Hewlett Thompson
Hewlett Thompson | |
|---|---|
| Bishop of Exeter | |
| Church | Church of England |
| Diocese | Diocese of Exeter |
| In office | 1985 to 1999 |
| Predecessor | Eric Mercer |
| Successor | Michael Langrish |
| Other post(s) | Honorary assistant bishop in Carlisle (1999–2025) |
| Previous post(s) | Bishop of Willesden (1974–1985; area bishop 1979–1985) |
| Orders | |
| Ordination | 1954 (deacon) 1955 (priest) |
| Consecration | 24 January 1974 |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 14 August 1929 |
| Died | 13 May 2025 (aged 95) |
| Denomination | Anglican |
| Spouse |
Joy (m. 1954) |
| Children | 4 |
| Alma mater | Trinity Hall, Cambridge |
Geoffrey Hewlett Thompson (14 August 1929 – 13 May 2025) was a British Anglican bishop. He served as Bishop of Exeter in the Church of England 1985 to 1999, having previously been a suffragan and area bishop in the Diocese of London.
Early life and education
[edit]Thompson was born on 14 August 1929 in Hove, Sussex, England.[1] He was educated at Aldenham School.[2] He undertook his National Service in the Queen's Own Royal West Kent Regiment from 1948 to 1949.[3] He was commissioned in the British Army as a second lieutenant on 25 September 1948.[4] He relinquished his commission on 11 August 1954.[5] He studied history and theology at Trinity Hall, Cambridge, graduating with a Bachelor of Arts (BA) degree in 1952.[6][1] He then trained for ordination at Cuddesdon College from 1952 to 1954.[3]
Ordained ministry
[edit]Thompson was made a deacon on Trinity Sunday 1954 (13 June)[7] and ordained a priest the next Trinity Sunday (5 June 1955) — both times by Spencer Leeson, Bishop of Peterborough, at Peterborough Cathedral.[8] He began his ordained ministry as a curate at St Matthew's, Northampton.[9] After which, he was first vicar of St Augustine, Wisbech[10] and subsequently of St Saviour's Church, Folkestone.[11]
He was consecrated to the episcopate by Michael Ramsey, Archbishop of Canterbury, at Westminster Abbey on 24 January 1974.[12][13] He became Bishop of Willesden in 1974, one of the suffragan bishops of the Diocese of London.[1] He became an area bishop upon the foundation of the London area scheme in 1979.[14] In 1985, he translated to be the diocesan Bishop of Exeter.[15] In 1992, he was one of the bishops who voted in support of the ordination of women as priests in the Church of England.[1] He also supported ecumenical efforts and was pro-reform on issues of human sexuality, but was "unconvinced" of allowing the remarriage of divorcees in church.[11] In retirement he was an honorary assistant bishop in the Diocese of Carlisle,[6] where he lived at Warcop.[16]
Having qualified by seniority of the Church of England's diocesan bishops in December 1989, he was introduced to the House of Lords on 21 February 1990.[3][17] He was an infrequent contributor to the Lords,[11] having never spoken 14 times in debates between his maiden speech on 13 February 1991 and his retirement as the Bishop of Exeter in 1999.[18]
Personal life
[edit]In 1954, he married Elisabeth Joy Fausitt.[3] Together they had two sons and two daughters.[1]
Thompson died on 13 May 2025, at the age of 95.[19]
References
[edit]- ^ a b c d e Obituaries, Telegraph (23 May 2025). "The Rt Rev Hewlett Thompson, long-serving Bishop of Exeter greatly valued for his pastoral gifts". The Telegraph. Archived from the original on 27 May 2025. Retrieved 12 June 2025.
- ^ Who's Who2008: London, A & C Black, ISBN 978-0-7136-8555-8
- ^ a b c d Who's Who 2023. London: A & C Black. 2022. p. 2395.
- ^ "No. 38457". The London Gazette (Supplement). 12 November 1948. p. 6014.
- ^ "No. 40249". The London Gazette (Supplement). 6 August 1954. p. 4611.
- ^ a b "THOMPSON, Rt Rev. (Geoffrey) Hewlett; Bishop of Exeter, 1985-99". Crockford's Clerical Directory 2018-2019: a directory of the clergy of the Church of England, the Church in Wales, the Scottish Episcopal Church, the Church of Ireland. London: Church House Publishing. 2017. p. 894. ISBN 978-0-7151-1128-4. Retrieved 12 June 2025.
- ^ "Ordinations on Trinity Sunday". Church Times. No. 4767. 18 June 1954. p. 477. ISSN 0009-658X. Retrieved 9 October 2019 – via UK Press Online archives.
- ^ "Trinity Ordinations". Church Times. No. 4820. 24 June 1954. p. 17. ISSN 0009-658X. Retrieved 9 October 2019 – via UK Press Online archives.
- ^ Photo of church
- ^ Crockford's Clerical Directory 2008/2009 Lambeth, Church House Publishing ISBN 978-0-7151-1030-0
- ^ a b c Rt Revd Dr John Saxbee. "Obituary: The Rt Revd Hewlett Thompson". Church Times. Archived from the original on 12 June 2025. Retrieved 12 June 2025.
- ^ "Three bishops in two hours". Church Times. No. 5790. 1 February 1974. p. 4. ISSN 0009-658X. Retrieved 16 May 2019 – via UK Press Online archives.
- ^ "Dual role for new Bishop of Ramsbury". Church Times. No. 5786. 4 January 1974. p. 3. ISSN 0009-658X. Retrieved 16 May 2019 – via UK Press Online archives.
- ^ "4: The Dioceses Commission, 1978–2002" (PDF). Church of England. Retrieved 23 April 2013.
- ^ The Times, 12 March 1985; pg. 14; Issue 62085; col D, New bishop named
- ^ "George Lanyon Hacker". Crockford's Clerical Directory (online ed.). Church House Publishing. Retrieved 18 June 2016.
- ^ "Parliamentary career for The Lord Bishop of Exeter". members.parliament.uk. UK Parliament. Retrieved 12 June 2025.
- ^ "Mr Geoffrey Thompson (Hansard)". api.parliament.uk.
- ^ "The Right Reverend Hewlett Thompson: Bishop of Exeter valued for his pastoral gifts who recommended a lunchtime break for priests". London: Daily Telegraph. 24 May 2025.
