# Timothy Bavin

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**Timothy John Bavin** (born 17 September 1935) is a British [Anglican](/source/Anglican) bishop and [monk](/source/Monk). He was the bishop of [Anglican Diocese of Johannesburg](/source/Anglican_Diocese_of_Johannesburg) from 1974 to 1985.[1] He was then [Bishop of Portsmouth](/source/Anglican_Bishop_of_Portsmouth) from 1985 to 1995.[2]

## Early life and education

Bavin was born the son of [Lieutenant Colonel](/source/Lieutenant_Colonel) Ernest Sydney Durrance Bavin [RASC](/source/Royal_Army_Service_Corps) and Marjorie Gwendoline (née Dew) Bavin, on 17 September 1935.[citation needed] He was educated at [St George's School, Windsor Castle](/source/St_George's_School,_Windsor_Castle) and [Brighton College](/source/Brighton_College).

He graduated from [Worcester College, Oxford](/source/Worcester_College,_Oxford) with a [degree](/source/Academic_degree) in *[Literae Humaniores](/source/Literae_Humaniores)*[3] in 1959 (Bachelor of Arts, [Master of Arts](/source/Master_of_Arts_(Oxbridge)) 1961).[4] During the following two years, Bavin completed his [National Service](/source/National_Service) in his father's old regiment. He was [commissioned](/source/Officer_(armed_forces)) in 1958 and served as a [Platoon](/source/Platoon) Officer in [Aden](/source/Aden_(colony)).[5]

## Ordained ministry

Returning to [Oxford](/source/University_of_Oxford), Bavin studied for ordination at [Cuddesdon College](/source/Ripon_College_Cuddesdon). He was made [deacon](/source/Deacon) in 1961 and ordained priest in 1962, spending the period 1961–69 (and then 1973–85) in South Africa.[4] He was the first Chaplain of [St. Alban's College](/source/St._Alban's_College), [Pretoria](/source/Pretoria), then a [curate](/source/Curate) at [Uckfield](/source/Uckfield) with [Little Horsted](/source/Little_Horsted) and finally [Vicar](/source/Vicar) of the Parish of the Good Shepherd, [Brighton](/source/Brighton) from 1971 to 1973.[4]

In 1973 Bavin became the [dean](/source/Dean_(religion)) and [rector](/source/Rector_(ecclesiastical)) of the cathedral parish of [Johannesburg](/source/Johannesburg) as well as [archdeacon](/source/Archdeacon) of the diocese[4] and, in 1974 at a turbulent period in that country's history, its bishop,[6] a position[7] he was to hold until 1985.[8] He was elected to the See of Johannesburg on 3 September 1974[9] and consecrated a bishop that year.[10] From 1985[4] to 1995[11] he was [Bishop of Portsmouth](/source/Anglican_Bishop_of_Portsmouth),[12] during which time he was appointed an honorary [fellow](/source/Fellow) of the [Royal School of Church Music](/source/Royal_School_of_Church_Music).

In 1987 he became a member of the [Oratory of the Good Shepherd](/source/Oratory_of_the_Good_Shepherd). After resigning his [bishopric](/source/Anglican_Diocese_of_Portsmouth) he was professed as a monk of the [Benedictine](/source/Order_of_St._Benedict_(Anglican)) community at [Alton Abbey](/source/Alton_Abbey).[13] As a result, Bavin has curtailed his involvement in the [Athenaeum](/source/Athenaeum_Club,_London) and the [Royal Yacht Squadron](/source/Royal_Yacht_Squadron), although he does occasionally [preach](/source/Preaching) at other [Christian](/source/Christians) places of [worship](/source/Worship).[14] As part of the dissolution of Alton Abbey, Bavin moved from the abbey buildings to an almshouse associated with Chichester Cathedral.[15]

A number of serious safeguarding issues took place within the [Anglican Diocese of Portsmouth](/source/Anglican_Diocese_of_Portsmouth) during his time as bishop. For example, he did not report Father Terry Knight to the police when parents raised their concerns to him in 1985.[16] Father Terry Knight was allowed to carry on in his position and until he was finally convicted for sexually abusing boys in 1996 and again in 2016.[17] Timothy Bavin had also allowed a convicted child sex offender priest called Father Michael Gover to carry on working for the church on his release in 1990. Father Michael Gover was convicted in 1985 at around the same time as parents raising their concerns about Father Terry Knight.[18]

## Personal life

In 1994, Bavin was named as one of ten [gay](/source/Homosexual) bishops in the Church of England by [OutRage!](/source/OutRage!), an [LGBT](/source/LGBT) activist group.[19][20]

## Publications

- Bavin, Timothy (1992). [*In Tune with Heaven: Report of the Archbishops' Commission on Church Music*](https://books.google.com/books?id=UBV2QgAACAAJ). Church House Publishing and Hodder & Stoughton. ISBN 978-0-7151-3744-4. Report by The Archbishops' Commission on Church Music, of which Bavin was chairman
- Bavin, Timothy (1988). [*Deacons in the Ministry of the Church: A Report to the House of Bishops of the General Synod of the Church of England*](https://books.google.com/books?id=fcdxAAAACAAJ). Church House Publishing. ISBN 978-0-7151-3718-5.

