Arthur Henry Attwell
Encyclopedia
The Rt Revd Arthur Henry Attwell, B.A., B.D., was Bishop of Sodor and Man
from 1983 to 1988. He served as Dean of Kimberley
, South Africa
, from 1953 to 1959 and afterwards as Rector of Workington
, Cumberland
.
on 28 June 1953.
This was a period of anguish in South Africa as Apartheid legislation was passed into law and implemented. In 1956 the Bishop of Kimberley and Kuruman, the Rt Revd John Boys
appointed a commission to investigate the probable affects of the Group Areas Act
in Kimberley – which was resulting in forced removals as different ‘race groups’ were separated (not infrequently splitting families) and directed to live in designated suburbs or townships. In 1959 the Diocesan Magazine, Highway, stated with respect to the Group Areas Act that: “We in the Anglican Church declare the act to be evil and to be opposed at every point.”
During Attwell’s term as Dean of Kimberley decisive steps were taken towards completing the building of the Cathedral (begun in 1907). In 1954 materials were ordered for the building of the cathedral tower but it was not before August 1959 – just when Attwell announced his resignation – that work was actually started and the foundation stone laid by his predecessor as Dean, the Revd Canon F.W. Smith
M.C.
. His widow, Mrs Muriel Attwell, later gave Attwell’s considerable theological library, containing some 4000 books, to St Michael’s.
. On this occasion he pledged himself to serve the island and “to seek to appreciate all that was important in the Manx
way of life and to the Manx nation, and would try to master the Manx language.”
In their study of “The work of a religious representative in a democratic legislature,” Edge and Pearce remark that the interventions of Bishop Attwell, like those of his predecessor Bishop Gordon, “initially sought to explicitly identify philosophical foundations for legislative activity” but that though he had been complimented for his attendance in the legislature, his contributions, compared with those of other bishops, had been “relatively low key.” He was concerned with issues of morality – in particular “the importance of the conventional family” in relation to Civil Registration and Matrimonial legislation, but also with regard to education as “character development rather than simply vocational training”, and in relation to the rising tide of illegal drugs. He also engaged with continuing debates on Sunday trading. He was interested in and contributed to debates concerning culture, including the Manx Museum and archaeological matters.
Attwell was also concerned with overseas development, making inputs to discussion on the Resolution to approve Public Lottery Regulations 1984.
At his departure in 1988, Bishop Attwell admitted that he had not found learning Manx an easy task. At a farewell function the Lieutenant-Governor formally thanked the Bishop for his work, noting particularly his contribution to debates on “youth, on heart and soul, and on morality in its greatest sense”.
Bishop of Sodor and Man
The Bishop of Sodor and Man is the Ordinary of the Diocese of Sodor and Man in the Province of York in the Church of England. The diocese covers the Isle of Man. The see is in the town of Peel where the bishop's seat is located at the Cathedral Church of St German, elevated to cathedral status on 1...
from 1983 to 1988. He served as Dean of Kimberley
Kimberley, Northern Cape
Kimberley is a city in South Africa, and the capital of the Northern Cape. It is located near the confluence of the Vaal and Orange Rivers. The town has considerable historical significance due its diamond mining past and siege during the Second Boer War...
, South Africa
South Africa
The Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans...
, from 1953 to 1959 and afterwards as Rector of Workington
Workington
Workington is a town, civil parish and port on the west coast of Cumbria, England, at the mouth of the River Derwent. Lying within the Borough of Allerdale, Workington is southwest of Carlisle, west of Cockermouth, and southwest of Maryport...
, Cumberland
Cumberland
Cumberland is a historic county of North West England, on the border with Scotland, from the 12th century until 1974. It formed an administrative county from 1889 to 1974 and now forms part of Cumbria....
.
