BISHOP OF LONDON

Evening Post, Volume CXIII, Issue 48, 26 February 1927, Page 15

BISHOP OF LONDON

HIS EMPIRE MISSION

ARRIVAL IN WELLINGTON ON MONDAY Still one of the greatest spiritual forces in. England, and as a preacher no one in England l.as more moving power.—"The Times," London. The Right Reverend A. P. Wilmington Ingram, D.D., X.C.V.0., Bishop of London, will arrive in Wellington by the Makura from Sydney on Monday next. He is completing a tour of the British Dominions made for the purpose of stimulating Empire settlement. He has had wonderful receptions in the United States, Canada, and Australia. The Bishop of London, who is in his 69th year, was rector of Bethnal Green, 1895: rural dean of Spitalfields, 1896; canon of St. Paul's Cathedral, 1897-1901—Bishol of Stepney (Suffragan to Bishop of London), 1897----1901; chaplain to London 8if1.3 Brigade since 1901; and has been Bishop of London since 1901. He is the author of numerous publications, including "Work in Great Cities" and '' Church Difficulties. " "No bishop within living memory, probably, has held a wider public confidence than the present Bishop of London," says tho writer of a recent biographical sketch of Bishop' Winnington Ingram. "His,-success I should say, "is a success of dominant personality inspired by intrinsic goodness. . . He is under no delusion as to the evils of our time. Conceiving it his duty to attack them regardless of consequences, he often brings upon himself the criticism of those who see matters of national policy from v. different viewpoint. But no responsible person, I think, would deny that he

is a valiant fighter against evil - in many "forms'. Indeed, multitudes who differ from the bishop on questions'of religion, polities, and other weighty matters, gladly confess their unbounded confidence in • his efforts to leave London and the nation the better for his ministry.

"Never having aspired to leave behind him works of profound learning or- great contributions to church history or liturgy, the bishop has been singularly successful in that far more difficult task—the.effort to be in truth what his consecration proclaimed him, a father-in-God to all who come within his spiritual dispensation. To multitudes of Londoners, both churchgoers and non-church-goers, mention of 'the bishop' evokes an immediate and sympathetic interest." Dr. Ingram' recently expressed the opinion that although the mass of the people are superficially less religious than they were twenty-five years ago, deep down there is a more widespread, and sincere religious spirit amongst them. HIS ACTIVITIES. The Bishop of London is. a keen sportsman. Even at his age he can give points to many younger men at various games. He is an ardent golfer, tennis player, and angler,' and he can • knock up a decidedly good game at squash rackets. Occasionally even he plays hockey, and he is still quite equal to a hard row on a Scottish loch. On Fridays he generally motors to some golf course near London, and plays a hard game with kindred enthusiasts. In reply to a question as to his present activities in his* diocese, Bishop Ingram recently said: "I am responsible for over six hundred parishes and some fifteen hundred clergy. In my administrative work I am accorded invaluable assistance by my suffragan bishops of Willesden, Kensington, and Stepney, and by archdeacons of London, Middlesex, and Hampstead. In the oversight, of the Anglican chaplaincies on the Continent of Europe, for which I am responsible, I have been admirably served for many years by Bishop Bury, formerly Bishop of Honduras, who has just been succeeded by Bishop Batty. I usually visit about five parishes a week, and I preach or officiate at two churches on most Sundays.