Cyril Easthaugh

Cyril Easthaugh (22 December 189716 December 1988) was a British Anglican bishop in the 20th century. He was Bishop of Kensington from 1949 to 1961 and Bishop of Peterborough from 1961 to 1972.

Early life and education Easthaugh was born on 22 December 1897 in South London, England. The family name had been changed from Eastaugh to Easthaugh in 1883. Having won a scholarship, he was educated at Archbishop Tenison's Grammar School (now Archbishop Tenison's Church of England School) in London. He left school at 17 to serve in the army during World War I. He was awarded the Military Cross (MC) in 1917, at the age of 19. and ordained a priest in 1930. He served his curacy at St John the Divine, Kennington, a church in the Catholic tradition of the Church of England. He returned to parish ministry and became vicar of St John the Divine, Kennington. He spent fourteen years there, before his consecration to the episcopate in 1949.

On 1 November 1949, he was consecrated a bishop at Westminster Abbey by Geoffrey Fisher, Archbishop of Canterbury. he became the Bishop of Peterborough until his retirement in 1971.

For a decade he continued as chairman of the Christian Evidence Society. He was an opponent of union between the Methodist Church and the Anglican Communion. He was Life President of the Guild of All Souls, an Anglican devotional society. Personal recollection - I was a choir boy at St John’s Hillingdon and the Bishop came to our church to officiate at confirmations. His grandiose and authoritative manner was befitting his position and he was impressively tall, handsome and very well spoken. He drove an elderly Rolls Royce and has left a lasting and pleasant impression.

Personal life In 1948, Easthaugh married Lady Laura Mary Palmer, the third daughter of the Earl of Selborne. Together, they had three children; one son and two daughters.