Howell Witt

Howell Arthur John Witt (12 July 1920 – 8 July 1998) was an Australian Anglican bishop for over 25 years who served two very different dioceses.[1][2] During his time as Bishop of North West Australia, he published his memoir, entitled Bush Bishop.[3] He subsequently served as Bishop of Bathurst from 1981 to 1989.

Witt was born in Newport, Wales, where his father worked as a docker.[4] He was educated at Leeds University and the College of the Resurrection in Mirfield.[5] Ordained deacon in 1944 and priest in 1945, after curacies at Usk (1944–48) and St George', Camberwell (1948–49)[6] he emigrated to Australia where he became chaplain at the Woomera Rocket Station, South Australia (1949–54). While at Woomera, Howell gave the first performance of his drag act, "the Dowager Duchess of Dingo Creek".[7] After this, he was rector of St Mary Magdalene's Adelaide (1954–57)[8] and then Elizabeth (1957–65).[9]

A hugely colourful character,[9] in 1965 he was ordained to the episcopate as Anglican Bishop of North West Australia and was often featured in the media.[10] He was later translated to serve as Bishop of Bathurst from 1981 to 1989 and in that role was reported to be "bumbling, inappropriate, and adventurous to the end".[7]

References
  1. Crockford's clerical directory. London: Church House. 1995. ISBN 0-7151-8088-6.
  2. "Index of Western Australia obituaries". genealogybuff.com. Retrieved 17 January 2019.
  3. Witt, Howell (1979). Bush Bishop. Rigby. ISBN 978-0727009876.
  4. Priests and Prelates: The Daily Telegraph Clerical Obituaries. A&C Black. 23 June 2006. p. 196. ISBN 978-0-8264-8100-9.
  5. “Who was Who” 1897-2007 London, A & C Black, 1991 ISBN 978-0-19-954087-7
  6. Crockford's Clerical Directory, 1973-74, 85th Edition, p 1057.
  7. Fergus Butler-Gallie, "The Right Reverend Howell Witt, Bishop of North West Australia (1920–98)" in A Field Guide to the English Clergy (London: Oneworld Publications, 2018) ISBN 9781786074416, pp. 3–6
  8. "History, St Mary Magdalene's Anglican Church". St Mary Magdalene's Anglican Church. Retrieved 7 January 2019.
  9. Priests and Prelates: The Daily Telegraph Book of Clerical Obituaries, T. Beeson (ed) London, Continuum, 2002 ISBN 0-8264-6337-1
  10. "Interview with Howell Witt". The Times. 3 September 1968. p. 12.


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