John Stanley Purvis

John Stanley Purvis (9 May 1890 – 1968) was a British clergyman, archivist, poet, and artist.

Biography Early life Purvis was born in Bridlington. He had studied at St Catharine's College, Cambridge and, after graduation, Purvis joined Cranleigh School as a history teacher in September 1913.

First World War Purvis was commissioned in 1913 to the West Surrey Regiment, Probably due to compassionate grounds, Purvis was then seconded to the Bomb and Trench Mortar School. He was promoted to Lieutenant in September 1917 and returned to his regiment in March 1918.

During his service Purvis was both a poet and a photographer. In July 1916 Purvis, acting unofficially, took photographs of the battlefield during the Battle of the Somme; four photographs attributed to Purvis survive in the collection of the Green Howards Regimental Museum. Using the pseudonym Philip Johnstone, Purvis wrote as a war poet and published the works 'High Wood' and 'Chance Memory'. The identification of Philip Johnstone as Purvis came in the 1970 autobiography of Ernest Raymond, who had been in correspondence with Purvis's sister after his death.

He remained a member of the Green Howards Old Comrades Association. Before this (in 1939), he was an archivist for the Diocese of York and had also, in 1949, worked on plans to rehouse the diocesan archive in a new library. Together, with Oliver Sheldon, Purvis was able to use the archive as a foundation for a new historical institute, what became known as the Borthwick Institute. He was also a fellow of the Royal Historical Society, and the Yorkshire Archaeological Society.

Select publications Poems High Wood (published in The Nation in 1917) Chance Memory

Academic works Purvis, J. S. 1923, The Dissolution of Bridlington Priory. Purvis, J. S. 1925. "A figure of St. John of Bridlington in Morley Church", The Derbyshire Archaeological Journal 47, 258–262. . Purvis, J. S. 1951. The York Cycle of Mystery Plays: A Shorter Version of the Ancient Cycle. Purvis, J. S. 1953. St Anthony's Hall, York. A history and architectural description. Purvis, J. S. 1957. The York Cycle of Mystery Plays: A Complete Version. Purvis, J. S. 1958. The Condition of Yorkshire Church Fabrics, 1300–1800. Purvis, J. S. 1967. "A contemporary carving of a mystery play performance". The Antiquaries Journal 47 (1), 111–112.