Bishop Baines Likes Cricket, Birds, Music

Press, Volume XCIX, Issue 29272, 2 August 1960, Page 22

Bishop Baines Likes Cricket, Birds, Music

(From the London correspondent of “The Press")

LONDON, July 21.

Wellington may well see its new bishop on the cricket field, though at 55 he thinks he might be getting “rather too old.” And his clergy may have to answer questions about the birdlife in their parishes, for that is also one of his recreations. Certainly, the presence of Bishop Baines, former Bishop of Singapore, who will arrive in Wellington in September, is likely to be felt in affairs concerning the relationships between churches; the Student Christian Movement will have his special interest and support; and his voice is likely to be raised in

favour of an awareness that the destinies of countries in the South Pacific and South-east Asia are very much linked together. At the same time, Wellington will have a champion of the Church with a world mission and of the Church in its smaller departments of parish life. In London, where he is now preparing to leave with his family for New Zealand next month, Bishop Baines explained how these interests and convictions spring naturally enough from his career as a student and priest “I was ordained just 30 years ago," he said. “I have spent exactly half that time in England and half of it in South-east Asia. But my first job was travelling secretary for the S.C.M.; and when I was ordained I became assistant curate at St. Mary’s, the Oxford University Church, and also secretary of the university S.C.M- . “So I was in student work for about 10 years; I still have an interest in it and I hope I can take an interest in it in Wellington.” For 11 years the Bishop worked in parishes at Coventry and Rugby. “AU my interest then was in parish worship and my interest is still very much in the development of the parish life of the Church. Church Relations “I have also been interested in the current movements in interchurch relations,” said Bishop Baines, who had first-hand experience in Singapore of the problems involved. “One of the most important needs of the Christian Church as a whole is to draw into a closer unity than it has enjoyed. The differences between denominations should enrich the whole Church rather than divide it,” he said. “The other half of the time I have spent in South-east Asia (Hong Kong and Singapore). That, I suppose, suggests that my experience has been in the Church as a world-wide society and one charged with a mission to aU peoples. I should like to continue that attitude in New Zealand.” Last year, Bishop Baines saw the establishment of the Southeast Asia Christian Conference and its first meeting at Kuala Lumpur. “It is the South-east Asia embodiment of the World Council of Churches,” he said. “A thing that has happened over the last 10 years is that the countries of South-east Asia have realised that they are aU tied up together.” To Bishop Baines this appears as valid in the affairs of the Church as it does in political and business relations. Furthermore, the idea of a “home” church spreading into overseas areas had changed for the better, he said. It had changed into a picture of churches of all countries being on the same level. The idea of a church being “overseas” had been removed. Briefed On N.Z. Since he knew he would be going to the Dominion, Bishop Baines has been “consulting everyone I can lay my hands on.” He met New Zealand soldiers in Malaya and not long ago, he spent a day with Bishop Holland, the 78-year-old former Bishop of Wellington (1936-46) at his home in Chipping Campden, Gloucestershire. “I have been getting very well and very happily briefed by him,” said the new bishop. “We talked of the reception he had when he got to Wellington, of travelling in the diocese, and the interests of Wellington people—of course, that was 14 years ago. Bishop Baines, tall, serious but with a broad, wrinkling smile that instantly transmits his considerable charm and friendliness, has just spent two weeks in hospital for the removal of his appendix. His stay in St Bartholomew’s coincided happily with the South African test match at Lord’s and the Wimbledon championships, both of which he watched from his bed, on television.

The bishop played cricket for his school, Repton: “I was a fast bowler—well, it was called fast in those days,” he explained. “And I played quite a bit in Singapore.” Birds and Music Birdwatching is another of his recreations. “I am told the prospects in New Zealand are fascinating,” said Bishop Baines. But he spoke most warmly of his interest in music, an interest fostered when he attended, like his sons, St. George's Choir School, and maintained ever since. “I think the cathedral ought to set the tone for the parish churches,” Bishop Baines said. ‘ ‘And I have a strong belief in the part music plays in worship. I believe in giving tongue to congregational singing and in refining the whole act of worship under the leadership of the choir and choirmaster.” Moving to Wellington has become a complicated operation for the Baines family. First there was a return to England from Singapore. Here they have disposed of a house they kept at Borrowdale in the Lake District. They have put their furnishing from here aboard the Hororata and they will follow in the Athenic, sailing on August 11, but the Bishop’s library and other possessions remain in Singapore.

Mrs Baines is looking forward to moving to Wellington too, and already has been thoroughly advised about her new home (“We have had a lot of help from friends on colour schemes and labour-saving devices.”) After her family, first priority for Mrs Baines is to make friends with the wives and families of the clergy in her husband’s diocese. “One of the great gains of going to New Zealand is to have a united family,” said the Bishop. Their two sons Andrew aged 13, and James (nine) are at present at St. George’s Choir School, Windsor. Both left Singapore to go to school in England when they were eight. James is enrolled at the Cathedral Grammar School, Christchurch, Andrew hopes to be going to Nelson College.