Hewlett Thompson

Geoffrey Hewlett Thompson (called Hewlett; born 14 August 1929) is a retired Anglican bishop. He is a former Bishop of Exeter in the Church of England.

Thompson was educated at Aldenham School[1] and Trinity Hall, Cambridge. After National Service in the Queen's Own Royal West Kent Regiment, he studied for ordination at Cuddesdon College. He was made a deacon on Trinity Sunday 1954 (13 June)[2] and ordained a priest the next Trinity Sunday (5 June 1955) — both times by Spencer Leeson, Bishop of Peterborough, at Peterborough Cathedral.[3] He began his ordained ministry with a curacy at St Matthew's Northampton[4] after which he was first vicar of St Augustine, Wisbech[5] and subsequently of St Saviour's Folkestone. He was consecrated to the episcopate by Michael Ramsey, Archbishop of Canterbury, at Westminster Abbey[6] on 24 January 1974.[7] At first simply suffragan Bishop of Willesden in 1974, he became area bishop upon the foundation of the London area scheme in 1979[8] and six years later he was translated to diocesan Bishop of Exeter.[9] In retirement he continues to serve the church as an honorary assistant bishop within the Diocese of Carlisle.