Philip Nigel Warrington Strong KBE CMG (1899 - 1983)

Born 11 Jul 1899 in Sutton on the Hill, Derbyshire, England, United Kingdom

Ancestors

Died 6 Jul 1983 at age 83 in Wangaratta, Victoria, Australia

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Biography

Philip Strong KBE CMG is Notable.

Archbishop Sir Philip Strong KBE CMG CStJ served as the Bishop of New Guinea for twenty-six years, through the Second World War, and the fifth Anglican Archbishop of Brisbane for a further eight years, before being appointed Primate of the Church of England in Australia (now called the Anglican Church of Australia) from 1966.

Philip Strong KBE CMG was born in Derbyshire, England.

Philip Nigel Warrington Strong was born on 11th July 1899 in Sutton on the Hill, Derbyshire, England, United Kingdom. He was the third son of Reverend (John) Warrington Strong and Rosamond Marion Wingfield Digby. ^[1] He was christened in St Michael's Church, his father then being the vicar. His childhood was spent between his father’s next vicarage in Dodford, Northamptonshire, and his maternal great grandfather's second family seat, Coleshill Park in Warwickshire; raised in a devoutly evangelical tradition that emphasised preaching and the scriptures. From eleven years of age he attended The King's School, Worcester; next to Worcester Cathedral and on the east bank of the River Severn. In 1917 he was awarded a Patteson studentship for prospective missionary candidates at Selwyn College, Cambridge.

Philip was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant in the Royal Engineers in 1918 and joined the 33rd Division in France.

Philip was an Anglican Priest, Bishop and Archbishop, and Primate of Australia

Returning to Cambridge in 1919 he graduated in theology with Bachelor of Arts (BA) in 1921 and Master of Arts (MA) in 1925). In 1921 he attended Bishops’ College, Cheshunt. Made a Deacon in December 1922 and ordained Priest in December 1923, Philip initially served as vicar in impoverished industrial parishes in Leeds and St Ignatius the Martyr, Hendon, Sunderland. He was consecrated a Bishop on the Feast of St Simon and St Jude (28th October) 1936, in St Paul's Cathedral, London.

Philip Strong KBE CMG migrated from England to Australia.

Philip Strong KBE CMG is a Military Veteran.
Served in the Second Australian Imperial Force 1943-1945
Chaplain Fourth Class; Headquarters New Guinea Force

Following his move to Australia immediatley afterward, Philip served as the fourth Bishop of New Guinea (then a Mandated Territory of Australia) until 1962, enthroned in the pro-cathedral of St Peter and St Paul, Dogura, Papua, on 25th January 1937, remaining in that post throughout the Second World War and gaining much respect for his steadfastness during the Japanese invasion of, and atrocities in, that region. He joined the Australian Imperial Force on 18th March 1943 as Chaplain, fourth class, attached to New Guinea Force, rising to the honorary rank of Chaplain, second class (Lieutenant Colonel). His mother was listed as next-of-kin. Although he transferred to the Reserve of Officers on 1st September 1944, he continued to perform part-time duties until June 1945. ^[2] Philip served in the Legislative Council from 1955. He returned to Papua New Guinea for the independence celebrations in 1975.

During his time as the fifth Archbishop of Brisbane from 1962 to 1970, although a religious conservative, Philip was an advocate of co-operation between different Christian denominations. He was appointed Companion of the Order of St Michael and St George (CMG) in 1958. He was also appointed Companion of the Order of St John of Jerusalem (CStJ).

He became Primate of the Church of England in Australia (now called the Anglican Church of Australia) in September 1966. Following the disappearance and presumed death of the Australian Prime Minister, Harold Holt, in 1967, Philip delivered the eulogy at his memorial service in St Paul's Cathedral, Melbourne. Philip was created Knight Commander of the Order of the British Empire (KBE) in 1970.

In retirement, Philip lived in Cathedral Close, Wangaratta, Victoria, adjacent to the then senior campus of Cathedral College.

Five days before turning 84 years, he passed away on 6th July 1983 in Wangaratta and is buried in Wangaratta Cemetery. ^[3] He was not married.

Sources

1. ↑ UK FreeBMD Birth Index Sep qtr 1899, vol 6b, page 394; registered at Burton upon Trent
2. ↑ Department of Veterans' Affairs nominal roll: VX91744 Chaplain 4th Class Philip Nigel Warrington Strong; accessed 28 Aug 2023
3. ↑ Victoria Death Index #852/1983

See also

• Wetherell, David. 'Strong, Philip Nigel (1899–1983)', Australian Dictionary of Biography, National Centre of Biography, Australian National University, published first in hardcopy 2012; accessed online 28 Aug 2023.
• Wikipedia: Philip Strong; accessed 28 Aug 2023.