Arthur Preston

Arthur Llewellyn Preston (188319 July 1936) was an Anglican bishop who served as the third Bishop of Woolwich (a suffragan bishop in the Diocese of Southwark) from 1932 until his death.

Birth and education Born in 1883 into a distinguished family — his brother Walter was the Member of Parliament for Mile End then Cheltenham between the wars — to Reuben and Frances Preston, and was educated at Charterhouse and University College, Oxford (he gained an Oxford Master of Arts {MA(Oxon)}). After a period at Oxford House, Bethnal Green, he started ministerial training at Wells Theological College in 1906; London (1907–1913), after which he was curate at St James the Great, Bethnal Green, London (1913–1917) and then Vicar there (1917–1922). During World War I, he became an army chaplain (1915–1917); he moved from Bethnal Green to become Vicar of St James's Moor Park (Fulham, London; 1922–1924). In 1933, he became Sub-Dean of the cathedral and his book 'The Parish Priest in his Parish' was published. He was buried at Crowhurst, Surrey. At his memorial service he was described by Priestley Swain, Bishop of Burnley as “A man of great gifts, one of the most thoroughly human persons I have ever known”.