Cecil Wilson

Cecil Wilson (9 September 1860 – 20 January 1941) was an English county cricketer and Anglican bishop. He was the third missionary Anglican Bishop of Melanesia from 1894 to 1911, and subsequently, the second Bishop of Bunbury from 1918 to 1937.

Early life and family Wilson was born at Canonbury in London, the youngest son of stockbroker Alexander Wilson and his wife Caroline (née Pitman). The family moved from Islington to Beckenham in Kent in 1873 and Wilson, like two of his older brothers, was educated at Tonbridge School. He played cricket in the school XI between 1877 and 1879, captaining the team in his final year at school, before going up to Jesus College, Cambridge. He graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in divinity in 1883 and Master of Arts in 1886.

On 1 February 1899, Wilson married Alice Ethel Julius, the second daughter of Bishop Julius, at ChristChurch Cathedral. The couple had two daughters.

Cricket Despite his success as a school cricketer, Wilson did not play for Cambridge University Cricket Club―his Wisden obituary says that he was unable to accept an offered Blue in 1883 "because of an engagement to travel abroad"

Primarily a batsman, Wilson played for Kent in each of the following five seasons before returning to play his final two matches for the county in 1890. He made 28 appearances for Kent, as well as playing two first-class matches for I Zingari and three for Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC). a score of 127 made against Yorkshire at Canterbury in 1886.

Ecclesiastical career Wilson was ordained by Harold Browne, Bishop of Winchester, as a deacon in 1886, and as a priest the following year. He was in charge of St Faith's mission, in the parish of Portsea, Portsmouth, until 1891. Between 1891 and 1894, he held the incumbency at St John's Moordown, Bournemouth. which posts he held until his Bunbury appointment in 1918.

Wilson is listed in the Calendar of Saints of the Church of the Province of Melanesia.

Wilson died at Perth, Western Australia in 1941 at the age of 80.

Publications