Thomas Strong

Who was Thomas Strong?

Thomas Banks Strong GBE, DD was an English theologian who was Bishop of Ripon and Oxford. He was also Dean of Christ Church, Oxford and served as Vice-Chancellor of Oxford University during the First World War.

Thomas Strong was educated at Westminster School and Christ Church, Oxford, where he received a 2nd class degree in Literae Humaniores in 1883. He became a deacon in 1885 and a priest in 1886. At Christ Church, Strong was successively Lecturer, Student, Censor, and then Dean. He received the degree Doctor of Divinity from the University of Oxford in January 1902.

In 1920 he was appointed Bishop of Ripon, and in 1925 he transferred as Bishop of Oxford, serving as such until 1937.

Strong produced a number of theological publications. He became a Knight Grand Cross of the Order of the British Empire in 1918. He was buried at Christ Church Cathedral, Oxford, where there is a memorial stone with a Latin inscription.