Oliver Allison

Who was Oliver Allison?

Oliver Claude Allison, CBE, born 1908 was Bishop in the Sudan for over 20 years in the second part of the 20th century. Educated at Dean Close School, Cheltenham and Queen's College, Cambridge, he was ordained in 1933 and began his ecclesiastical career with a curacy in Boscombe.

1932-36 Curate at Christ Church Fulwood Also Scout Master of the 142nd Sheffield Scout Troop for same dates.

1936-38 Youth Secretary to Winchester Diocese

1938 Accepted by Church Missionary Society and left for Anglo Egyptian Sudan. He began what was to be along association with the Sudan by becoming a Missionary in Juba followed by a stint as Assistant Bishop of the diocese. Elevated to the Episcopate

1947 Became Mission Secretary for Sudan.

1948 Consecrated Bishop, to be the assistant Bishop to Rt Rev Morris Gelsthorpe who was the first Bishop of the new diocese of Sudan, no longer linked with Egypt, but still under the Archbishopric of Jerusalem.

1953 Became Diocesan Bishop on Gelsthorpe's retirement. His pastoral duties extended to oversight of Churches in Yemen, Aden, Eritrea, Ethiopia & Samaliland.

1955 Consecration of first Sudanese Assistant Bishop.

1956-1972 Unrest in Sudan.