MINISTER'S DEATH

Evening Post, Volume CXL, Issue 148, 20 December 1945, Page 5

MINISTER'S DEATH

REV. G. GORDON BELL P.A. CAMBRIDGE, December 19

The body of an adult male was found in the Waikato River near Ngaruawahia about midday yesterday by a party of police. It was identified at the inquest at Huntly late yesterday afternoon as that of the Rev. G. Gordon Bell. After evidence of identification had been provided by a Cambridge resident the inquest was adjourned. On the morning of October 27 last Mr. Bell's abandoned car was found near Leamington, at the approach to the high level bridge. About 7.20 a.m. a man was seen to fall from the bridge into the Waikato River. Since then Mr. Bell has been missing.

Mr. Bell came to Auckland from Stafford, England, and in 1920 became vicar of the Church of the Holy Sepulchre. In 1929 he was appointed vicar of St. Andrew's, Cambridge, and later Archdeacon of Waikato. After a protracted dispute' with the church authorities he ceased to be vicar of Cambridge in 1934. He then conducted a private chapel at St. Francis in Cambridge.