Oliver Tomkins

Oliver Stratford Tomkins (9 June 1908 – 29 October 1992) was an Anglican Bishop of Bristol in the third quarter of the 20th century.

The Right Reverend Oliver Tomkins DD
Bishop of Bristol
Diocese	Diocese of Bristol
Elected	1958
Term ended	1975 (retirement)
Predecessor	Frederick Cockin
Successor	John Tinsley
Other posts	Canon at Lincoln Cathedral (1952–1959) Warden of Lincoln Theological College (1945–1952)
Orders
Ordination	1936
Consecration	1959
Personal details
Born	9 June 1908
Died	29 October 1992 (aged 84)
Denomination	Anglican
Parents	Revd Leopold Tomkins
Occupation	Author
Alma mater	Christ's College, Cambridge

Early life and education

Born into an ecclesiastical family – his father was Leopold Charles Fellows Tomkins (a priest)[1] – Tomkins was educated at Trent College and Christ's College, Cambridge.

Ecclesiastical career

He was made a deacon on Michaelmas 1935 (29 September)[2] and ordained a priest the Michaelmas following (20 September 1936) — both times by Henry Wilson, Bishop of Chelmsford, at Chelmsford Cathedral,[3] after which he was assistant curate of St Mary, Prittlewell.[4] From 1940 to 1945, he was vicar of Holy Trinity, Millhouses. In 1945, he became Secretary of the World Council of Churches. In 1952 he was appointed Warden of Lincoln Theological College and a Canon at Lincoln Cathedral.

Tomkins was appointed to the episcopate in 1959 as the Bishop of Bristol[5] and consecrated a bishop on 6 January 1959, by Geoffrey Fisher, Archbishop of Canterbury, at Westminster Abbey;[6] a post he held for 16 years until his retirement on 1 October 1975.[7]

Bibliography

Tomkins was also an eminent author. His works included:[8]

• The Universal Church in God's Design (1948)
• The Wholeness of the Church (1949)
• The Church in the Purpose of God (1950)
• Intercommunion (1951)
• Life of E. S. Woods, Bishop of Lichfield (1957)
• A Time for Unity (1964)
• Guarded by Faith (1971)
• Prayer for Unity (1987)

References

1. Who's Who 2008: London, A & C Black ISBN 978-0-7136-8555-8
2. "Ordinations". Church Times (#3793). 4 October 1935. p. 371. ISSN 0009-658X. Retrieved 16 October 2019 – via UK Press Online archives.
3. "Ordinations". Church Times (#3844). 25 September 1936. p. 344. ISSN 0009-658X. Retrieved 16 October 2019 – via UK Press Online archives.
4. Church web-site
5. The Times, Thursday, Aug 14, 1958; pg. 8; Issue 54229; col C Bishopric Of Bristol Dr. O. S. Tomkins Nominated
6. "Two bishops consecrated". Church Times (#5004). 9 January 1959. p. 7. ISSN 0009-658X. Retrieved 16 October 2019 – via UK Press Online archives.
7. "A scholar is chosen for Bristol". Church Times (#5871). 22 August 1975. p. 1. ISSN 0009-658X. Retrieved 24 January 2017 – via UK Press Online archives.
8. British Library web site (accessed 19:25 GMT Sunday 6 December 2009)