The Rt Rev
Leonard Fisher
| |
|---|---|
| Bishop of Natal | |
Fisher (right), as Bishop of Natal, with his brother Geoffrey, Archbishop of Canterbury, 1950
| |
| Orders | |
| Ordination | 1905 |
| Consecration | 1921 |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Leonard Noel Fisher (1881-12-14)14 December 1881
Higham on the Hill, Leicestershire, England
|
| Died | 4 July 1963(1963-07-04) (aged 81) Grahamstown, South Africa |
Leonard Noel Fisher (14 December 1881 – 4 July 1963) was an Anglican bishop in the second quarter of the twentieth century. After parish work in England and military service in the First World War, he served as bishop in two African dioceses, Lebomo and Natal, before retiring in 1951.
Fisher was born at the rectory, Higham on the Hill, Leicestershire, the fifth of six sons of the Rev Henry Fisher and his wife Katherine, née Richmond.[1] A Fisher had served as rector of Higham since 1772: Henry Fisher's father and grandfather had preceded him and Leonard's eldest brother, Legh, later held the post.[2] Leonard's younger brother, Geoffrey, became Archbishop of Canterbury from 1945 until 1961.[3]
Fisher was educated at Oakham School and Sidney Sussex College, Cambridge[4] After graduation in 1903 he went on to Wells Theological College and was ordained priest in 1905.[3]
Fisher's first post was as a curate at St Paul's, Hull after which he was Sub-WardenofSt Paul's Theological College, Grahamstown, South Africa.[3] In 1914 he returned to England to the curacy of Saltburn-by-the-Sea in the diocese of York. From 1915 to 1917 he was the first vicar of St Nicholas, Hull,[3] and in 1917–18 a temporary World War I Chaplain.[5] He served for three months in Plymouth and then spent almost a year in Egypt.[6]
After the war, Fisher was appointed vicar of St Matthew Grangetown. In 1921 he was elevated to the episcopateasBishop of LebomboinMozambique. According to The Times, in that position he showed "great energy and resource in dealing with the special problems of Anglican work in Portuguese East Africa" and "conspicuous qualities of tact and far-sighted administrative judgment".[3] In 1928 he was translated to become Bishop of Natal.[7] In the same year he married Mabel Callund of Rochester, Kent.[3]
In June 1934 Fisher was embroiled in a dispute between Anglican congregations within Natal, some refusing to recognise the diocese; at one point he was locked out of one of the dissident churches.[8] In 1949 he almost became the second archbishop in the family when he was narrowly defeated in the election for Archbishop of Cape TownbyGeoffrey Clayton.[9]
Ill health caused Fisher's retirement in 1951. Three years later he became an honorary canon of Grahamstown.[3] He died, aged 81, at Brookshaw Home, Grahamstown on 4 July 1963.[1]
Portraits of Leonard Fisher at the National Portrait Gallery, London 
| Anglican Church of Southern Africa titles | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by | Bishop of Lebombo 1921 – 1928 |
Succeeded by |
| Preceded by | Bishop of Natal and Dean 1928 – 1951 |
Succeeded by |
