William James Hughes
Encyclopedia
William James Hughes DD
(1894 – 5 December 1979) was an Anglican Bishop
in the mid 20th-century.
and obtained a Bachelor of Arts
degree. He was ordained Deacon
in 1921 and Priest
in 1922 after a course of study at the College of the Resurrection, Mirfield
. After a period as curate
at St Matthew's, Leicester
he was appointed Priest in charge
at St Hilda's, Leicester. From there, he moved to become Vicar
of St Benedict, Bordesley
after which he was appointed Rector
then Dean
of St George's Cathedral
, Georgetown, Guyana
.
In 1944, Hughes was appointed Bishop of British Honduras
. After a very short time in this post, he was translated
to Barbados
, during which time he set up the Barbados Church Association to prepare for disestablishment. In 1951, he returned to England to be Vicar of St. George's Church, Edgbaston
with the additional title of Assistant Bishop of Birmingham
. He was also made an honorary Canon
of Birmingham Cathedral
. Two years later, however, he was enthroned as the first Bishop
of Matabeleland
. 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
: "Ambassador
s cropped up like hay
, Prime Minister
s and such they grew as asparagus
in May and Duke
s were three a penny
." After four years, he became the Archbishop of Central Africa.
In 1957, he was awarded a Lambeth degree
by Geoffrey Fisher
, the Archbishop of Canterbury
. He was a Sub-Prelate
of the Order of St John of Jerusalem
from 1958 and in 1961 he was translated for the final time to Trinidad
. He retired in 1970 to Canada, where he continued to minister at Holy Trinity, Port Burwell, Ontario
. He died whilst visiting friends in Harare
on 5 December 1979.
Doctor of Divinity
Doctor of Divinity is an advanced academic degree in divinity. Historically, it identified one who had been licensed by a university to teach Christian theology or related religious subjects....
(1894 – 5 December 1979) was an Anglican Bishop
Bishop
A bishop is an ordained or consecrated member of the Christian clergy who is generally entrusted with a position of authority and oversight. Within the Catholic Church, Eastern Orthodox, Oriental Orthodox Churches, in the Assyrian Church of the East, in the Independent Catholic Churches, and in the...
in the mid 20th-century.
Life and career
Born in 1894, Hughes was educated at the University of LeedsUniversity of Leeds
The University of Leeds is a British Redbrick university located in the city of Leeds, West Yorkshire, England...
and obtained a Bachelor of Arts
Bachelor of Arts
A Bachelor of Arts , from the Latin artium baccalaureus, is a bachelor's degree awarded for an undergraduate course or program in either the liberal arts, the sciences, or both...
degree. He was ordained Deacon
Deacon
Deacon is a ministry in the Christian Church that is generally associated with service of some kind, but which varies among theological and denominational traditions...
in 1921 and Priest
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...
in 1922 after a course of study at the College of the Resurrection, Mirfield
College of the Resurrection
The College of the Resurrection, popularly known as Mirfield, is an Anglo-Catholic theological college of the Church of England at Mirfield, West Yorkshire, England, founded in 1903. The college has close links to the Community of the Resurrection...
. After a period as 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...
at St Matthew's, Leicester
Leicester
Leicester is a city and unitary authority in the East Midlands of England, and the county town of Leicestershire. The city lies on the River Soar and at the edge of the National Forest...
he was appointed Priest in charge
Priest in charge
A priest in charge or priest-in-charge is a priest in charge of a parish who does not receive the temporalities of the parish. He or she is not legally responsible for the churches and glebe, simply holds a licence rather than freehold and is not appointed by advowson.The appointment of priests in...
at St Hilda's, Leicester. From there, he moved to become Vicar
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...
of St Benedict, Bordesley
Bordesley, West Midlands
Bordesley is an area of Birmingham, England and is part of the City's Nechells Ward.It is served by Bordesley railway station.It should not be confused with nearby Bordesley Green.-Notable residents :...
after which he was appointed Rector
Rector
The word rector has a number of different meanings; it is widely used to refer to an academic, religious or political administrator...
then Dean
Dean (religion)
A dean, in a church context, is a cleric holding certain positions of authority within a religious hierarchy. The title is used mainly in the Anglican Communion and the Roman Catholic Church.-Anglican Communion:...
of St George's Cathedral
St. George's Anglican Cathedral
St. George's Anglican Cathedral in Georgetown, Guyana is one of the tallest wooden churches in the world, at a height of .St. George's was designed by Sir Arthur Blomfield and opened on 24 August 1892. The building was completed in 1899...
, Georgetown, Guyana
Georgetown, Guyana
Georgetown, estimated population 239,227 , is the capital and largest city of Guyana, located in the Demerara-Mahaica region. It is situated on the Atlantic Ocean coast at the mouth of the Demerara River and it was nicknamed 'Garden City of the Caribbean.' Georgetown is located at . The city serves...
.
In 1944, Hughes was appointed Bishop of British Honduras
Anglican Diocese of Belize
The Anglican diocese of Belize was established in 1891. The current bishop is the Right Revernd Philip Wright.-References:...
. After a very short time in this post, he was translated
Translation (ecclesiastical)
Translation is the technical term when a Bishop is transferred from one diocese to another.This can be* From Suffragan Bishop status to Diocesan Bishop*From Coadjutor bishop to Diocesan Bishop*From one country's Episcopate to another...
to Barbados
Bishop of Barbados
The Anglican diocese of Barbados was set up in 1824, as one of two covering the whole Caribbean. Before that, the area was nominally under the charge of the Bishop of London, a situation that had been assumed to hold from 1660 onwards...
