William Awdry was the inaugural Bishop of Southampton

Bishop of Southampton

The Bishop of Southampton is an episcopal title used by a suffragan bishop of the Church of England Diocese of Winchester, in the Province of Canterbury, England. The title takes its name after the city of Southampton in Hampshire. The current bishop is The Rt Revd Jonathan Frost, who became bishop...

 and Osaka

Bishop of Osaka

The Bishop of Osaka is an Anglican Bishopric in Japan, the first appointment being made in 1896-External links:**-Bibliography:"A Brief History of Osaka Diocese" compiled in March 1997 by the Rev.John Yamane, Diocese of Osaka, Nippon Sei Ko Kai...

 who subsequently served South Tokyo

Bishop of South Tokyo

The Bishop of South Tokyo was the title of a bishop of the Anglican Church in Japan.Edward Bickersteth was the Bishop of South Tokyo from 1886 until his premature death. He was born at Banningham, Norfolk, into a noted ecclesiastical family .-External links:****...

.

He was the fourth son of Sir John Wither Awdry

John Wither Awdry

Sir John Wither Awdry DL was an English-born Indian judge.Born at Swindon, he was the second and oldest surviving son of John Awdry and his wife Jane, the second daughter of Lovelace Bigg. Awdry was educated at Westminster School and then at Christ Church College, Oxford. He was first in classics...

 and his second wife Frances Ellen Carr, second daughter of Thomas Carr

Thomas Carr (bishop)

Thomas Carr was the inaugural Bishop of Bombay between 1836 and 1851. In retirement he gave key evidence in a famous court case, that of Archdeacon Denison.. He died at Bath, Somerset in 1859. His grandson William Awdry was also a bishop.-References:...

 Awdry was educated at Winchester College

Winchester College

Winchester College is an independent school for boys in the British public school tradition, situated in Winchester, Hampshire, the former capital of England. It has existed in its present location for over 600 years and claims the longest unbroken history of any school in England...

  and Balliol College, Oxford

Balliol College, Oxford

Balliol College , founded in 1263, is one of the constituent colleges of the University of Oxford in England but founded by a family with strong Scottish connections....

. While at Oxford, he rowed in the Oxford

Oxford University Boat Club

The Oxford University Boat Club is the rowing club of the University of Oxford, England, located on the River Thames at Oxford. The club was founded in the early 19th century....

 eight

Eight (rowing)

An Eight is a rowing boat used in the sport of competitive rowing. It is designed for eight rowers, who propel the boat with sweep oars, and is steered by a coxswain, or cox....

 in the Boat Race in 1863 and 1864 and his crew won both times.

Ordained in 1865 his early career was an academic one- he was successively Fellow

Fellow

A fellow in the broadest sense is someone who is an equal or a comrade. The term fellow is also used to describe a person, particularly by those in the upper social classes. It is most often used in an academic context: a fellow is often part of an elite group of learned people who are awarded...

 and Lecturer

Lecturer

Lecturer is an academic rank. In the United Kingdom, lecturer is a position at a university or similar institution, often held by academics in their early career stages, who lead research groups and supervise research students, as well as teach...

 at Queens College, Oxford , Second master

Second master

A deputy head teacher, deputy headmaster or deputy headmistress is the second most senior teacher in a school in the United Kingdom and elsewhere....

 at his old school

Winchester College

Winchester College is an independent school for boys in the British public school tradition, situated in Winchester, Hampshire, the former capital of England. It has existed in its present location for over 600 years and claims the longest unbroken history of any school in England...

 and finally Headmaster of Hurstpierpoint

Hurstpierpoint College

Hurstpierpoint College is an independent, co-educational, day and boarding school for pupils aged 4–18, located just to the north of the village of Hurstpierpoint, West Sussex in the lee of the South Downs...

. In 1879 he became a Canon Residentiary

Canon (priest)

A canon is a priest or minister who is a member of certain bodies of the Christian clergy subject to an ecclesiastical rule ....

 at Chichester Cathedral

Chichester Cathedral

The Cathedral Church of the Holy Trinity, otherwise called Chichester Cathedral, is the seat of the Anglican Bishop of Chichester. It is located in Chichester, in Sussex, England...

 and Principal

Dean (education)

In academic administration, a dean is a person with significant authority over a specific academic unit, or over a specific area of concern, or both...

 of the nearby Theological College. After 7 years he was appointed Vicar

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 Amport

Amport

Amport is a small village and civil parish in the Test Valley district of NW Hampshire, England, a few miles west of Andover. It incorporates the small hamlet of East Cholderton and has a population of about 800....

, his final post before ascending to the episcopate.