Wilfrid Westall
Wilfrid Arthur Edmund Westall (20 November 1900 – 22 February 1982) was an English Anglican bishop in the 20th century. He served as Archdeacon of Exeter and as Bishop of Crediton (both in the Diocese of Exeter).
Early life[edit]
Westall was born into a clerical family — his father was A. St Leger Westal (a priest); Wilfrid was a great-grandson of the artist William Westall ARA (1781–1850).[1] He was educated at Merchant Taylors' School, an all-boys public school in the City of London.[1] He went on to study theology at St Chad's College, Durham University, graduating with distinction.[2]
Career[edit]
Westall was ordained into the Church of England in 1925:[3] having been deaconed previously, he was priested on Trinity Sunday (7 June) by Ernest Barnes, Bishop of Birmingham, at Birmingham Cathedral.[4] He was a curate in Birmingham and at the Church of the Good Shepherd, Brighton. In 1930, he was appointed vicar of St Wilfrid's Church, Brighton.[5][6] He further served as a Vicar at Hawnby and Shaldon. He was appointed Archdeacon of Exeter in 1951,[2] and a canon residentiary of Exeter Cathedral.[7] Late in his life he wrote The Life of the Cathedral Church of Saint Peter in Exeter. On 18 October 1954, he was consecrated a bishop by Geoffrey Fisher, Archbishop of Canterbury, at Westminster Abbey,[8] to serve as Bishop of Crediton (one of two suffragan bishops of the Diocese of Exeter).[9] In 1958, he resigned as archdeacon and canon of Exeter to concentrate on his duties as Bishop.[10] He retired on 29 June 1974.[11]
For many years, he frequently appeared on the panel of the radio programme Any Questions?.[1][12] He was keenly interested in railways and the nickname of "God's Wonderful Railway" for the Great Western Railway has been attributed to him.[13]
Later life[edit]
He died on 22 February 1982, at the age of 81.[1] A memorial service was held at Exeter Cathedral on 3 April 1982.[14]
Personal life[edit]
In 1927, Westall married Ruth Evans. Together they had four children; a son and three daughters.[1]
References[edit]
- ^ a b c d e "Right Rev W. A. E. Westall". The Times. 26 February 1982.
- ^ a b "Catholic Congress will hear Bishop". Palm Beach Daily News. 13 April 1964. p. 4.
- ^ Who was Who 1897-2007, London, A & C Black, 2007 ISBN 978-0-19-954087-7
- ^ "The Trinity Ordinations". Church Times. No. 3255. 12 June 1925. p. 714. ISSN 0009-658X. Retrieved 20 October 2019 – via UK Press Online archives.
- ^ "Ecclesiastical News". The Times. 1 May 1930. p. 18.
- ^ Westall’s correspondence while Vicar of St Wilfrid’s Brighton
- ^ "Church Appointments". The Times. 1 August 1951. p. 8.
- ^ "Consecation of new bishops". Church Times. No. 4785. 22 October 1954. p. 793. ISSN 0009-658X. Retrieved 20 October 2019 – via UK Press Online archives.
- ^ "A Medieval Tenement In Cyprus". The Times. 19 October 1954. p. 14.
- ^ "Ecclesiastical News". The Times. 13 March 1958. p. 12.
- ^ "New bishop appointed". The Times. 23 May 1974. p. 18.
- ^ Robert C. Westall (1995) Just As I Am: a life of Bishop Wilfrid Westall, London, Additional Curates Society.
- ^ "Friends' News - Friends of Exeter Cathedral" (PDF). p. 6. Archived from the original (PDF) on 5 March 2014. Retrieved 20 April 2011.
- ^ "Deaths". The Times. 5 March 1982. p. 22.
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