Gerald Hollis

Gerald Hollis (16 May 1919 – 23 November 2005) was a British rugby player, Royal Navy officer and Church of England priest. He served as Archdeacon of Birmingham from 1974 to 1984.

Sporting career Hollis played rugby union at a senior level. As a student at Christ Church, Oxford, he was captain of the Oxford University RFC in the late 1930s. During World War II, he played for Sale, the Barbarians, and captained the Combined Services team.

Military service Hollis was prohibited from active service during World War II as he was colour blind. and was commissioned into the Royal Navy in 1942. He served as a physical training officer at the Britannia Royal Naval College in Dartmouth, Devon.

Ordained ministry At the end of hostilities, Hollis felt drawn to holy orders: from 1945 to 1947, he trained for ordination at Wells Theological College. He was ordained into the Church of England in 1947 and then served his curacy at St Dunstan's, Stepney. He was known to travel to visit the churches in his archdeaconry on foot. He served as a member of the House of Clergy of the General Synod of the Church of England from 1975 to 1984.

Hollis retired from full-time ministry in 1984. He was made an Honorary Canon of Birmingham Cathedral in 1984, and continued in this role until his death. He also held permission to officiate in the Diocese of Salisbury between 1987 and 2005.

Personal life In 1946, Hollis married Doreen Emmet Stancliffe. Together they had four children: three daughters and one son. His son is Tim Hollis, former Chief Constable of Humberside.

Hollis died on 23 November 2005.