NEW PRIMATE

Waikato Times, Volume 196, Issue 22549, 6 January 1945, Page 6

NEW PRIMATE

DR. FISHER NOMINATED GREAT CHURCH CAREER NON=POLITICAL BISHOP (Ifclted Press Assn.—Elec. Tel. Copyright) LONDON, Jan. 4 The announcement was made from No. 10 Downing Street today that the King has been pleased to nominate the Bishop of London, the Rt. Rev. Geoffrey Francis Fisher, for election by the Dean and Chapter of Canterbury Cathedral, in place of the late Most Rev. William Temple, as Archbishop of Canterbury and Primate of All England. Dr. Fisher, Archbishop-designate of Canterbury, is a great churchman and a brilliant scholar, states the Press Association. Tall and rugged, with dark hair and twinkling eyes, he has a keen sense of humour and a wide outlook. He is essentially a family man, with a wife and six sons, whom he described as his assets when he arrived at Chester as bishop in 1932. Chester was Dr. Fisher’s first ecclesiastical appointment. For 21 years previously he had been a schoolmaster. Chester soon realised that its new bishop was a practical man with wide sympathies. Multitude of Friends During Dr. Fisher’s rive years as Bishop of London he made a multitude of friends among all classes of the community. His practical sympathy with air raid victims appealed to the hearts of thousands, and his preaching, always practical as well as scholarly, attracted large congregations. Dr. Fisher has often been called a non-political bishop. He preached co-operation in family life, in education, in the community and in social life, holding that it “ increased the effectiveness of our witness to Christian principles and their influence upon the public mind.” Dr. Fisher also follows the tradition of 'his predecessor, Dr. Temple, in his efforts toward interdenominational co-operation, and has frequently expressed strong views on the need for social reforms. It is not the first time that Dr. Fisherr has succeeded Dr. Temple, for at the age of 27 years he followed him as headmaster of Repton School, a post Dr. Fisher held for 18 years until he went to Chester. National Service Advocated Dr. Fisher, who is 57 years of age, is the son of an Anglican clergyman. In 1939 Dr. Fisher was chosen to succeed the aged Dr. WinningtonIngram as Bishop of London. He early showed that he held strong views on national service, and declared that Britain should rearm and call on the people to equip themselves for national service. “We must talk the language the dictators understand,” he said.