THE ARCHBISHOP OF CANTERBURY

Otago Daily Times, Issue 25736, 6 January 1945, Page 4

THE ARCHBISHOP OF CANTERBURY

After an episcopate of five years in the See of London, Dr Fisher is to be translated to Canterbury to become the Primate of All England. Like his predecessor, he was once headmaster of Repton, though, unlike Dr Temple, he has had no parochial experience at all. He had a brilliant career at Oxford, where he obtained his degree with first classes in Moderations, Greats, and Theology. After a successful headmastership at Repton, he. was consecrated Bishop of Chester in 1932. Here he became a most effective outdoor preacher, and took part in a big evangelistic effort on the Merseyside. One notable feature of his work was his skill in obtaining the co-operation of the laity. A large part of his time was also taken up in the unspectacular task of organisation, a branch of episcopal duties in which the new archbishop excels. He has always applied his intellectual gifts to severely practical duties. He has published a few pamphlets, but has made no original contribution to theology. Nevertheless, there is no doubt that there are few bishops whose judgment carries more weight among his brethren in the bench in any matter requiring theological knowledge. He is first and foremost an administrator, with a clear head and unusual powers of grasping essentials, a wise counsellor, and a tireless worker. In 1939, he was called to succeed Dr A. F. Winnington Ingram as Bishop of London. During the long episcopate of Dr Ingram, the discipline of his vast diocese had not been of the best. The Anglo-Catholic party had had its own way, regardless of church standards, in many parishes. It was feared that the new bishop might have serious difficulties with extremists, he himself being what may be called a Moderate High

Churchman. These fears have not materialised, and Dr Fisher’s London episcopate has been a model of tact and firmness. His departure from London will be regretted by all who had any knowledge of their diocesan. The Archbishop-designate is two years short of sixty, and, judged by his achievements in. war-scarred London, is probably at the height of his powers. He follows one who, for ability and energy, had few rivals in the chair of St. Augustine. In one notable respect the new Primate differs from Dr Temple. He has no marked political views. Nevertheless, as a bishop, he has realised the urgency of what is called the social question. Shortly after his enthronement in St. Paul’s, he declared that the task of the Church was to keep the mind of the nation true to the determination to make war and peace with the Christian principles of social morality. “ Nor is that possible,” he added, “to honest minds without at the same time determining that these same principles must be applied to the internal life of the nation, too, as they never have been yet.” One need not be a churchman to sympathise with this ideal, and it is to be hoped that Dr Fisher will occupy his high office long enough to see it fulfilled as far as possible in an imperfect world.