Geoffrey Tiarks

Geoffrey Lewis Tiarks (8 October 1909 – 13 January 1987) was a British Anglican bishop. He was the Bishop of Maidstone in the latter part of the 20th century.[1]

Early life and education

Born into an ecclesiastical family — his father was Lewis Hermann Tiarks, sometime Rector of Lerwick (in the Scottish Episcopal Church).[2] on 8 October 1909 he was educated at Marlborough College and St John's College, Cambridge.[3]

Ordained ministry

Tiarks was ordained in the Church of England: made deacon in Advent 1932 (18 December)[4] and ordained priest the following Advent (17 December 1933) — both times by Richard Parsons, Bishop of Southwark at Southwark Cathedral.[5] He served his a curacy at St Peter's Church, Walworth.[6] He was for many years a Royal Navy military chaplain.[7] Following this, he served the Anglican Church in Rondebosch, South Africa, from 1950 to 1953. He then returned to England, and was Vicar of Lyme Regis until 1961. He served as Archdeacon of the Isle of Wight to 1965 and finally (before his appointment to the episcopate), as Archdeacon of Portsmouth.

Tiarks was consecrated a bishop on 25 January 1969, by Michael Ramsey, Archbishop of Canterbury, at Westminster Abbey.[8] He served as Bishop of Maidstone, a suffragan bishop of the Diocese of Canterbury, until his retirement on 30 September 1976;[9] until 1974 he was also Senior Chaplain at Lambeth Palace[10] (to Ramsey as Archbishop of Canterbury).

Personal life

He married Betty Lyne Stock in Malta whilst a naval chaplain and they had a son, Robert, and a daughter, Susan. They retired to Dorset in 1976;[11] he died on 14 January 1987, survived by Betty.

He was second-cousin to John Tiarks (Bishop of Chelmsford, 1962–1971).[12][13] Through his sister Anne, the bishop was an uncle to Mark Phillips,[14] and one of the godfathers of Mark's son Peter, the eldest grandchild of Elizabeth II.[15]

References

1. Crockford's Clerical Directory 1975-76 London: Oxford University Press, 1976 ISBN 0-19-200008-X
2. "Scottish Episcopal Clergy, 1689-2000” Bertie, D.M: Edinburgh T & T Clark ISBN 0-567-08746-8
3. “Who was Who 1897-1990” London, A & C Black, 1991 ISBN 0-7136-3457-X
4. "Advent ordinations". Church Times (#3648). 23 December 1932. p. 787. ISSN 0009-658X. Retrieved 10 October 2019 – via UK Press Online archives.
5. "Advent ordinations". Church Times (#3700). 22 December 1933. p. 759. ISSN 0009-658X. Retrieved 10 October 2019 – via UK Press Online archives.
6. "Information about church". Archived from the original on 2008-08-30. Retrieved 2008-09-09.
7. Period as RN chaplain
8. "picture caption". Church Times (#5529). 31 January 1969. p. 24. ISSN 0009-658X. Retrieved 10 October 2019 – via UK Press Online archives.
9. "Canon is appointed as bishop". Church Times (#5924). 27 August 1976. p. 2. ISSN 0009-658X. Retrieved 10 October 2019 – via UK Press Online archives.
10. "Bishop Tiarks". Church Times (#6467). 23 January 1987. p. 9. ISSN 0009-658X. Retrieved 10 October 2019 – via UK Press Online archives.
11. ”Ancient and Modern-Recollections from the Countryside” Biles,T (Ed): Beaminster, Beaminster Area Team, 1986 ISBN 0-9511903-0-X
12. "Primate's New Senior Chaplain". Church Times (#5524). 27 December 1968. p. 1. ISSN 0009-658X. Retrieved 10 October 2019 – via UK Press Online archives.
14. "Geoffrey Tiarks". Church Times (#6466). 16 January 1987. p. 16. ISSN 0009-658X. Retrieved 10 October 2019 – via UK Press Online archives.
15. "Royal christening" The Times Friday 23 December 1977; p. 12; Issue 60194; col B