Merivale Molyneux

Born at Bransgore,[1] Molyneux was the son of Rosa[3] and Frederick Molyneux (a priest) and grandson of lawyer Echlin Molyneux; he was younger brother to Ernest, also a priest, who served as his commissary in Britain (1928–1932). Merivale was educated at Rossall School, and Keble College, Oxford[2] (he graduated Bachelor of Arts {BA} in 1908 and proceeded Master of Arts (Oxford) {MA Oxon} in 1913),[1] and trained for the ministry at Cuddesdon College.[2]

He was made deacon at Advent 1909 (18 December)[4] and ordained priest at Lent 1911 (12 March) — both times by William Boyd Carpenter, Bishop of Ripon, at Ripon Cathedral.[5] His title (curacy) was of All Souls' Leeds, until 1913, when he returned to Cuddesdon as college Chaplain. During this time (the Great War), he was also a Chaplain to the Forces (CF) in Mesopotamia (1916–19): for which he was mentioned in despatches,[2] made a Member of the Order of the British Empire (3 June 1918)[6] and an honorary chaplain to the forces (Hon CF) in 1919. He had been in Mesopotamia for 3 years other than for 6 months leave in 1918 spent in Ceylon. He had spent much of his commission working in hospitals[7]He served as Vicar of High Wycombe from 1920.[2]

On 14 July 1924, the Melanesian Mission committee in England recommended Molyneux to the New Zealand bishops and John Steward, Bishop of Melanesia, for appointment as an assistant bishop of that diocese; by April 1925, when Thomas Strong, Bishop of Oxford, presented him with a crozier at High Wycombe, that recommendation had been accepted, and he was duly consecrated a bishop on 9 August 1925 by Alfred Averill, Archbishop of New Zealand in St Paul's Pro-Cathedral, Wellington.[1] Molyneux then served as Assistant Bishop of Melanesia from 1925 to 1928:[2] initially, he had responsibility for the Southern Archdeaconery (based in Lolowai, Aoba (now called Ambae), but lived primarily in the Banks Islands; however, as Steward's health declined, Molyneux increasingly assisted him throughout the diocese.[1]

Steward having announced his imminent resignation (due to ill-health), on 13 June 1928 the diocesan synod unanimously chose to nominate Molyneux for the diocesan See;[1] Steward having resigned effective 1 August,[8] the New Zealand bishops elected Molyneux on 16 August, and he was enthroned at St Luke's Cathedral, Siota on 13 November. His assistant bishop Edward Wilton having resigned 1 July 1929,[9] Molyneux he wrote to the Mission committee on 8 October 1930 to ask for a new assistant bishop;[1] in 1931, John Dickinson became assistant bishop for the Southern area.[10]

In the midst of allegations of "improper conduct with young men" and "concerns about erotic involvements with men", he experienced a "complete nervous breakdown", resigned his See in November 1931, and left the Solomon Islands. He arrived back in Britain in January 1932, where he retired to Hampshire — initially with his father at Martyr Worthy rectory. Cyril Garbett, Bishop of Winchester, declined to licensed the younger Molyneux to any ministry;[1] he became a farmer.[3] He died at the Royal Victoria Hospital, Boscombe and was buried at Bransgore.[1]