Campbell West-Watson

Who was Campbell West-Watson?

Campbell West-Watson, CMG, was successively an Anglican suffragan bishop, diocesan bishop and archbishop over a 40 year period during the first half of the 20th century.

Born on 23 April 1877 he was educated at Birkenhead School and Emmanuel College, Cambridge before being ordained Priest in 1903. After six years as Chaplain, Fellow and Lecturer at his old college he was appointed Bishop of Barrow-in-Furness in 1909. After 16 years he was translated to Christchurch, New Zealand. In 1940 he was additionally appointed to be the Archbishop and Primate of the whole country, serving until 1951. Described in his Times obituary as “a man of great approachability and unaffected goodness” he died on 19 May 1953.

In 1935, he was awarded the King George V Silver Jubilee Medal.