William Parker

William Alonzo Parker (31 January 1897

Family, education and war He was son of W. H. Parker of Alkrington, Lancashire; he was educated at Manchester University. During the First World War he served in the Royal Tank Corps, which he joined in 1916, and was Mentioned in Despatches. He left the army in 1924 and ordained a priest the following Advent (22 December 1929) – both times by Leonard Burrows, Bishop of Sheffield at Sheffield Cathedral (Parker's title/curacy). He was a curate at Sheffield Cathedral 1928–1930 and then Bishop's Chaplain at St. George's Cathedral, Jerusalem 1931–1937. He was then successively vicar of St Matthew, Gosport, 1937–1942. At the beginning of the Second World War he was a Senior Chaplain of the Forces (1939–40). before being appointed Archdeacon of Stafford in 1945, a post he held until his appointment to the episcopate 14 years later. He was also chaplain of the Order of St John from 1955 to 1960, and later sub-prelate of the order, provost of Denstone College 1960–1967. He was consecrated a bishop on 30 November 1959, by Geoffrey Fisher, Archbishop of Canterbury, at Westminster Abbey. He retired as bishop in 1969.