William Launcelot Scott Fleming
Encyclopedia
William Launcelot Scott Fleming (7 August 1906–1990) was an Anglican
bishop. He was a Bishop of Portsmouth and later a Bishop of Norwich
. He had also been a geologist.
, the youngest of four sons (the second of whom died at the age of five months) and fifth of five children of Robert Alexander Fleming (a surgeon in Edinburgh) and Eleanor Mary, the daughter of the Revd William Lyall Holland, rector of Cornhill-on-Tweed. He was educated at Rugby School
.
in 1925, graduating in geology in 1928, followed by two years as a Commonwealth Fund Fellow at Yale University
. He studied for Holy Orders
at Westcott House, Cambridge
and was ordained deacon
in 1933 and priest 1934. His early years were spent as chaplain to successive Antarctic expeditions, for which he was awarded the Polar Medal
in 1937.
he became a chaplain in the Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve (RNVR) and served on the Battleship HMS Queen Elizabeth
. After the war, he returned to Cambridge as director of the Scott Polar Research Institute
.
, becoming Bishop of Norwich, the first occupant to use the Ancient Throne for 400 Years. A great gift for friendship made him outstandingly effective pastorally; he genuinely cared about people. Although Fleming became a bishop without parochial experience or any great gift for preaching, his unassuming friendliness and humility won over clergy and laity. Portsmouth became an exceptionally well-run diocese, with more than its share of young clergy and ordinands. Norwich, with 650 churches and a shortage of clergy, presented greater problems; he tackled them resolutely and imaginatively, developing rural group ministries and again attracting good clergy. He also played a significant part in planning the University of East Anglia
(which, unusually, has its own university chapel). He was an uncanny judge of character, excellent in one-to-one situations. His desk might have looked chaotic, but he was a shrewd administrator with a clear grasp of priorities. A remarkable rapport with young people led to his being made chairman of the Church of England Youth Council (1950–61). Struck by a rare spinal disorder, which seriously affected both legs, he resigned the see in 1971.
An eternally enthusiastic man, in 1960 he realised a lifetimes ambition to ride on the footplate of a train and in 1965, at the comparatively advanced age of 58 married Jane Agutter, widow of Anthony Agutter and daughter of Henry Machen, landowner. It was a happy marriage which lasted for twenty-five years but produced no children.
In 1968, most unusually for a bishop, Fleming piloted a bill (the Antarctic treaty) through the House of Lords
. Well informed on environmental and ecological issues (he was a pre-war glaciologist of repute), he constantly urged responsible stewardship of the world (his maiden speech in the House of Lords was about cruelty to whales), and the need for international co-operation. He became vice-chairman (1969–71) of the parliamentary group for world government, and a member of the government Standing Advisory Committee on Environmental Pollution (1970–73). At Windsor, he consolidated the reputation of St George's House. His influence on church policy would have been greater but for synodical government: off-the-cuff debate was not his forte.
, Fleming was appointed the Queen's domestic chaplain and Dean of Windsor
, in which capacity he officiated at the funeral of the Duke of Windsor
. In 1976 he was awarded an honorary doctorate by the University of East Anglia
for his work with young people. He retired to Dorset
and died in Sherborne
on 30 July 1990. He was cremated and his ashes were interred in the churchyard of All Saints' Church, Poyntington
.
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...
bishop. He was a Bishop of Portsmouth and later a Bishop of Norwich
Bishop of Norwich
The Bishop of Norwich is the Ordinary of the Church of England Diocese of Norwich in the Province of Canterbury.The diocese covers most of the County of Norfolk and part of Suffolk. The see is in the City of Norwich where the seat is located at the Cathedral Church of the Holy and Undivided...
. He had also been a geologist.
Childhood
Fleming was born in EdinburghEdinburgh
Edinburgh is the capital city of Scotland, the second largest city in Scotland, and the eighth most populous in the United Kingdom. The City of Edinburgh Council governs one of Scotland's 32 local government council areas. The council area includes urban Edinburgh and a rural area...
, the youngest of four sons (the second of whom died at the age of five months) and fifth of five children of Robert Alexander Fleming (a surgeon in Edinburgh) and Eleanor Mary, the daughter of the Revd William Lyall Holland, rector of Cornhill-on-Tweed. He was educated at Rugby School
Rugby School
Rugby School is a co-educational day and boarding school located in the town of Rugby, Warwickshire, England. It is one of the oldest independent schools in Britain.-History:...
.
Early adult life
Fleming went to Trinity Hall, CambridgeTrinity Hall, Cambridge
Trinity Hall is a constituent college of the University of Cambridge, England. It is the fifth-oldest college of the university, having been founded in 1350 by William Bateman, Bishop of Norwich.- Foundation :...
in 1925, graduating in geology in 1928, followed by two years as a Commonwealth Fund Fellow at Yale University
Yale University
Yale University is a private, Ivy League university located in New Haven, Connecticut, United States. Founded in 1701 in the Colony of Connecticut, the university is the third-oldest institution of higher education in the United States...
. He studied for Holy Orders
Holy Orders
The term Holy Orders is used by many Christian churches to refer to ordination or to those individuals ordained for a special role or ministry....
at Westcott House, Cambridge
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...
and 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 1933 and priest 1934. His early years were spent as chaplain to successive Antarctic expeditions, for which he was awarded the Polar Medal
Polar Medal
The Polar Medal is a medal awarded by the Sovereign of the United Kingdom. It was instituted in 1857 as the Arctic Medal and renamed the Polar Medal in 1904.-History:...
in 1937.
