Austin Hodson

Augustine John Hodson (called Austin;[1] 6 May 1879 – 28 January 1961)[2] was the first Bishop of Tewkesbury (suffragan bishop in the Diocese of Gloucester) from 1938[3] until his resignation in 1955.[4]

Son of John and Annie, Hodson was educated at Lichfield Grammar School and Christ Church, Oxford. He studied for ordination at St Stephen's House, Oxford, and never married.[5]

He was made deacon in Advent 1906 (23 December), by Edgar Gibson, Bishop of Gloucester, at Gloucester Cathedral,[6] and ordained priest in 1908, serving his curacy at All Saints', Cheltenham. Between 1911 and 1915 he was Assistant Missioner to the Gloucester Diocesan Mission before serving Leckhampton as curate-in-charge (1915–1921);[5] during the latter he was also a temporary chaplain[7] (1918–1920). He had been interviewed by the Chaplain-General in July 1918, was described as 'Dark, keen... good' and sent to France to work in a Casualty Clearing Station.[8] Before he was demobilised, it was reported, 'Has done good work as hospital chaplain in spite of rather poor health'.[9] He moved in 1921 to become Vicar of Chalford, then of Wotton-under-Edge from 1924.[5]

Hodson departed Wotton in 1934 to become a canon residentiary of Gloucester Cathedral, in which post he remained until death. During that time, he was Archdeacon of Gloucester (1938–1948) and Bishop of Tewkesbury — the first suffragan bishop of the diocese (1938–1955).[5] He was consecrated a bishop on 24 February 1938[10] (the Feast of St Matthias), by Cosmo Lang, Archbishop of Canterbury, at Lambeth Palace chapel;[11] and resigned the See effective 31 March 1955.[12] His younger brother was Robert, Bishop suffragan of Shrewsbury.[13]