Nigel Cornwall
Encyclopedia
Nigel Edmund Cornwall CBE
, (13 August 1903 - 19 December 1984) was a British clergyman in the Anglican Church. He held the position of Bishop of Borneo from 1949 until 1962.
Cornwall was the son of Alan Whitmore Cornwall, who at one time was Archdeacon of Cheltenham
. He was educated at Marlborough College
and then at Oriel College, Oxford University, where he studied History. He graduated with a third-class degree in 1926. He worked in England for four years, first at Cuddesdon Theological College from 1926–27, then as Deacon in the Diocese of Durham
also in 1927, followed by a period as Curate of St Columba's, Southwick, Sunderland from 1927–30 and then as a Priest in Durham
in 1928.
His first posting abroad came in 1931 when he was appointed Chaplain to Bishop of Colombo
, Ceylon (now Sri Lanka), a position he held until 1938. He briefly returned to England for a year when he served as the Curate of St Wilfred's, Brighton
from 1938-39. After that came postings as Missionary Priest of the Diocese of Masasi
, Tanganyika
(now Tanzania) from 1939-49 during which time he also served as Headmaster of St Joseph's College, Chidya from 1944-49.
Cornwall was consecrated as Bishop of Borneo on 1 November 1949 in London
. Cornwall was the first Bishop to hold this post: following the devastation of World War II
, the Diocese of Labuan
and the Bishopric of Sarawak
was joined together as the Diocese of Borneo. Cornwall served as Bishop, based in Kuching
, for thirteen years until 1962, when this Diocese was again divided into the Diocese of Jesselton (later the Diocese of Sabah) which included Labuan, and the Diocese of Kuching which included Brunei
.
He returned to England where he served as Commissary to the Bishop of Kuching
, and as Assistant Bishop in the Diocese of Winchester
, and Canon Residentiary of Winchester Cathedral
from 1963-73. Cornwall retired in 1973.
Cornwall was awarded the CBE in 1955 and married Mary Dalton, daughter of Reverend C. R. Dalton, in 1959. They had no children. Mary died in 1981.
Order of the British Empire
The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is an order of chivalry established on 4 June 1917 by George V of the United Kingdom. The Order comprises five classes in civil and military divisions...
, (13 August 1903 - 19 December 1984) was a British clergyman in the Anglican Church. He held the position of Bishop of Borneo from 1949 until 1962.
Cornwall was the son of Alan Whitmore Cornwall, who at one time was Archdeacon of Cheltenham
Cheltenham
Cheltenham , also known as Cheltenham Spa, is a large spa town and borough in Gloucestershire, on the edge of the Cotswolds in the South-West region of England. It is the home of the flagship race of British steeplechase horse racing, the Gold Cup, the main event of the Cheltenham Festival held...
. He was educated at Marlborough College
Marlborough College
Marlborough College is a British co-educational independent school for day and boarding pupils, located in Marlborough, Wiltshire.Founded in 1843 for the education of the sons of Church of England clergy, the school now accepts both boys and girls of all beliefs. Currently there are just over 800...
and then at Oriel College, Oxford University, where he studied History. He graduated with a third-class degree in 1926. He worked in England for four years, first at Cuddesdon Theological College from 1926–27, then as Deacon in the Diocese of Durham
Diocese of Durham
The Diocese of Durham is a Church of England diocese, based in Durham, and covering the historic County Durham . It was created in AD 1000 to replace the Diocese of Lindisfarne...
also in 1927, followed by a period as Curate of St Columba's, Southwick, Sunderland from 1927–30 and then as a Priest in Durham
Durham
Durham is a city in north east England. It is within the County Durham local government district, and is the county town of the larger ceremonial county...
in 1928.
His first posting abroad came in 1931 when he was appointed Chaplain to Bishop of Colombo
Bishop of Colombo
The Anglican Bishop of Colombo is the bishop of the Diocese of Colombo, a diocese in the Church of Ceylon which is part of the Anglican Communion.- List:#James Chapman D.D. 1845-1861...
, Ceylon (now Sri Lanka), a position he held until 1938. He briefly returned to England for a year when he served as the Curate of St Wilfred's, Brighton
Brighton
Brighton is the major part of the city of Brighton and Hove in East Sussex, England on the south coast of Great Britain...
from 1938-39. After that came postings as Missionary Priest of the Diocese of Masasi
Masasi
Masasi is one of the 5 districts of the Mtwara Region of Tanzania. It is bordered to the North by the Lindi Region, to the East by the Newala District, to the South by Mozambique and to the West by the Ruvuma Region....
, Tanganyika
Tanganyika
Tanganyika , later formally the Republic of Tanganyika, was a sovereign state in East Africa from 1961 to 1964. It was situated between the Indian Ocean and the African Great Lakes of Lake Victoria, Lake Malawi and Lake Tanganyika...
(now Tanzania) from 1939-49 during which time he also served as Headmaster of St Joseph's College, Chidya from 1944-49.
Cornwall was consecrated as Bishop of Borneo on 1 November 1949 in London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
. Cornwall was the first Bishop to hold this post: following the devastation of World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, the Diocese of Labuan
Labuan
Labuan is a federal territory in East Malaysia. It is an island off the coast of the state of Sabah. Labuan's capital is Victoria and is best known as an offshore financial centre offering international financial and business services via Labuan IBFC since 1990 as well as being an offshore support...
and the Bishopric of Sarawak
Sarawak
Sarawak is one of two Malaysian states on the island of Borneo. Known as Bumi Kenyalang , Sarawak is situated on the north-west of the island. It is the largest state in Malaysia followed by Sabah, the second largest state located to the North- East.The administrative capital is Kuching, which...
was joined together as the Diocese of Borneo. Cornwall served as Bishop, based in Kuching
Kuching
Kuching , officially the City of Kuching, and formerly the City of Sarawak, is the capital and most populous city of the East Malaysian state of Sarawak. It is the largest city on the island of Borneo, and the fourth largest city in Malaysia....
, for thirteen years until 1962, when this Diocese was again divided into the Diocese of Jesselton (later the Diocese of Sabah) which included Labuan, and the Diocese of Kuching which included Brunei
Brunei
Brunei , officially the State of Brunei Darussalam or the Nation of Brunei, the Abode of Peace , is a sovereign state located on the north coast of the island of Borneo, in Southeast Asia...
.
He returned to England where he served as Commissary to the Bishop of Kuching
Bishop of Kuching
The Bishop of Kuching is an Anglican prelate who oversees the Diocese of Kuching in Malaysia. Founded in 1962, the see was originally established as the Bishopric of Sarawak linked to the Diocese of Labuan in 1855. The current bishop, The Rt. Rev'd Bolly Lapok, 13th Lord Bishop of the Diocese of...
, and as Assistant Bishop in the Diocese of Winchester
Diocese of Winchester
The Diocese of Winchester forms part of the Province of Canterbury of the Church of England.Founded in 676, it is one of the oldest and largest of the dioceses in England.The area of the diocese incorporates:...
, and Canon Residentiary of Winchester Cathedral
Winchester Cathedral
Winchester Cathedral at Winchester in Hampshire is one of the largest cathedrals in England, with the longest nave and overall length of any Gothic cathedral in Europe...
from 1963-73. Cornwall retired in 1973.
Cornwall was awarded the CBE in 1955 and married Mary Dalton, daughter of Reverend C. R. Dalton, in 1959. They had no children. Mary died in 1981.