Kenneth Bevan

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Kenneth Graham Bevan (27 September 1898 – 3 December 1993) was an Anglican missionary bishop in China.

Early life[]

Bevan was born in 1898, in Hampstead, where his father was a curate. He was the son of the Rev. James Alfred Bevan,[1] who had captained Wales in their first international rugby union match, and his wife Annie. He was educated at Great Yarmouth Grammar School and the London College of Divinity.

Career[]

He was ordained deacon in 1923, and priest in 1924, and was then a curate at Holy Trinity, Tunbridge Wells (now Trinity Theatre) [2] before missionary service with the Anglican-Episcopal Province of China from 1925. Consecrated a bishop in 1940 in Holy Trinity Cathedral, Shanghai, for 10 years he was Bishop of Eastern Szechwan. The obituary in the Church Times stated that: "His diocese was wild and mountainous, and in travelling round it he was reduced, he said, to carrying only a Bible and a toothbrush."[3]

Following the end of the Chinese Civil War and the Communist takeover of China, Bevan returned to England and became the vicar of Woolhope (1951-1966)), during which time he was also rural dean of Hereford (1955-1966) and Prebendary de Moreton et Whaddon at Hereford Cathedral (1956-1966).[4] On retirement in 1966 he became Master of in Hemsworth and then an assistant bishop in the Diocese of Wakefield for a further 11 years.[5] During that time, he founded the . [6]

Personal life[]

Bevan married Jocelyn Duncan (known as Joyce) Barber in 1927 in Shanghai Cathedral.[7] They had three daughters.[8]

He died in 1993, aged 95.

References[]

  1. ^ “Who was Who” 1897–1990 London, A & C Black 1991 ISBN 0-7136-3457-X
  2. ^ Church website
  3. ^ "Church Times: "Obituary: Bishop Kenneth Bevan", 28 January 1994, p 5". Retrieved 22 December 2020.
  4. ^ Crockford's Clerical Directory, 1973-74, 85th edition, p 79.
  5. ^ Crockford's Clerical Directory 1975-76 London: Oxford University Press, 1976 ISBN 0-19-200008-X
  6. ^ "Church Times: "Obituary: Bishop Kenneth Bevan", 28 January 1994, p 5". Retrieved 22 December 2020.
  7. ^ "Holy Trinity Cathedral, Shanghai, marriage register via FindMyPast". Retrieved 22 December 2020.
  8. ^ "Church Times: "Obituary: Bishop Kenneth Bevan", 28 January 1994, p 5". Retrieved 22 December 2020.
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