Last Archdeacons

James Thomson (C 1953) was not in the picture I posted on Thursday, but has sent me a picture to post. It seems I am not the first Archdeacon of Hampstead to have an association with Haileybury. 

James writes: the event was the laying of the Foundation Stone of the new St Paul's Primary School in Winchmore Hill (28 May 1960).  The Bishop is Bp Henry Montgomery-Campbell, on the Bp's right is The Reverend Francis Lampen, Vicar of St Paul Winchmore Hill 1950-1981 and on the Bishop's left is the Venerable H J Matthews Archdeacon of Hampstead whose Brother was Edgar Matthews at Haileybury - the father-in-law of JBW Thomas.


There is a great story about Montgomery-Campbell.  Mervyn Stockwood, Bishop of Southwark 'caused outrage in his early years as a bishop (amongst other things) by making it clear that he wouldn't wear gaiters. Stockwood told a story about meeting Henry Montgomery Campbell, Bishop of London (1956-1961) on Lambeth Bridge. Montgomery Campbell (in gaiters) muttered to Mervyn (in purple cassock, purple cloak, probably purple biretta, which he often sported) as he passed, 'Ah! The Bishop of Southwark incognito'. The source of this story is this extraordinary website.