Gordon Savage (bishop)

Gordon David Savage (14 April 1915 – 9 June 1990) was an Anglican bishop who served in two posts from 1960 to 1970.[1]

Born on 14 April 1915 he was educated at Reading School and St Catherine's College, Oxford and ordained in 1940.[2] His first post was as Chaplain, Lecturer and Tutor at Tyndale Hall, Bristol until 1944. In 1945 he was appointed General Secretary of Church Association and was responsible for its merger with the National Church League to form Church Society, which he led until 1952. He then served as Vicar of Marston, Oxford (1952–57);[3] Vicar of Whitchurch and Archdeacon of Buckingham (1957–60);[3] Suffragan Bishop of Buckingham (1957–60) and Diocesan Bishop of Southwell (1964–70).[4]

In 1970, Gordon Savage resigned as Bishop due to ill-health and took up light pastoral duties as chaplain to the Anglican Church in Puerto Cruz, Tenerife.[5] Shortly before this he and his wife had agreed to separate and on arrival in Tenerife, he employed a housekeeper.[6] When it became known that his housekeeper was a friend and a former dancer, whom he had met at the Eve Club in London in 1964,[5] articles in the national press started to appear drawing attention to this.[6][7][8][9][10] On account of such controversial publicity, Savage flew back to London for talks with the Archbishop of Canterbury,[11][12][13] and it was agreed that he would resign from his new post and relinquish all further pastoral duties.[14][15][16]

Gordon Savage was ‘a fluent and intelligent speaker, young in outlook and interested in inter-Church relations’.[15] He represented ‘modern Church thinking’, and was known as the ‘Young People’s Bishop’.[5] In 1968, he was considered as a possible successor to Dr. Ramsey, Archbishop of Canterbury.[17]

He died 9 June 1990 (aged 75 years).

References[10]
  1. The Times, Thursday, 5 December 1963, p5, "Ecclesiastical News: Next Bishop Of Southwell, Right Rev. G. D. Savage"
  2. Who was Who 1987-1990: London, A & C Black, 1991 ISBN 0-7136-3457-X
  3. Incumbency details
  4. Crockford's Clerical Directory 1975-76. London: Oxford University Press, 1976. ISBN 0-19-200008-X
  5. Hickey, William (13 May 1970). "The Bishop and the Showgirls". Daily Express.
  6. Hickey, William (16 May 1970). "Ex-showgirl is my housekeeper, says the bishop". Daily Express.
  7. Mount, Ron (17 May 1970). "The bishop and the topless showgirl". News of the World.
  8. Mulholland, Brendan (17 May 1970). "My showgirl sister and the bishop - by his chauffeur". Sunday Express.
  9. Reporter (14 May 1970). "Dancer 'an innocent friend' says Bishop". Sunday Mirror.
  10. Windsor, John (2 June 1970). "The dancer and I - by a bishop". Daily Mail.
  11. Reporter (24 May 1970). "Primate told of showgirl". The Sunday Telegraph.
  12. Reporter (31 May 1970). "Bishop flies back to explain his showgirl". Sunday Express.
  13. Jarvis, Stanley (2 June 1970). "Bishop will fly back to see Dr Ramsey". The Daily Express.
  14. Reporter (9 June 1970). "Bishop quits: plus statement". Nottingham Evening Post.
  15. Reporter (12 June 1970). "Resignation of Bishop Savage". Church Times.
  16. Reporter (14 June 1970). "'Topless Row' Bishop resigns". News of the World.
  17. Correspondent (16 March 1968). "Who can be successor to Dr. Ramsey?". The Times.


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