Frank Houghton (1894–1972) was an Anglican missionary bishop and author.

Frank Houghton
Bishop of East Szechwan
Frank Houghton, c. 1930s
ChurchChurch in China
DioceseEast Szechwan
Installed1936
Term ended1940
PredecessorJohn Holden (as Bishop of Western China)
SuccessorKenneth Bevan
Orders
Ordination1917
Personal details
Born1894 (1894)
Died1972 (aged 77–78)
NationalityBritish
DenominationAnglican
SpouseDorothy Cassels
Alma materUniversity of London

Biography edit

Houghton was born in Stafford[1] and educated at the University of London and ordained in 1917. He held curacies at St Benedict, Everton and All Saints, Preston before heading to Republican China as a missionary with the China Inland Mission in 1920. In 1923 he married Dorothy Cassels, the daughter of William Cassels, who had been a member of the Cambridge Seven and became a bishop in China. Houghton was general director of the China Inland Mission at the time when the Mission had to leave China in 1951.[2] He was Bishop of East Szechwan from 1937 to 1940.[3] Returning to England he held incumbencies at St Marks, New Milverton, Leamington and St Peter's, Drayton, Banbury. He retired in 1963 and died on 25 January 1972.[4]

Works edit

Houghton's books include The Two Hundred (1932); China Calling (1936); If We Believe (1952); Amy Carmichael of Dohnavur (1953); The Fire Burns On (1964); and Living Your Life (1966).[5]

He also wrote the hymns "Facing a Task Unfinished", "My Lord, Who in the Desert Fed", "O Thou Who Dost Direct My Feet" and "Thou Who Wast Rich Beyond All Splendour".[6]

See also edit

References edit

  1. ^ “Who was Who” 1897–1990 London, A & C Black 1991 ISBN 0-7136-3457-X
  2. ^ Hudson's Directory, a list of members of the China Inland Mission held by the successor mission agency OMF International
  3. ^ Crockford's Clerical Directory 1940–1941. Oxford: Oxford University Press. 1941.
  4. ^ The Times, Friday, January 28, 1972; pg. 16; Issue 58387; col F Obituary: Bishop Houghton
  5. ^ British Library website accessed 31 January 2011
  6. ^ Frank Houghton: Texts at Hymnary.org