## See also

See also: [List of notable Old Brightonians](/source/List_of_notable_Old_Brightonians)

## References

1. [History of Anglican Bishops in South Africa](http://www.historicalpapers.wits.ac.za/inventory.php?iid=7526)

1. ["Re-dedicates church in his diocese"](http://www.stmrowner.org.uk/History.htm). [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20120208101245/http://www.stmrowner.org.uk/History.htm) 8 February 2012 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 3 August 2007.

1. Page, John. ["A PERSONAL JUBILEE"](http://www.oldbrightonians.com/page_02.htm). *Old Brightonians*. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20090106061924/http://www.oldbrightonians.com/page_02.htm) 6 January 2009 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 4 September 2015.

1. "The Rt Revd Timothy John Bavin". *Crockford's Clerical Directory*. 97th ed. London: Church House Publishing. 2001. p. 48.

1. Ellis, P (ed.) (1992). *Debrett's People of Today*. London: [Debrett's](/source/Debrett's). p. 1621. ISBN 1-870520-09-2.

1. ["History of the Parish"](http://mysite.mweb.co.za/residents/margview/our_parish/history.htm). [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20070929083854/http://mysite.mweb.co.za/residents/margview/our_parish/history.htm) 29 September 2007 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 3 August 2007.

1. [School named after him](http://static.namesdatabase.com/schools/ZAGT/B/BishopBavinSchoolStGeorges.html) [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20070927025827/http://static.namesdatabase.com/schools/ZAGT/B/BishopBavinSchoolStGeorges.html) 27 September 2007 at the Wayback Machine

1. [Further example of work as S.A. Bishop](https://web.archive.org/web/20070928121715/http://www.christthekingdiocese-anglican.org/theme.php?id=104)

1. [Dedicates church in his last year](http://www.petersfield.uk.com/greatham.htm) [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20070214143449/http://www.petersfield.uk.com/greatham.htm) 14 February 2007 at the Wayback Machine

1. During this period he was one of a number of senior [unmarried](/source/Single_(relationship)) [C of E](/source/Church_of_England) clergy highlighted by outside pressure groups ["Peter Tatchell: Archbishop of York Urged to "Come Out""](https://web.archive.org/web/20160304112237/http://www.petertatchell.net/religion/archbishopyork.htm). Archived from [the original](http://www.petertatchell.net/religion/archbishopyork.htm) on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 11 August 2016..

1. [Religious Community he belongs to](http://www.starcourse.org/abbey/members.htm)

1. Visit to church in [Jericho, Oxford](/source/Jericho,_Oxford)[\[1\]](http://www.sbarnabas.org.uk/report.htm) [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20070927200618/http://www.sbarnabas.org.uk/report.htm) 27 September 2007 at the Wayback Machine

1. [https://altonabbey.com/alton-abbey-2/a-message-from-dom-timothy-bavin-o-s-b](https://altonabbey.com/alton-abbey-2/a-message-from-dom-timothy-bavin-o-s-b)

1. Fishwick, Ben (11 July 2015). ["Church admits failure over Portsmouth paedophile priest put children at risk"](https://www.portsmouth.co.uk/news/crime/church-admits-failure-over-portsmouth-paedophile-priest-put-children-at-risk-1-6845276). *The News*. Retrieved 11 July 2015.

1. Cotterill, Tom (13 December 2016). ["Paedophile priest from Fratton admits to abusing boy, seven"](https://www.portsmouth.co.uk/news/crime/paedophile-priest-from-fratton-admits-to-abusing-boy-seven-1-7730828). *The News*. Retrieved 13 December 2016.

1. ["I was wrong, says bishop who let back paedophile"](https://www.portsmouth.co.uk/news/i-was-wrong-says-bishop-who-let-back-paedophile-1-1260254). *The News*. 20 January 2004. Retrieved 20 January 2004.

1. ["Archbishop Of York Urged To 'Come Out'"](https://web.archive.org/web/20160304112237/http://www.petertatchell.net/religion/archbishopyork.htm). *petertatchell.net*. Archived from [the original](http://www.petertatchell.net/religion/archbishopyork.htm) on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 14 July 2016.

1. Brown, Andrew (31 January 1995). ["Bishop in 'outing' row retires to monastery"](https://www.independent.co.uk/news/bishop-in-outing-row-retires-to-monastery-1570535.html). *The Independent*. [Archived](https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220621/https://www.independent.co.uk/news/bishop-in-outing-row-retires-to-monastery-1570535.html) 21 June 2022 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 14 July 2016.

## External links

- [Anglicare Counsellors](https://web.archive.org/web/20041113075504/http://cpsajoburg.org.za/dioc_structs/angcare.htm) 13 November 2004 at the Wayback Machine
- [References to historical change](https://web.archive.org/web/*/http://www.crl.edu/areastudies/camp/collections/kg3.pdf) at the Wayback Machine

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Timothy Bavin](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Timothy_Bavin) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Timothy_Bavin?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.