Leonard James Beecher CMG (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.
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Leonard Beecher | |
|---|---|
| Archbishop of East Africa | |
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
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| Church | Province of East Africa |
| Predecessor | new title |
| Other post(s) | Assistant Bishop of Mombasa Bishop of Mombasa Bishop of Nairobi |
| Orders | |
| Ordination | 1929 |
| Consecration | 1950 |
| Personal details | |
| Born | (1906-05-21)21 May 1906 |
| Died | 16 December 1987(1987-12-16) (aged 81) |
He was educated at St. Olave's Grammar School and Imperial College London and ordained in 1929.[2][3][4]
He was a missionary of the Church Mission Society in the Diocese of Mombasa from 1930, working in the Highlands.[5] He was appointed ArchdeaconofMombasa 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]
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]
England
Kenya
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