Geoffrey Francis Davies
Encyclopedia
Geoffrey Francis Davies was the inaugural Bishop of Umzimvubu
. Born in 1941 and educated at the Universities
of Cape Town and Cambridge
he studied for ordination at Ripon College Cuddesdon
before beginning his ecclesiastical career with a Curacy
at St Mary the Boltons, West Brompton. The rest of his ministry was to be spent in Africa
, firstly as Priest in Charge of Serowe
,at the time the largest village in Botswana
and latterly South Africa
. Here he rose steadily in the Church hierarchy being successively Rector
of Kalk Bay
, Director of Missions within the Cape Town Diocese
, Suffragan Bishop
of St John’s
and finally a Diocesan Bishop.
Anglican Diocese of Umzimvubu
The Anglican Diocese of Umzimvubu is a relatively new Diocese created out of a portion of the former St John’s See. It came into existence in 1991 and the current Bishop is The Rt Rev Mlibo Mteteleli Ngewu....
. Born in 1941 and educated at the Universities
University
A university is an institution of higher education and research, which grants academic degrees in a variety of subjects. A university is an organisation that provides both undergraduate education and postgraduate education...
of Cape Town and Cambridge
Emmanuel College, Cambridge
Emmanuel College is a constituent college of the University of Cambridge.The college was founded in 1584 by Sir Walter Mildmay on the site of a Dominican friary...
he studied for ordination at Ripon College Cuddesdon
Ripon College Cuddesdon
Ripon College Cuddesdon is a Church of England theological college in Cuddesdon, a village outside Oxford, England.-History:Ripon College Cuddesdon was formed from an amalgamation in 1975 of Cuddesdon College and Ripon Hall...
before beginning his ecclesiastical career with a Curacy
Curate
A curate is a person who is invested with the care or cure of souls of a parish. In this sense "curate" correctly means a parish priest but in English-speaking countries a curate is an assistant to the parish priest...
at St Mary the Boltons, West Brompton. The rest of his ministry was to be spent in Africa
Africa
Africa is the world's second largest and second most populous continent, after Asia. At about 30.2 million km² including adjacent islands, it covers 6% of the Earth's total surface area and 20.4% of the total land area...
, firstly as Priest in Charge of Serowe
Serowe
Serowe was famed as Botswana's largest village after Molepolole. Serowe has a rich history in Botswana'; it being the capital for the Bamangwato people in the early part of the 20th century and for being the birth place of many of Botswana's Presidents...
,at the time the largest village in Botswana
Botswana
Botswana, officially the Republic of Botswana , is a landlocked country located in Southern Africa. The citizens are referred to as "Batswana" . Formerly the British protectorate of Bechuanaland, Botswana adopted its new name after becoming independent within the Commonwealth on 30 September 1966...
and latterly 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...
. Here he rose steadily in the Church hierarchy being successively Rector
Vicar
In the broadest sense, a vicar is a representative, deputy or substitute; anyone acting "in the person of" or agent for a superior . In this sense, the title is comparable to lieutenant...
of Kalk Bay
Kalk Bay
Kalk Bay is a fishing village on the coast of False Bay, South Africa and is now a suburb of greater Cape Town. It lies in a beautiful setting, wedged between the ocean and sharply rising mountainous heights that are buttressed by crags of grey sandstone...
, Director of Missions within the Cape Town Diocese
Anglican Diocese of Cape Town
The Anglican Diocese of Cape Town, South Africa, came into being in 1847 with the consecration of the first bishop, Robert Gray, and later expanded to become the Church of the Province of Southern Africa, now called the Anglican Church of Southern Africa....
, Suffragan Bishop
Suffragan bishop
A suffragan bishop is a bishop subordinate to a metropolitan bishop or diocesan bishop. He or she may be assigned to an area which does not have a cathedral of its own.-Anglican Communion:...
of St John’s
Bishop of St John's
The Bishop of St John’s is the Bishop of the Diocese of St Johns in the Anglican Church of Southern Africa, which encompassed the area around King Williams Town and East London and is located in the Eastern Cape Province of South Africa. In 1991 the Diocese split with a portion of it becoming the...
and finally a Diocesan Bishop.