Philip Russell

Philip Welsford Richmond Russell, (21 October 1919 – 25 July 2013) was a South African Anglican bishop.

Personal life

Russell was born 21 October 1919 in Cowies Hill, South Africa and died 25 July 2013 in Adelaide, Australia.

He was educated in Durban at Clifton Preparatory School and Durban High School. Having trained as a quantity surveyor, he served in World War II as part of a bomb disposal unit in the South African Engineering Corps. He was awarded the MBE in 1943 for his service. It was during this time he felt called to the priesthood. He studied at Rhodes University and St Paul's Theological College in Grahamstown. He was ordained as a deacon in 1940 and as a priest in 1941.

He met fellow-South African Eirene Hogarth in Rome in 1944, whom he married in 1945 at the Garrison Church, Foggia, Italy. Together they had four children, Susan, June, Pauline and Christopher. After the death of his wife in 2001, by the Episcopal Synod of the Anglican Church after the Diocese of Cape Town was unable to decide between Desmond Tutu and Michael Nuttall, the then Bishop of Pretoria. He retired on 31 August 1986, being succeeded by Desmond Tutu. He served on the council of Diakonia, an ecumenical body which was very active in both the spiritual and social service sides of Christian life. He was an ardent supporter of human rights through the South African Institute of Race Relations and the Civil Rights League. His ecumenical enthusiasm led him to an active involvement in Diakonia, Vuleka Trust, the South African Council of Churches and the World Council of Churches.

Publications

with Lawrence Bekisisa Zulu