Leonard James Beecher CMG, ARCS, FRAI (21 May 1906 – 16 December 1987) was an English-born Anglican archbishop.[1] He was the first archbishop of the Province of East Africa, comprising Kenya and Tanzania, from 1960 to 1970.


Leonard Beecher

Archbishop of East Africa,
Bishop of Nairobi
Beecher being blessed by Geoffrey Fisher, Archbishop of Canterbury, after having been installed the first Archbishop of East Africa in 1960, at St Alban's Church, Dar es Salaam
ChurchChurch of the Province of East Africa
Elected7 April 1960
Installed3 August 1960
Retired3 August 1970
PredecessorReginald Crabbe, as Bishop of Mombasa
SuccessorFesto Olang', as Archbishop of Kenya
John Sepeku, as Archbishop of Tanzania
Previous post(s)Mombasa (asst.); IV Mombasa
Personal details
Born(1906-05-21)21 May 1906
Died16 December 1987(1987-12-16) (aged 81)
Nairobi, Republic of Kenya
Spouse
Gladys Sybil Bazett Leakey
(m. 1930; died 1982)
Children3
EducationImperial College, University of London (BSc, MA)
London Day Training College, University of London (Teacher's Certificate)
Lambeth Degree (DD)
Ordination history
History
Diaconal ordination
Ordained byRichard Heywood
Date1929
PlaceCathedral of the Highlands, Diocese of Mombasa
Priestly ordination
Ordained byRichard Heywood
Date1931
PlaceCathedral of the Highlands, Diocese of Mombasa
Episcopal consecration
Principal consecratorGeoffrey Fisher
Co-consecratorsWilliam Wand, Edward Woods, Christopher Chavasse, Bertram Simpson, John Jones, Hugh Gough, George Ingle, Richard Heywood; John Willis; George Wright; William Stanton Jones, and John Mann.
Date25 July 1950
PlaceSt Paul's Cathedral, Diocese of London

Education and training

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He was educated at St. Olave's Grammar School and Imperial College London, ordained deacon in 1929 and priest in 1931.[2][3][4] He became an Associate of the Royal College of Science (ARCS) in 1926 and made a Fellow of the Royal Anthropological Institute (FRAI) in 1928.

Missionary in Africa

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He was a missionary of the Church Mission Society in the Diocese of Mombasa from 1930, working in the Highlands.[5] He was appointed Archdeacon of Mombasa and a Canon (both 1945–1953)[6] and an Assistant Bishop of Mombasa:[7] he was consecrated a bishop on St James's Day 1950 (25 July) by Geoffrey Fisher, Archbishop of Canterbury, at St Paul's Cathedral.[8] He became diocesan Bishop of Mombasa in 1953[9] and — additionally — Archbishop of the Province of East Africa, from 1960 to 1970:[10] he was elected (by the House of Bishops of the province-to-be)[11] to serve as the first archbishop in April 1960[12] and installed by Geoffrey Fisher, Archbishop of Canterbury, at the new province's inauguration service on 3 August 1960 at Dar-es-Salaam.[13]

Later life

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A prominent member of the Royal African Society,[14] he retired in 1970 and died on 16 December 1987. He is buried in the cemetery at All Saints, Limuru.[15]

References

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  1. ^ All Saints Nairobi Archived 2011-05-12 at the Wayback Machine
  2. ^ Who was Who 1897–1990 London, A & C Black, 1991 ISBN 0-7136-3457-X.
  3. ^ Crockford's Clerical Directory1940–1941 Oxford, OUP,1941
  4. ^ "Archbishop Beecher". Church Times. No. 6515. 24 December 1987. p. 12. ISSN 0009-658X. Retrieved 28 October 2019 – via UK Press Online archives.
  5. ^ Gordon Hewitt, The Problems of Success: A History of the Church Missionary Society 1910-1942 (1971) Vol. I p. 132.
  6. ^ "Beecher, Leonard James". Who's Who. A & C Black. (Subscription or UK public library membership required.)
  7. ^ Ecclesiastical News Assistant Bishop in Mombasa The Times Thursday, 23 March 1950; p. 8; Issue 51647; col C
  8. ^ "Consecations at St Paul's". Church Times. No. 4564. 28 July 1950. p. 558. ISSN 0009-658X. Retrieved 28 October 2019 – via UK Press Online archives.
  9. ^ The Times, Friday, 27 February 1953; p. 8; Issue 52557; col E Bishop Of Mombasa
  10. ^ Ecclesiastical News Archbishop-Designate Of East Africa The Times Thursday, 5 May 1960; p. 16; Issue 54763; col E
  11. ^ "Primate's Summer Tour of New East African Province". Church Times. No. 5074. 13 May 1960. p. 14. ISSN 0009-658X. Retrieved 28 October 2019 – via UK Press Online archives.
  12. ^ "New Primate of East Africa". Church Times. No. 5073. 6 May 1960. p. 1. ISSN 0009-658X. Retrieved 28 October 2019 – via UK Press Online archives.
  13. ^ "Inauguration of New Church Province of East Africa". Church Times. No. 5087. 12 August 1960. p. 1. ISSN 0009-658X. Retrieved 28 October 2019 – via UK Press Online archives.
  14. ^ African Affairs
  15. ^ Photo of grave

See also

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Anglican Communion titles
New title Archbishop of East Africa
1960–1970
Succeeded byas Archbishop of Kenya
Succeeded byas Archbishop of Tanzania
New title Bishop of Nairobi
1964–1970
Succeeded by
Festo Olang'
Preceded by Bishop of Mombasa
1953–1964
Succeeded by