Oliver Green-Wilkinson

Francis Oliver Green-Wilkinson MC (called Oliver; 7 May 1913 – 26 August 1970) was an eminent Anglican bishop in the third quarter of the 20th century.[1]

He was born into a clerical family[2] and educated at Eton and Magdalen College, Oxford. After distinguished service with the King's Royal Rifle Corps, he was made deacon at Michaelmas 1946 (22 September) by Edmund Morgan, Bishop of Southampton,[3] and ordained priest on Trinity Sunday 1947 (1 June) by Mervyn Haigh, Bishop of Winchester — both times at Winchester Cathedral.[4] His first post was as a Curate at St Mary, Southampton,[5] after which he was on the staff of St Alban's Cathedral, Pretoria [6] until his appointment to the episcopate as the 4th Bishop of Northern Rhodesia in 1951. He was consecrated a bishop on St Andrew's Day 1951 (30 November) by Geoffrey Fisher, Archbishop of Canterbury, at Westminster Abbey.[7] After eleven years he was additionally elected Archbishop of Central Africa. A fierce opponent of apartheid and a naturalised Zambian, he was killed in a car crash.[8]

Early life

Green-Wilkinson was born on 7 May 1913 in the Rectory at Aston Tirrold, the second of five children – Deborah, Oliver, Prudence, Hilaré and John.[9]

His father was Lumley Green-Wilkinson,[10] the younger son of LtGen Frederick Green-Wilkinson CB, Colonel of the Ox & Bucks Light Infantry in the early 1900s; he had served with the 42nd Highland Regiment, The Black Watch, in the Crimea and the Indian Mutiny.[11] The name Wilkinson was added in 1808, when Wilkinson left his inheritance to Green.[12] Lumley was a private in the City Imperial Volunteers in the Boer War.[13]

His mother Myfanwy was the only daughter of Sir Francis Edwards, 1st Baronet, quondam Liberal MP for Radnorshire; she was a niece of Alfred Edwards, first Archbishop of Wales and Bishop of St Asaph.[9]

His sister Constance Hilaré Myfanwy (died 1982), aka Hilaré, married Robert Ryder, VC (1908–1986) on 26 April 1941. They had two children, Lisle Robert Dudley Ryder (priest and canon; born 1943) and the painter Susan Myfanwy Prudence Ryder, RP, NEAC (born 1944).

Education

Green-Wilkinson was educated at Farnborough Primary School from 12 April 1922. He passed his Common Entrance exam and became a boarder in Sheepshank's House at Eton College in September 1926. In July 1928 his housemaster A.J. Sheepshank wrote of him, "It is hard to keep pace with the number of prizes he gains." The following month he won 3rd prize on his horse at the Knighton Show, and also won the Birchall Prize. On 4 June 1932 he rowed in the Thetis boat.[9]

Green-Wilkinson wet up to Magdalen College, Oxford on 6 October 1932. He was Stroke on the College's 2nd boat, and was a substitute for the "A" boat. He also acted on stage. In his last year, Green-Wilkinson was President of Magdalen College's Junior Common Room.[9]

Africa

After coming down from Oxford, Green-Wilkinson spent ten months in Africa, five of them working on a farm at Makeni, 10 miles south of Lusaka.[9]

Military service

On 15 November 1939, Green-Wilkinson joined the Ox & Bucks Light Infantry as a private. This was the regiment of which his father's father had been Colonel 40 years before.[9]

Death

He was being driven back the 400 miles from Katete to Lusaka by a very steady African driver who had frequently driven him long distances. As was quite usual, Green-Wilkinson decided to do some work during the journey, and retrieved for his briefcase from the back seat. As he reached for his seat-belt, a tyre burst, the car swerved, Green-Wilkinson was thrown out of the car, and his head hit a tree.[14]

References

1. See a photograph of him by Elliott & Fry in the NPG, x91751, bromide print, 1951.
2. His father was the Rev Lumley Green Wilkinson > "Who was Who" 1897–1990 London, A & C Black, 1991 ISBN 0-7136-3457-X
3. "Ordinations at Michaelmas". Church Times (#4366). 27 September 1946. p. 584. ISSN 0009-658X. Retrieved 6 November 2019 – via UK Press Online archives.
4. "Ordinations at Trinity". Church Times (#4400). 6 June 1947. p. 338. ISSN 0009-658X. Retrieved 6 November 2019 – via UK Press Online archives.
5. Parish web-site
6. (1981) Dictionary of South African Biography, Vol IV. Pretoria: Human Sciences Research Council. ISBN 0-409-09183-9
7. "Double consecration at Westminster Abbey". Church Times (#4635). 7 December 1951. p. 837. ISSN 0009-658X. Retrieved 6 November 2019 – via UK Press Online archives.
8. The Times, Friday, 28 August 1970; p. 8; Issue 57956; col G "Dr O. Green-Wilkinson Archbishop of Central Africa" Obituary
9. Green-Wilkinson, John (ed.) Bishop Oliver: Letters & Reminiscences (Wilton 65, 1998) ISBN 9780947828561
10. Chaplain to the 41st Infantry Brigade in the 14th (Light) Division during the Division's occupation of the trench line in the Ypres salient in mid-1915.
11. Ibid
12. "Reminiscences of Regency Life" by Captain Gronow
13. See nine photograph albums belonging to his sister Prudence, sold at SAS auctions, Greenham, Berkshire, UK, 30 April 2019, lot 130. The albums contained many pictures of Oliver as a child and teenager.
14. Bishop Oliver (p. 261)