Charles Headley

Charles Theophilus Hahn (also surnamed Headley; 1 March 1870 Wandsworth, London16 September 1930 Covent Garden, London), was an Anglican priest in South London, Yorkshire and South Africa. He was an amateur artist and botanical illustrator.

Biography He was the only son of Theophilus Sigmund Hahn and Helen Maxfield Hahn (née Walters), and grew up in the village of Headley in Hampshire.

In 1908, he moved to the Diocese of Zululand in the Colony of Natal (Natal Province from 1910), South Africa, where he served nine years as a missionary. After a year as curate of Etalaneni, he became priest-in-charge of the Inhlwati (’Nhlwati) Mission station. He lived in Nongoma, the largest town in his territory, and spent much time on the road to other areas. He was appointed a canon of St Peter's Cathedral, Vryheid, in 1912 and Archdeacon of Eshowe in 1913. In 1916, he was appointed priest-in-charge of Empangeni while retaining his responsibilities in Inhlwati. He read widely, especially during the long evenings in Africa. He read not only about theology and church affairs, but also about science, nature and religion. He wrote summaries of works that interested him in what he called the Book of Knowledge. He also wrote notes on nature and the weather. Together with some diaries, these journals provided the basis for the only biography of him.

He married Marion Forrester in 1897 in Sydenham. Both her parents were the children of Britons active in the port trade in Portugal. Marion shared her husband's love of travel, nature and Africa, and accompanied him in all his postings. They did not have any children. Marion died in London in 1955.