Kimberley
The Revd Arthur Henry Attwell was appointed as Dean of Kimberley and installed at St Cyprian's CathedralSt Cyprian's Cathedral, Kimberley
The Cathedral Church of St Cyprian the Martyr, Kimberley, is the seat of the Bishop of the Anglican Diocese of Kimberley and Kuruman, Anglican Church of Southern Africa. It became a Cathedral when the Synod of Bishops gave a mandate for the formation of the new Diocese of Kimberley and Kuruman in...
on 28 June 1953.
This was a period of anguish in South Africa as Apartheid legislation was passed into law and implemented. In 1956 the Bishop of Kimberley and Kuruman, the Rt Revd John Boys
John Boys
John Boys is best known as the Royalist captain who was the Governor of Donnington Castle in Berkshire during the English Civil War....
appointed a commission to investigate the probable affects of the Group Areas Act
Group Areas Act
The Group Areas Act of 1950 was an act of parliament created under the apartheid government of South Africa on 27th April 1950. The act assigned racial groups to different residential and business sections in urban areas in a system of urban apartheid...
in Kimberley – which was resulting in forced removals as different ‘race groups’ were separated (not infrequently splitting families) and directed to live in designated suburbs or townships. In 1959 the Diocesan Magazine, Highway, stated with respect to the Group Areas Act that: “We in the Anglican Church declare the act to be evil and to be opposed at every point.”
During Attwell’s term as Dean of Kimberley decisive steps were taken towards completing the building of the Cathedral (begun in 1907). In 1954 materials were ordered for the building of the cathedral tower but it was not before August 1959 – just when Attwell announced his resignation – that work was actually started and the foundation stone laid by his predecessor as Dean, the Revd Canon F.W. Smith
Francis William Smith
The Very Revd Francis William Smith, M.C., was Dean of Kimberley, South Africa, and Rector of St Cyprian's Cathedral in Kimberley.-Early life:...
M.C.
Workington
Afterwards he returned to England to become Rector at St Michael’s, WorkingtonWorkington
Workington is a town, civil parish and port on the west coast of Cumbria, England, at the mouth of the River Derwent. Lying within the Borough of Allerdale, Workington is southwest of Carlisle, west of Cockermouth, and southwest of Maryport...
. His widow, Mrs Muriel Attwell, later gave Attwell’s considerable theological library, containing some 4000 books, to St Michael’s.
Bishop of Sodor and Man
Bishop Attwell was elevated to the episcopacy in 1983 when he was enthroned as Bishop of Sodor and ManBishop of Sodor and Man
The Bishop of Sodor and Man is the Ordinary of the Diocese of Sodor and Man in the Province of York in the Church of England. The diocese covers the Isle of Man. The see is in the town of Peel where the bishop's seat is located at the Cathedral Church of St German, elevated to cathedral status on 1...
. On this occasion he pledged himself to serve the island and “to seek to appreciate all that was important in the Manx
Manx
Manx is an adjective describing things or people related to the Isle of Man:* Manx people**Manx surnames* Isle of ManIt may also refer to:-Languages:...
way of life and to the Manx nation, and would try to master the Manx language.”
In their study of “The work of a religious representative in a democratic legislature,” Edge and Pearce remark that the interventions of Bishop Attwell, like those of his predecessor Bishop Gordon, “initially sought to explicitly identify philosophical foundations for legislative activity” but that though he had been complimented for his attendance in the legislature, his contributions, compared with those of other bishops, had been “relatively low key.” He was concerned with issues of morality – in particular “the importance of the conventional family” in relation to Civil Registration and Matrimonial legislation, but also with regard to education as “character development rather than simply vocational training”, and in relation to the rising tide of illegal drugs. He also engaged with continuing debates on Sunday trading. He was interested in and contributed to debates concerning culture, including the Manx Museum and archaeological matters.
Attwell was also concerned with overseas development, making inputs to discussion on the Resolution to approve Public Lottery Regulations 1984.
At his departure in 1988, Bishop Attwell admitted that he had not found learning Manx an easy task. At a farewell function the Lieutenant-Governor formally thanked the Bishop for his work, noting particularly his contribution to debates on “youth, on heart and soul, and on morality in its greatest sense”.