Geoffrey Lunt
Geoffrey Charles Lester Lunt MC (1885–1948) was an Anglican bishop in the 20th century.[1]
Born into an ecclesiastical family[2] and educated at Sherborne and Exeter College, Oxford[3] he was ordained in 1909. His first post was as curate at Christ Church, Clifton, Bristol,[4] after which he was secretary of the Church Missionary Society for Public Schools and Young People's Work then vicar of St Paul's, Bedminster. While at Bedminster he was freed to join the Army Chaplain's Department, and served in France and Flanders with the 17th Division on a one-year contract.[5] He experienced the Battles of Arras and Passchendaele, witnessed cavalry attacks, bombardments, and the effects of gas, and helped with surgical operations, soup kitchens and mass burials. He was awarded the Military Cross for rescuing wounded soldiers.[6]
When peace returned he became vicar of All Saints, Northampton then archdeacon of Egypt. From 1928 he was vicar of St Mary's, Portsea, Portsmouth, the largest parish of the city.[7] before his appointment to the episcopate as bishop of Ripon.[8]
By 1946, Lunt's health was causing concern, and when the Bishop of Southwark turned down the offer of translation to Salisbury, Lunt was offered the post and accepted it. A rural diocese seemed to provide a more amenable setting than Ripon which included the city of Leeds.[9] Unfortunately, Lunt's health did not improve and he died in 1948.
Family[]
Brother - Theodore Robert Woosnam Lunt (1879-1951)[10] His wife was Lillias M Sherbrooke (1889-1980)[11] His sister Mary Baskerville Lunt married Hugh Cecil Jenner (1872-1968) who was descended from Francis Lascelles (1744-1799) and the singer Ann Catley His son Ronald Geoffrey Lunt (1913-1994) was also a war chaplain who served with 7th commando in Libya;[12] and later the rector of Martley.
References[]
- ^ National Archives
- ^ "Genealogical website". Archived from the original on 2010-12-23. Retrieved 2009-05-09.
- ^ “Who was Who” 1897-1990 London, A & C Black, 1991 ISBN 0-7136-3457-X
- ^ Church website
- ^ TNA WO339/136476. Service Record
- ^ University of Leeds Brotherton Library. Unpublished biography by Lunt's son who also would earn a MC as a Chaplain, in World War 2
- ^ Crockford's Clerical Directory1940-41 Oxford, OUP,1941
- ^ New Bishop Of Ripon Canon Lunt Appointed The Times Monday, 29 October 1934; p. 14; Issue 46897; col F
- ^ TNA PREM5/346
- ^ Lunt, Theodore Robert Woosnam (1901). The Story of Islam. London: United Council for Missionary Education.
- ^ their marriage appears on Peerage website.
- ^ Portraits of Ronald Geoffrey Lunt at the National Portrait Gallery, London
External links[]
Portraits of Geoffrey Lunt at the National Portrait Gallery, London
- 1885 births
- 1948 deaths
- Alumni of Exeter College, Oxford
- Anglican archdeacons in Africa
- Bishops of Ripon (modern diocese)
- Bishops of Salisbury
- People educated at Sherborne School
- Recipients of the Military Cross
- Royal Army Chaplains' Department officers
- World War I chaplains
- 20th-century Church of England bishops
- Church of England bishop stubs