The Rt Rev Percival William Stephenson was the 6th Anglican bishop of Nelson[1] whose episcopate spanned a 14-year period in the mid-20th century.

Family edit

The son of Arthur Henry Stephenson (1867-1955),[2] and Annie Amelia Vevers Stephenson (1865-1903), née Brailey,[3] Percival William Stephenson was born at Malmsbury, Victoria on 5 May 1888.

He married Grace Ermyntrude Lavender (1885-1974) on 9 October 1913.[4][5] They three children, Millicent Lavender Stephenson (1914-),[6] Arthur Lavender Stephenson (1917-2001),[7] and Noel Lavender Stephenson (1920-). Percival Stephenson died in 1962.

Education edit

He was educated at Caulfield Grammar School, Melbourne,[8] where he was an outstanding footballer in the school's First XVIII,[9] the University of Melbourne, the Australian College of Theology, and the University of London.

Cleric edit

He was ordained in 1914.[10]

Academic edit

He moved to India to teach at CMS Edwards College in Peshawar, where he was initially a teacher and then principal (1921–1924). From 1924 to 1928 he was professor of exegetical theology at St John's College, Winnipeg.[11]

On his return to Australia he became federal secretary of the Church Missionary Society of Australia and Tasmania and headmaster of Trinity Grammar School, Sydney (1935–37)[12] and then commonwealth secretary of the British and Foreign Bible Society until his elevation to the episcopate in 1940.

Death edit

He died on 29 May 1962.[13]

See also edit

Notes edit

  1. ^ "Who was Who" 1897-2007 London, A & C Black, 2007 ISBN 978-0-19-954087-7
  2. ^ Deaths: Stephenson, The Argus, (Saturday, 18 June 1955), p.13.
  3. ^ Marriages: Stephenson—Brailey, The Age, (Saturday, 2 July 1887), p.5.
  4. ^ Births: Lavender, The Australasian, (Saturday, 16 May 1885), p.3.
  5. ^ Stephenson—Lavender, The Argus, (Saturday, 29 November 1913), p.11.
  6. ^ Birth: Stephenson, The Bendigonian, (Tuesday, 25 August 1914), p.7.
  7. ^ Births: Stephenson, The Bendigo Advertiser, (Tuesday, 20 November 1917), p.4.
  8. ^ Webber (1981), p.316.
  9. ^ Wilkinson (1997), p.39.
  10. ^ Crockford's Clerical Directory1940-41 Oxford, OUP,1941
  11. ^ "Archives: Head Masters". Trinity Grammar School. Retrieved 18 April 2015.
  12. ^ School web site
  13. ^ News of death

References edit

  • Cole, Keith, Sincerity My Guide: A Biography of the Right Reverend P.W. Stephenson (1888-1962), Church Missionary Historical Publications Trust, (Melbourne), 1970.
  • Webber, Horace (1981). Years May Pass On... Caulfield Grammar School, 1881–1981. Centenary Committee, Caulfield Grammar School, (East St Kilda). ISBN 0-9594242-0-2.
  • Wilkinson, Ian R. (1997). The Fields At Play – 115 years of sport at Caulfield Grammar School 1881–1996. Playright Publishing. ISBN 0-949853-60-7.
Anglican Communion titles
Preceded by Bishop of Nelson
1940–1954
Succeeded by