Percival William STEPHENSON

STEPHENSON, PERCIVAL WILLIAM (b. Malmsbury, Vic, 5 May 1888; d. Melbourne, Vic, 29 May 1962). Anglican bishop, missionary and administrator.

'Percy' was the eldest of five children of Arthur Henry Stephenson, a baker of Malmsbury, who with his wife were active church workers. After attending the Malmsbury State school he worked in his father's bakery. During this time he dedicated his life to Christ, and immediately offered for overseas missionary service. He went to Caulfield Grammar School, became a stipendiary reader in the diocese of Bendigo for several years and in 1910 enrolled as the first student of the newly-formed Ridley College. He graduated BA 1912, was ordained deacon 1913 and priest 1914 by the bp of Bendigo. He married Grace Lavender on 8 Oct 1913, the couple, now CMS missionaries, sailing for India several months later.

Stephenson was a CMS missionary at the Edwardes College, Peshawar 1913-24; professor of Exegetical Theology at St John's College, Winnipeg, Canada 1924-8, the first full-time CMS (Australia) federal secretary, 1928-37, headmaster of Trinity Grammar School, Sydney, 1934-7; and Commonwealth Secretary of the BFBS, 1938-40. He was consecrated the sixth bp of Nelson, New Zealand, on 1 Nov 1940, succeeding Bp W G Hilliard (q.v.), an old Sydney friend, who in turn had succeeded Bp W C Sadlier (q.v.), a former acquaintance from the diocese of Bendigo. After an episcopate of 13 years, he resigned from the diocese. He and his wife retired to East Ringwood, Melbourne. He had maintained a clear evangelical stance throughout the whole of his varied ministry.

Keith Cole, Sincerity my Guide: a biography of the Rt Revd P. W. Stephenson, 1888-1962(Melbourne, 1970)

KEITH COLE