Francis Phelps

Francis Robinson Phelps was an Anglican bishop in the first half of the 20th century.

The Most Reverend Francis Robinson Phelps DD, MA
Archbishop of Cape Town
Church	Anglican
Province	Southern Africa
Orders
Ordination	1888
Personal details
Born	(1863-09-19)September 19, 1863 Canada
Died	June 27, 1938(1938-06-27) (aged 74)
Signature

Early life

Phelps was born in Canada[1] on 19 September 1863[2] and educated at Keble College, Oxford.[3] he was made deacon in 1887[4] and ordained priest in 1888. Following curacies at Battersea, St John the Evangelist, Westminster and St John the Divine, Kennington[5] he was rector of Thorpe Episcopi, Norfolk.

South Africa

Phelps and his family emigrated to South Africa in 1909, he was successively warden of St Peter’s Home in Grahamstown and Archdeacon of Grahamstown. He was appointed Dean of Grahamstown in 1914.[6]

Phelps was elected Bishop of Grahamstown in 1915.[7][6] In 1931 he was translated to Cape Town.[8] His consecration as archbishop was challenged by other Anglican clergy in the civil court in Cape Town.[9] The court found for Phelps.[10]

Due to ill-health Phelps resigned as archbishop in 1937,[11] He died less than a year later on 27 June 1938.[12] in Oxford.[13]

Phelps married Edith Hunter in 1895.[14]

Notes and references

1. "1891 England, Wales & Scotland Census Transcription". Findmypast. Retrieved 2014-09-19.
2. “Who was Who” 1897-2007 London, A & C Black, 2007 ISBN 978-0-19-954087-7
3. "School & university registers Image". Findmypast. Retrieved 2014-09-19.
4. "Ordinations. Diocese Of Rochester". The Times (32098). London. June 14, 1887. col C, p. 4.
5. "The Clergy List, Clerical Guide and Ecclesiastical Directory" London, Hamilton & Co 1889
6. Gould 1924, p. xviii.
7. Botha 2006, p. 198-.
8. "New Primate Of South Africa Dr. Phelps Elected". The Times. London. December 19, 1930.
9. "ARCHBISHOP OF CAPE TOWN. Legality of His Appointment Questioned". Yorkshire Post and Leeds Intelligencer. 19 August 1931. p. 8 col D. Retrieved 2014-09-19 – via British Newspaper Archive.
10. "Ex-archbishop dies". Hull Daily Mail. 28 June 1938. p. 8 col A. Retrieved 2014-09-19 – via British Newspaper Archive.
11. "Dr Francis Robinson Phelps. Archbishop Of Capetown, Is Resigning His Position For Reasons Of Health". Sunderland Daily Echo and Shipping Gazette. 6 October 1937. p. 2 col B. Retrieved 2014-09-19 – via British Newspaper Archive.
12. "Obituary Dr. F. R. Phelps Former Archbishop Of Capetown". The Times (48032). London. June 28, 1938. col C, p. 16.
13. "Former Archbishop Dead". Western Daily Press. 28 June 1938. p. 5 col B. Retrieved 2014-09-19 – via British Newspaper Archive.
14. "England & Wales marriages 1837-2008 Transcription". Findmypast. Retrieved 2014-09-19.

• Botha, Cynthia (2006). "Southern Africa". In Hefling, Charles; Shattuck, Cynthia (eds.). The Oxford Guide to The Book of Common Prayer : A Worldwide Survey. Oxford University Press. ISBN 978-0-19-972389-8.
• Kotzé, Anne R. (1992). Bishopscourt and its residents. Creda Press. p. 41.
• Gould, Charles (1924). Grahamstown Cathedral: A Guide and Short History. Grahamstown Diocesan Registry.

External links

• Portraits of Francis Robinson Phelps at the National Portrait Gallery, London
• University of the Witwatersrand papers
• National Archives

Anglican Church of Southern Africa titles
Preceded by Charles Edward Cornish	Bishop of Grahamstown 1915 – 1931	Succeeded by Archibald Howard Cullen
Preceded by William Marlborough Carter	Archbishop of Cape Town 1931 – 1938	Succeeded by John Russell Darbyshire