, during which time he set up the Barbados Church Association to prepare for disestablishment. In 1951, he returned to England to be Vicar of St. George's Church, Edgbaston
St. George's Church, Edgbaston
St. George's Church, Edgbaston is a parish church in the Church of England in Edgbaston, Birmingham.-History:It was built in 1836-8 as a chapel-of-ease to St. Bartholomew's Church, Edgbaston....
with the additional title of Assistant Bishop of Birmingham
Anglican Diocese of Birmingham
The Anglican Diocese of Birmingham is a diocese in the Church of England's Province of Canterbury, covering the north west of the traditional county of Warwickshire in England....
. He was also made an honorary Canon
Canon (priest)
A canon is a priest or minister who is a member of certain bodies of the Christian clergy subject to an ecclesiastical rule ....
of Birmingham Cathedral
Birmingham Cathedral
Birmingham Cathedral may refer to:In Birmingham, England:*St. Philip's Cathedral, Birmingham *St. Chad's Cathedral, Birmingham *Birmingham Orthodox CathedralIn Birmingham, Alabama:...
. Two years later, however, he was enthroned as the first Bishop
Bishop
A bishop is an ordained or consecrated member of the Christian clergy who is generally entrusted with a position of authority and oversight. Within the Catholic Church, Eastern Orthodox, Oriental Orthodox Churches, in the Assyrian Church of the East, in the Independent Catholic Churches, and in the...
of Matabeleland
Diocese of Matabeleland
The Diocese of Matabeleland is one of 15 dioceses within the Province of Central Africa . The current Bishop is the Rt Rev Cleophas Lunga....
. 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
Bulawayo
Bulawayo is the second largest city in Zimbabwe after the capital Harare, with an estimated population in 2010 of 2,000,000. It is located in Matabeleland, 439 km southwest of Harare, and is now treated as a separate provincial area from Matabeleland...
, he offered this quote from W. S. Gilbert
W. S. Gilbert
Sir William Schwenck Gilbert was an English dramatist, librettist, poet and illustrator best known for his fourteen comic operas produced in collaboration with the composer Sir Arthur Sullivan, of which the most famous include H.M.S...
: "Ambassador
Ambassador
An ambassador is the highest ranking diplomat who represents a nation and is usually accredited to a foreign sovereign or government, or to an international organization....
s cropped up like hay
Hay
Hay is grass, legumes or other herbaceous plants that have been cut, dried, and stored for use as animal fodder, particularly for grazing livestock such as cattle, horses, goats, and sheep. Hay is also fed to pets such as rabbits and guinea pigs...
, Prime Minister
Prime minister
A prime minister is the most senior minister of cabinet in the executive branch of government in a parliamentary system. In many systems, the prime minister selects and may dismiss other members of the cabinet, and allocates posts to members within the government. In most systems, the prime...
s and such they grew as asparagus
Asparagus
Asparagus officinalis is a spring vegetable, a flowering perennialplant species in the genus Asparagus. It was once classified in the lily family, like its Allium cousins, onions and garlic, but the Liliaceae have been split and the onion-like plants are now in the family Amaryllidaceae and...
in May and Duke
Duke
A duke or duchess is a member of the nobility, historically of highest rank below the monarch, and historically controlling a duchy...
s were three a penny
Penny
A penny is a coin or a type of currency used in several English-speaking countries. It is often the smallest denomination within a currency system.-Etymology:...
." After four years, he became the Archbishop of Central Africa.
In 1957, he was awarded a Lambeth degree
Lambeth degree
A Lambeth degree is an academic degree conferred by the Archbishop of Canterbury under the authority of the Ecclesiastical Licences Act 1533 as successor of the papal legate in England...
by Geoffrey Fisher
Geoffrey Fisher
Geoffrey Francis Fisher, Baron Fisher of Lambeth, GCVO, PC was Archbishop of Canterbury from 1945 to 1961.-Background:...
, the 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...
. He was a Sub-Prelate
Prelate
A prelate is a high-ranking member of the clergy who is an ordinary or who ranks in precedence with ordinaries. The word derives from the Latin prælatus, the past participle of præferre, which means "carry before", "be set above or over" or "prefer"; hence, a prelate is one set over others.-Related...
of the Order of St John of Jerusalem
Venerable Order of Saint John
The Most Venerable Order of the Hospital of Saint John of Jerusalem , is a royal order of chivalry established in 1831 and found today throughout the Commonwealth of Nations, Hong Kong, Ireland and the United States of America, with the world-wide mission "to prevent and relieve sickness and...
from 1958 and in 1961 he was translated for the final time to Trinidad
Anglican Diocese of Trinidad and Tobago
The Anglican diocese of Trinidad and Tobago is the administrative structure grouping together Anglicans in the nation of Trinidad and Tobago under a bishop. As of 2009, it included 30 parishes, and was responsible for 59 primary schools, one special school, and nine high schools. It is part of the...
. He retired in 1970 to Canada, where he continued to minister at Holy Trinity, Port Burwell, Ontario
Port Burwell, Ontario
Port Burwell is a community on the north shore of Lake Erie, in the municipality of Bayham in Elgin County, Ontario, Canada.It is situated at the mouth of Big Otter Creek.-History:...
. He died whilst visiting friends in Harare
Harare
Harare before 1982 known as Salisbury) is the largest city and capital of Zimbabwe. It has an estimated population of 1,600,000, with 2,800,000 in its metropolitan area . Administratively, Harare is an independent city equivalent to a province. It is Zimbabwe's largest city and its...
on 5 December 1979.