Later life
Fleming pursued an academic career, acting as an examining chaplain to a number of bishops while retaining a base at Trinity Hall, eventually becoming its dean in 1937 and an honorary fellow in 1956. At the outbreak of World War IIWorld 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...
he became a chaplain in the Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve (RNVR) and served on the Battleship HMS Queen Elizabeth
HMS Queen Elizabeth (1913)
HMS Queen Elizabeth was the lead ship of the Queen Elizabeth-class of dreadnought battleships, named in honour of Elizabeth I of England. She saw service in both World Wars...
. After the war, he returned to Cambridge as director of the Scott Polar Research Institute
Scott Polar Research Institute
The Scott Polar Research Institute is a centre for research into the polar regions and glaciology worldwide. It is a sub-department of the Department of Geography in the University of Cambridge, located on Lensfield Road in the south of Cambridge ....
.
Episcopates and parliament
In July 1949, Fleming's name was put forward to become the Bishop of Portsmouth and he was consecrated later that year, although he did not take his place in the House of Lords for another seven years. In 1959 he transferred SeesEpiscopal See
An episcopal see is, in the original sense, the official seat of a bishop. This seat, which is also referred to as the bishop's cathedra, is placed in the bishop's principal church, which is therefore called the bishop's cathedral...
, becoming Bishop of Norwich, the first occupant to use the Ancient Throne for 400 Years. A great gift for friendship made him outstandingly effective pastorally; he genuinely cared about people. Although Fleming became a bishop without parochial experience or any great gift for preaching, his unassuming friendliness and humility won over clergy and laity. Portsmouth became an exceptionally well-run diocese, with more than its share of young clergy and ordinands. Norwich, with 650 churches and a shortage of clergy, presented greater problems; he tackled them resolutely and imaginatively, developing rural group ministries and again attracting good clergy. He also played a significant part in planning the University of East Anglia
University of East Anglia
The University of East Anglia is a public research university based in Norwich, United Kingdom. It was established in 1963, and is a founder-member of the 1994 Group of research-intensive universities.-History:...
(which, unusually, has its own university chapel). He was an uncanny judge of character, excellent in one-to-one situations. His desk might have looked chaotic, but he was a shrewd administrator with a clear grasp of priorities. A remarkable rapport with young people led to his being made chairman of the Church of England Youth Council (1950–61). Struck by a rare spinal disorder, which seriously affected both legs, he resigned the see in 1971.
An eternally enthusiastic man, in 1960 he realised a lifetimes ambition to ride on the footplate of a train and in 1965, at the comparatively advanced age of 58 married Jane Agutter, widow of Anthony Agutter and daughter of Henry Machen, landowner. It was a happy marriage which lasted for twenty-five years but produced no children.
In 1968, most unusually for a bishop, Fleming piloted a bill (the Antarctic treaty) through the House of Lords
House of Lords
The House of Lords is the upper house of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. Like the House of Commons, it meets in the Palace of Westminster....
. Well informed on environmental and ecological issues (he was a pre-war glaciologist of repute), he constantly urged responsible stewardship of the world (his maiden speech in the House of Lords was about cruelty to whales), and the need for international co-operation. He became vice-chairman (1969–71) of the parliamentary group for world government, and a member of the government Standing Advisory Committee on Environmental Pollution (1970–73). At Windsor, he consolidated the reputation of St George's House. His influence on church policy would have been greater but for synodical government: off-the-cuff debate was not his forte.
Later career
On resigning his bishopricDiocese
A diocese is the district or see under the supervision of a bishop. It is divided into parishes.An archdiocese is more significant than a diocese. An archdiocese is presided over by an archbishop whose see may have or had importance due to size or historical significance...
, Fleming was appointed the Queen's domestic chaplain and Dean of Windsor
Dean of Windsor
The Dean of Windsor is the spiritual head of the Canons of St George's Chapel at Windsor Castle. The Dean chairs meetings of the Chapter of Canons as primus inter pares.-List of Deans of Windsor:* William Mugge, 1348* Walter Almaly, 1380...
, in which capacity he officiated at the funeral of the Duke of Windsor
Duke of Windsor
The title Duke of Windsor was created in the Peerage of the United Kingdom in 1937 for Prince Edward, the former King Edward VIII, following his abdication in December 1936. The dukedom takes its name from the town where Windsor Castle, a residence of English monarchs since the Norman Conquest, is...
. In 1976 he was awarded an honorary doctorate by the University of East Anglia
University of East Anglia
The University of East Anglia is a public research university based in Norwich, United Kingdom. It was established in 1963, and is a founder-member of the 1994 Group of research-intensive universities.-History:...
for his work with young people. He retired to Dorset
Dorset
Dorset , is a county in South West England on the English Channel coast. The county town is Dorchester which is situated in the south. The Hampshire towns of Bournemouth and Christchurch joined the county with the reorganisation of local government in 1974...
and died in Sherborne
Sherborne
Sherborne is a market town in northwest Dorset, England. It is sited on the River Yeo, on the edge of the Blackmore Vale, east of Yeovil. The A30 road, which connects London to Penzance, runs through the town. The population of the town is 9,350 . 27.1% of the population is aged 65 or...
on 30 July 1990. He was cremated and his ashes were interred in the churchyard of All Saints' Church, Poyntington
Poyntington
Poyntington is a village in north west Dorset, England, situated in the Blackmore Vale two miles north of Sherborne. The village has a population of 135.The parish was part of the hundred of Horethorne....
.
External links
- Biography in the Oxford Dictionary of National BiographyDictionary of National BiographyThe Dictionary of National Biography is a standard work of reference on notable figures from British history, published from 1885...