Oliver Green-Wilkinson

Francis Oliver Green-Wilkinson MC (7 May 1913 – 26 August 1970) was an eminent Anglican archbishop in the third quarter of the 20th century.

He was born into a clerical family^[1] and educated at Eton and Magdalen College, Oxford. After distinguished service with the King's Royal Rifle Corps, he was ordained deacon in 1946 and priest a year later. His first post was as a Curate at St Mary, Southampton,^[2] after which he was on the staff of St Alban’s Cathedral, Pretoria ^[3] until his elevation to the episcopate as the 4th Bishop of Northern Rhodesia in 1951. After eleven years he was additionally elected Archbishop of Central Africa. A fierce opponent of apartheid and a naturalized Zambian, he was killed in a car crash.^[4]

Early life

Green-Wilkinson was born on 7 May 1913 in the Rectory at Aston Tirrold, the second of five children - Deborah, Oliver, Prudence, Hilare and John.^[5]

His father was the Rev. Lumley Green-Wilkinson, the younger son of Lt.Gen. Frederick Green-Wilkinson, C.B., Colonel of the Ox & Bucks Light Infantry in the early 1900s; he had served with the 42nd Highland Regiment, The Black Watch, in the Crimea and the Indian Mutiny.^[6] The name Wilkinson was added in 1808, when Mr. Wilkinson left his inheritance to Mr Green.^[7] Lumley was a private in the City Imperial Volunteers in the Boer War.

His mother was Myfanwy nee Edwards, daughter of Sir Francis Edwards, quondam Liberal MP for Radnorshire. She was a niece of the Rt.Rev. Alfred Edwards, bishop of St. Asaph and also the first ArchBishop of Wales.^[8]

Education

Green-Wilkinson was educated at Farnborough Primary School from 12 April 1922. He passed his Common Entrance exam and became a boarder in Sheepshank's House at Eton College in September 1926. In July 1928 his housemaster A.J. Sheepshank wrote of him, "It is hard to keep pace with the number of prizes he gains." The following month he won 3rd prize on his horse at the Knighton Show, and also won the Birchall Prize. On 4 June 1932 he rowed in the Thetis boat.^[9]

Green-Wilkinson wet up to Magdalene College, Oxford on 6 October 1932. He was Stroke on the College's 2nd boat, and was a substitute for the "A" boat. He also acted on stage. In his last year, Green-Wilkinson was President of Magdalene College's Junior Common Room.^[10]

Africa

After coming down from Oxford, Green-Wilkinson spent ten months in Africa, five of them working on a farm at Makeni, 10 miles south of Lusaka.^[11]

Military Service

on 15 November 1939, Green-Wilkinsonjoined the Ox & Bucks Light Infantry as a private. This was the regiment of which his father's father had been Colonel forty years before.^[12]

Death

He was being driven back the 400 miles from Katete to Lusaka by a very steady African driver who had frequetly driven him long distances. As was quite usual, Oliver decided to do some work during the journey, and retrieved for his briefcase from the back seat. As he reached for his seat-belt, a tyre burst, the car swerved, Oliver was thrown out of the car, and his head hit a tree.^[13]

Notes