Sir Frank Woods KBE ChStJ (6 April 1907 – 29 November 1992) was an English-born Anglican bishop. From 1957 to 1977, he served as Archbishop of Melbourne. He was additionally the Primate of Australia between 1971 and 1977.


Frank Woods

Archbishop of Melbourne
ChurchAnglican Church of Australia
ProvinceProvince of Victoria
DioceseDiocese of Melbourne
In office1958 to 1977
PredecessorJoseph Booth
SuccessorBob Dann
Other post(s)Anglican Primate of Australia (1971–1977)
Orders
Ordination1932 (priest)
Consecration1952
by Cyril Garbett
Personal details
Born(1907-04-06)6 April 1907
Died29 November 1992(1992-11-29) (aged 85)
EducationMarlborough College
Alma materTrinity College, Cambridge

About edit

Early life edit

Woods was born in 1907 in Davos, Switzerland. Woods was the son of the Right Reverend Edward Sydney Woods (1877-1953), Bishop of Lichfield, of the church of England, and Rachel Clemence Barclay. In 1914, the family moved back to England where his father became the army chaplain and vicar before consecration as bishop suffragan of Croydon in 1930, which then lead to being the bishop of Lichfield in 1937.[1]

His siblings included his brother of the photographer Janet Woods, Samuel Woods, an archdeacon in New Zealand, and Robin Woods, Bishop of Worcester, and a nephew of Theodore Woods, who served as Bishop of Winchester.[citation needed]

Education edit

He was educated at Marlborough in 1920. In 1929, Woods was elected president of the Student Christian Movement (SCM) at Cambridge.

In 1930, Woods attended Trinity College, Cambridge, which lead to getting his Masters in 1933.[1][2]

Later years edit

On June 9, 1936, Woods married Jean Margaret Sprules. Wood's father presided over the wedding, which was held at St. Alban's Abbey.[1]

Ordained ministry edit

Woods was ordained as a priest in 1932,[3] After a curacy at St Mary's Church, Portsea in the Diocese of Portsmouth he became chaplain of his Cambridge alma mater, Trinity College.[4] He then became Vice-Principal of Wells Theological College. During the Second World War, he served as a chaplain in the Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve and then, successively, a vicar in Huddersfield (1945–52); Suffragan Bishop of Middleton (1952–57);[5] and, in 1957, Archbishop of Melbourne for over 20 years.[6] From 1971 he was also the Anglican Primate of Australia.[citation needed]

Honours edit

 
KBE insignia

Woods was appointed, on 3 June 1972, a Knight Commander of the Order of the British Empire (KBE).[7] He used the title of "Sir", as is the established protocol in Australia for knighted clergy.[8][9] He was also a Chaplain of the Order of St John.[citation needed]

References edit

  1. ^ a b c Porter, Brian, "Woods, Frank (1907–1992)", Australian Dictionary of Biography, Canberra: National Centre of Biography, Australian National University, retrieved 16 August 2023
  2. ^ "Archbishop Sir Frank Woods (1907-1992) | East Melbourne Historical Society". emhs.org.au. Retrieved 16 August 2023.
  3. ^ Crockford's Clerical Directory 1975–76 London: Oxford University Press, 1976 ISBN 0-19-200008-X
  4. ^ "Who was Who 1897–1990", London, A & C Black, 1991, ISBN 0-7136-3457-X
  5. ^ The Times, 19 November 1951; p. 6; "New Bishop Suffragan of Middleton: Right Rev. F. Woods"
  6. ^ The Times, 23 August 1957, p. 8; "New Archbishop of Melbourne: Most Rev. F. Woods"
  7. ^ "It's an Honour: KBE"
  8. ^ East Melbourne Historical Society, "Archbishop Frank Woods (1907–1992)"
  9. ^ Archbishop Frank Woods 1907–92 : a tribute compiled by Anglican Media
Church of England titles
Preceded by Bishop of Middleton
1952 to 1958
Succeeded by
Anglican Communion titles
Preceded by Archbishop of Melbourne
1957 to 1977
Succeeded by
Preceded by Primate of Australia
1971 to 1977
Succeeded by