbury, England. The title takes its name after Lewes, the county town of East Sussex.-List of the Bishops of Lewes:...
for a brief period in the second quarter of the 20th century. He was also the father of the novelist Noel Streatfeild
Noel Streatfeild
Mary Noel Streatfeild OBE , known as Noel Streatfeild, was an author, most famous for her children's books including Ballet Shoes . Several of her novels have been adapted for film or television.-Biography:...
, and appears as the beloved but over-saintly father of the heroine, Victoria, in her autobiographical novel A Vicarage Family.
William was the eldest son of the Rev. William Champion Streatfeild (1839–1912) and Selina Frances Diana Leveson-Gower (1840–1916), and was educated at Marlborough
Marlborough College
Marlborough College is a British co-educational independent school for day and boarding pupils, located in Marlborough, Wiltshire.Founded in 1843 for the education of the sons of Church of England clergy, the school now accepts both boys and girls of all beliefs. Currently there are just over 800...
and Pembroke College, Cambridge
Pembroke College, Cambridge
Pembroke College is a constituent college of the University of Cambridge, England.The college has over seven hundred students and fellows, and is the third oldest college of the university. Physically, it is one of the university's larger colleges, with buildings from almost every century since its...
before being ordained in 1890. His ministry began with a curacy
Curate
A curate is a person who is invested with the care or cure of souls of a parish. In this sense "curate" correctly means a parish priest but in English-speaking countries a curate is an assistant to the parish priest...
at Sittingbourne
Sittingbourne
Sittingbourne is an industrial town about eight miles east of Gillingham in England, beside the Roman Watling Street off a creek in the Swale, a channel separating the Isle of Sheppey from mainland Kent...
after which he was Curate
Curate
A curate is a person who is invested with the care or cure of souls of a parish. In this sense "curate" correctly means a parish priest but in English-speaking countries a curate is an assistant to the parish priest...
to his own father. He then began a long period as Incumbent
Vicar
In the broadest sense, a vicar is a representative, deputy or substitute; anyone acting "in the person of" or agent for a superior . In this sense, the title is comparable to lieutenant...
at several Sussex
Sussex
Sussex , from the Old English Sūþsēaxe , is an historic county in South East England corresponding roughly in area to the ancient Kingdom of Sussex. It is bounded on the north by Surrey, east by Kent, south by the English Channel, and west by Hampshire, and is divided for local government into West...
parishes before his elevation to the Episcopate. He was only bishop for two months from December 1928. A small brass memorial to him lies in the north aisle 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...
.
Family
William's father, Rev. William Champion Streatfeild, was the sometime VicarVicar
In the broadest sense, a vicar is a representative, deputy or substitute; anyone acting "in the person of" or agent for a superior . In this sense, the title is comparable to lieutenant...
of Howick
Howick, Northumberland
Howick is a village in Northumberland, between Boulmer and Craster. It is just inland from the North Sea, into which Howick burn flows, from Howick Hall...
, Ryton-on-Tyne
Ryton, Tyne and Wear
Ryton is a semi-rural small town near the western border of Tyne and Wear, England. Once an independent town in County Durham it became incorporated into the metropolitan county of Tyne and Wear and the Metropolitan Borough of Gateshead in 1974. It has a population of 15,742.- Location :Ryton lies...
, Kings Worthy
Kings Worthy
Kings Worthy is a village and civil parish in Hampshire, England, approximately two miles north-east of Winchester. Kings Worthy was a tithing of Barton Stacey when the Domesday Book was written....
and Frant
Frant
-Demography:The population of Frant rose steadily from just under 1,100 in 1801 to a peak in 1891 of around 3,500. The records show a marked drop to 1,692 in 1901, but this is due to the transfer of the Broadwater Down parish to Tunbridge Wells that took place in 1894...
.
William married Janet Venn (1873–1952), daughter of Henry Venn, under whom William was curate in Sittingbourne, on 7 September 1893. Janet was from a strong evangelical
Evangelicalism
Evangelicalism is a Protestant Christian movement which began in Great Britain in the 1730s and gained popularity in the United States during the series of Great Awakenings of the 18th and 19th century.Its key commitments are:...
family. Her great grandfather (John Venn) was one of the founders and her grandfather (Henry Venn
Henry Venn (Church Missionary Society)
Henry Venn , was an Anglican clergyman who is recognised as one of the foremost Protestant missions strategists of the nineteenth century. He was an outstanding administrator who served as honorary secretary of the Church Missionary Society from 1841 to 1873...
) honorary secretary of the Church Missionary Society (CMS). Her uncle, John Venn
John Venn
Donald A. Venn FRS , was a British logician and philosopher. He is famous for introducing the Venn diagram, which is used in many fields, including set theory, probability, logic, statistics, and computer science....
was the mathematician famous for Venn diagrams.
Two of William's brothers, Rev Claude Streatfeild (1870–1951) and Rev Roland Harry Streatfeild (1871–1952) were also Church of England Clergymen. Roland was curate to William in Eastbourne.
One of William's daughters was the children's novellist Noel Streatfeild
Noel Streatfeild
Mary Noel Streatfeild OBE , known as Noel Streatfeild, was an author, most famous for her children's books including Ballet Shoes . Several of her novels have been adapted for film or television.-Biography:...
(1895–1986)
William died on 15 February 1929 while travelling on the 9.29 train from Lewes to Eastbourne for a dental appointment, three days after his Diocesan Bishop
Diocese of Chichester
The Diocese of Chichester is a Church of England diocese based in Chichester, covering Sussex. It was created in 1075 to replace the old Diocese of Selsey, which was based at Selsey Abbey from 681. The cathedral is Chichester Cathedral and the bishop is the Bishop of Chichester...
Winfrid Oldfield Burrows
Winfrid Oldfield Burrows
The Rt Rev Winfrid Oldfield Burrows, DD The Rt Rev Winfrid Oldfield Burrows, DD The Rt Rev Winfrid Oldfield Burrows, DD (9 November 1858 – 13 February 1929 was the Bishop of Truro and later Chichester in the first third of the 20th century. Born into an ecclesiastical family, he was educated at...
.