Francis Oliver Green-Wilkinson CBE MC (called Oliver; 7 May 1913 – 26 August 1970) was an eminent Anglican bishop in the third quarter of the 20th century. [1]
Green-Wilkinson was born on 7 May 1913 in the Rectory at Aston Tirrold, the second of five children of Rev. Lumley Green Wilkinson and Myfanwy, daughter of Sir Francis Edwards, 1st Baronet. [2] His paternal grandfather was Lieutenant-General Frederick Green-Wilkinson.
He was educated at Eton and Magdalen College, Oxford. [3]
On 15 November 1939, Green-Wilkinson joined the Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire Light Infantry as a private. [2]
Having served with the King's Royal Rifle Corps, he was made deacon at Michaelmas 1946 (22 September) by Edmund Morgan, Bishop of Southampton, [4] and ordained priest on Trinity Sunday 1947 (1 June) by Mervyn Haigh, Bishop of Winchester—both times at Winchester Cathedral. [5] His first post was as a curate at St Mary, Southampton, [6] after which he was on the staff of St Alban's Cathedral, Pretoria [7] until his appointment to the episcopate as the 4th Bishop of Northern Rhodesia in 1951. He was consecrated as a bishop on St Andrew's Day 1951 (30 November) by Geoffrey Fisher, Archbishop of Canterbury, at Westminster Abbey. [8] After eleven years he was additionally elected Archbishop of Central Africa. A fierce opponent of apartheid and a naturalised Zambian, he was killed in a car crash [9] whilst being driven back the 400 miles from Katete to Lusaka by a very steady African driver who had frequently driven him long distances. As was quite usual, Green-Wilkinson decided to do some work during the journey, and retrieved for his briefcase from the back seat. As he reached for his seat-belt, a tyre burst, the car swerved, Green-Wilkinson was thrown out of the car, and his head hit a tree. [10]
Francis Oliver Green-Wilkinson CBE MC (called Oliver; 7 May 1913 – 26 August 1970) was an eminent Anglican bishop in the third quarter of the 20th century. [1]
Green-Wilkinson was born on 7 May 1913 in the Rectory at Aston Tirrold, the second of five children of Rev. Lumley Green Wilkinson and Myfanwy, daughter of Sir Francis Edwards, 1st Baronet. [2] His paternal grandfather was Lieutenant-General Frederick Green-Wilkinson.
He was educated at Eton and Magdalen College, Oxford. [3]
On 15 November 1939, Green-Wilkinson joined the Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire Light Infantry as a private. [2]
Having served with the King's Royal Rifle Corps, he was made deacon at Michaelmas 1946 (22 September) by Edmund Morgan, Bishop of Southampton, [4] and ordained priest on Trinity Sunday 1947 (1 June) by Mervyn Haigh, Bishop of Winchester—both times at Winchester Cathedral. [5] His first post was as a curate at St Mary, Southampton, [6] after which he was on the staff of St Alban's Cathedral, Pretoria [7] until his appointment to the episcopate as the 4th Bishop of Northern Rhodesia in 1951. He was consecrated as a bishop on St Andrew's Day 1951 (30 November) by Geoffrey Fisher, Archbishop of Canterbury, at Westminster Abbey. [8] After eleven years he was additionally elected Archbishop of Central Africa. A fierce opponent of apartheid and a naturalised Zambian, he was killed in a car crash [9] whilst being driven back the 400 miles from Katete to Lusaka by a very steady African driver who had frequently driven him long distances. As was quite usual, Green-Wilkinson decided to do some work during the journey, and retrieved for his briefcase from the back seat. As he reached for his seat-belt, a tyre burst, the car swerved, Green-Wilkinson was thrown out of the car, and his head hit a tree. [10]