Lionel John BAKEWELL

BAKEWELL, LIONEL JOHN (b. Melbourne, Vic, 14 Nov 1902; d. Melbourne, Vic, 22 Nov 1984). Anglican clergyman and long-serving CMS missionary.

Bakewell was educated at the Melbourne CEGS where he was school captain in 1921. He was also a regular attender of St Matthew's, Prahran. He graduated from the University of Melbourne, (BA 1925, MA 1927). He took his theological training at Trinity College, Melbourne, ThL (Class 1) in 1926, was ordained in Melbourne in 1927. After serving as SCM travelling secretary in 1928, he was called to missionary service through the deputation work of the Rev Harry Brewer and Bp R S Heywood, the bishop of Mombasa, Kenya, during his visit to Australia in 1927.

Bakewell was a CMS missionary in central and western Tanganyika from 1929 until 1963. He served in western Tanganyika from 1929-47, taking over the work which formerly had been undertaken by the CMS Uganda and then by the South African Wesleyans. While on leave in 1941 he was acting general secretary of the CMS Victorian branch. He was archdeacon of Bugufi from 1949-57 and archdeacon without territorial jurisdiction from 1958-63. He and his wife then moved to Kenya where he was principal of the CMS Language School, Nairobi from 1963-71. They returned to Melbourne after 42 years outstanding service with the CMS, serving as a retired clergyman in Melbourne and Gippsland. He was described as a 'humble, self-effacing person and very honest in all his dealings, especially with Africans, who loved and respected him'.

In 1936 Bakewell had married Christabel Mary Storrs, daughter of the Rev W T C Storrs (q.v.). She had been head of the Women's Department in the Argus office and office secretary of the Mission to Lepers. She was a great helper for her husband and for the CMS cause throughout his long missionary life and afterwards.

Keith Cole, A History of the Church Missionary Society of Australia (Melbourne, 1971)

KEITH COLE