Robert Leighton Hodson (30 March 1885 – 8 January 1960) was the third Bishop of Shrewsbury in the modern era.[1]

Robert Hodson
Bishop of Shrewsbury
DioceseDiocese of Lichfield
In office1944 – 1959 (ret.)
PredecessorEric Hamilton
SuccessorWilliam Parker
Other post(s)
Orders
Ordination1908 (deacon)
by Augustus Legge (Lichfield)
Consecration1944
by Geoffrey Fisher (London)
Personal details
Born(1885-03-30)30 March 1885
Died8 January 1960(1960-01-08) (aged 74)
NationalityBritish
DenominationAnglican
Alma materSt Edmund Hall, Oxford

Son of John Humphries Hodson and his wife Annie, he was educated at Berkhamsted School and St Edmund Hall, Oxford,[2] graduating as Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) in 1907 and Master of Arts (M.A.) in 1911. He trained for the Church of England ministry at Lichfield Theological College, which he entered in 1907. He was made deacon in Advent 1908 (20 December), by Augustus Legge, Bishop of Lichfield, at Lichfield Cathedral[3] and Priest in 1910 by the Bishop of Lichfield.[4] He was successively Curate at St Peter's Collegiate Church, Wolverhampton,[5] 1908 to 1912, and of Stavanton with Boddington, Gloucestershire, 1912 to 1917, Vicar of St Stephen's, Cheltenham, 1917 to 1925, Vicar of St Giles, Willenhall, Staffordshire, 1925 to 1928, Rector of St Peter's and Rural Dean of Wolverhampton from 1929 to 1935 and finally (before his elevation to the episcopate in 1944) Archdeacon of Stafford from 1935.[4] Later in World War I he was a Temporary Chaplain of the Forces over 1918–19.[4] He held several positions at Lichfield Cathedral as Treasurer (1935–36), Canon (1935–44) and Precentor (1936–44); and served as a Proctor in Convocation (1932–35).[4]

He was consecrated bishop at Michaelmas (29 September) 1944, by Geoffrey Fisher, Bishop of London, at St Paul's Cathedral;[6] to serve as Bishop suffragan of Shrewsbury. During his episcopate he concurrently served as Provost of Denstone College from 1949.[4]

Hodson married in 1913 Margery Gertrude Corker; the couple had one son and two daughters.[2] His elder brother was Austin, Bishop suffragan of Tewkesbury.[7]

He retired in October 1959[2][8] and moved to Llanfairfechan in north Wales, but died less than three months later, aged 74.[2]

References

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  1. ^ Bishop Of Shrewsbury To Retire The Times Wednesday, May 13, 1959; pg. 10; Issue 54459; col C
  2. ^ a b c d “Who was Who” 1897-1990 London, A & C Black, 1991 ISBN 0-7136-3457-X
  3. ^ "The Ordinations". Church Times. No. 2396. 24 December 1908. p. 863. ISSN 0009-658X. Retrieved 12 March 2021 – via UK Press Online archives.
  4. ^ a b c d e Crockford's Clerical Directory, 1959-1960. Oxford University Press. p. 1060.
  5. ^ Genuki details
  6. ^ "A suffragan bishop's task. Consecration at St Paul's". Church Times. No. 4263. 6 October 1944. p. 531. ISSN 0009-658X. Retrieved 11 March 2021 – via UK Press Online archives.
  7. ^ "in memoriam: Bishop Robert Hodson". Church Times. No. 5057. 15 January 1960. p. 8. ISSN 0009-658X. Retrieved 6 February 2021 – via UK Press Online archives.
  8. ^ Obituary, Rt. Rev. R. L. Hodson The Times Saturday, Jan 09, 1960; pg. 10; Issue 54664; col B
Church of England titles
Preceded by Bishop of Shrewsbury
1944 – 1959
Succeeded by