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Spencer Stottisbury Gwatkin Leeson was an eminent headmaster and Anglican bishop in the mid 20th century. He was an influential and popular figure in the Church of England in the early 1950s and, had he survived, may well have been appointed to an archbishopric.

Life

He was born on 9 October 1892 and educated at Winchester and New College, Oxford. Although he had just been awarded a 1st in classical moderations and was on his way to further academic distinction, he enlisted in the army in August 1914, soon after the outbreak of the First World War. He was commissioned into the Middlesex Regiment and his first posting was to Gibraltar, where he gained the rare experience of guarding German-American prisoners who had been intercepted whilst attempting to reach Germany. In March 1915, he was sent to Ypres but returned to England with influenza. He was in hospital when his battalion was in action, with over 500 casualties. In September 1915, unfit for active service, he was attached to Naval Intelligence Division of the Admiralty and MI5. He was mentioned in despatches, gazetted in May 1917. He had lengthy periods of absence resulting from a heart problem.

Post-war, he was assistant principal at the Board of Education then an assistant master at his old school. He was appointed headmaster of Merchant Taylors' in 1927, then Winchester College eight years later. He was made deacon at Michaelmas 1939 (22 September) in the Wolvesey Palace chapel and ordained priest on Trinity Sunday 1940 (19 May) at Winchester Cathedral — both times by Cyril Garbett, Bishop of Winchester. He was Rector of St. Mary's Church, Southampton and then Wiccamical Prebendary at Chichester Cathedral. Leeson had made such an immediate impression in Southampton that he was recommended for bishoprics. Added to that was his national reputation as an authority on education, particularly Church schools. Wakefield, Hereford and Peterborough dioceses all became vacant in 1949, and Leeson was eventually appointed to Peterborough. He was ordained and consecrated a bishop that All Saints' Day (1 November) at Westminster Abbey by Geoffrey Fisher, Archbishop of Canterbury; and held this post until his death on 27 January 1956. By then, his hyperactivity and zeal had damaged his health, so that when Archbishop Garbett of York announced his retirement in 1955, Leeson was not in the running. Nevertheless, during the previous six years at Peterborough, Leeson was one of the most eminent Church of England bishops.

Memorials

A memorial stained glass window was erected in the south aisle of Peterborough Cathedral to his memory.

References

1. "Spencer Stottesbery Gwatkin Leeson". National Portrait Gallery.
2. Spencer Leeson. London: S.P.C.K. 1958 – via Internet Archive.
3. "Wykeham Day Address". The Trusty Servant. November 2005. Archived from the original on 18 July 2011.
4. Bishops of Peterborough
5. "Ecclesiastical News. Canon Leeson For See Of Peterborough". The Times. No. 51351. April 1949. p. 4G.
6. W. F. Oakeshott, revised by R. D. H. Custance. "Leeson, Spencer Stottesbery Gwatkin (1892–1956)". Oxford Dictionary of National Biography. OUP.
7. "Leeson, Spencer". Who's Who. A & C Black. (Subscription or UK public library membership required.)
8. See Tom Scherb, "What Did You Do in the Great War, Bishop", Stand To!, number 99, and TNA WO374/41531 from which First World War information has been sourced.
9. "School notes" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 13 June 2010.
10. "Playing Fields of Eton". Time. 1 May 2008. Archived from the original on 1 May 2008.
11. "Ordinations". Church Times. No. 4001. 29 September 1939. p. 265. ISSN 0009-658X. Retrieved 7 November 2019 – via UK Press Online archives.
12. "Trinity ordinations". Church Times. No. 4035. 24 May 1940. p. 386. ISSN 0009-658X. Retrieved 7 November 2019 – via UK Press Online archives.
13. "Canon Leeson's New Appointment". The Times. No. 50355. 21 January 1946. p. 4F.
14. TNA PREM5/370
15. "[photo caption]". Church Times. No. 4526. 4 November 1949. p. 729. ISSN 0009-658X. Retrieved 12 April 2017 – via UK Press Online archives.
16. "Right Rev Cyril Easthaugh". The Times. No. 63268. 19 December 1988. p. 14.
17. "Obituary - Dr. Spencer Leeson The Bishop of Peterborough". The Times. No. 53440. 28 January 1956. p. 9A.
18. TNA PREM5/418
19. Plaque in Peterborough Cathedral

v t e Headmasters of Winchester College
Richard Herton John Melton Thomas Romsey John Pole Thomas Romsey Richard Darcy Thomas Alwyn William Waynflete Thomas Alwyn William Yve John Barnard John Grene Clement Smyth Richard Dene John Rede Robert Festham William Horman John Farlyngton Edward More Thomas Erlisman John Twychener Richard Twychener John White Thomas Bayly William Everard Thomas Hyde Christopher Johnson Thomas Bilson Hugh Lloyd John Harmar Benjamin Heyden Nicholas Love Hugh Robinson Edward Stanley John Pottinger William Burt Henry Beeston William Harris Thomas Cheyney John Burton Joseph Warton William Stanley Goddard Henry Dyson Gabell David Williams George Moberly George Ridding William Andrewes Fearon Hubert Murray Burge Montague John Rendall Alwyn Terrell Petre Williams Spencer Leeson Walter Fraser Oakeshott Henry Desmond Pritchard Lee John Leonard Thorn James Paley Sabben-Clare Nicholas Tate Thomas Richard Cookson Ralph Douglas Townsend Timothy Roderick Hands Elizabeth Stone

• 1892 births
• People educated at Winchester College
• Alumni of New College, Oxford
• Headmasters of Merchant Taylors' School, Northwood
• Headmasters of Winchester College
• Bishops of Peterborough
• 20th-century Church of England bishops
• 1956 deaths