Ivor Davies (priest)
Ivor Gordon Davies (21 July 1917 – 27 June 1992) was an
Educated at the
Ivor Davies served under three Bishops of Southwark, and was a key figure in the diocese during the episcopate of
Shortly after his retirement, he summed up the Stockwood and Robinson period in a way that also cast light on his own approach to ministry.
John (Robinson) and Mervyn (Stockwood) were a duo of the same creative mould, and under their combined leadership the Diocese (of Southwark) experienced one of the most constructive periods of its life. They were turbulent days, and I received many letters expressing great unease from those who were unsettled by what was being written and done. But I knew from personal contact with John that he had the heart of the Gospel in him and the disturbance for me was a challenge to be faced...What John did was to nudge me carefully but clearly into the acceptance of new ways of working, and several areas of diocesan life which were earlier part of my brief as Missioner were put by John under new management.
For instance, I introduced into the diocese seminars on Clinical Theology and Pastoral Counselling...He took the initiative of appointing a specialist to be full time in promoting this field of ministry. I started courses for
churchwardens and parochial church councilmembers and was in on lay training generally. John saw the need for greater specialisation...I count myself among those who feel greatly indebted to him. His life and work were inspirational to the very end"
— James, Eric, 1987. A Life of Bishop John AT Robinson, Scholar, Pastor, Prophet, London, Fount
Following his retirement, Archdeacon Davies retired to Felixstowe, holding permission to officiate in the Diocese of
References
- ^ National Archives
- ISBN 9780199540877
- ^ Crockford's Clerical Directory, 1973-74, Oxford, OUP
- ^ de la Noy, Michael, 1998, Mervyn Stockwood, A Lonely Life, London, Mowbray
- ^ Crockford's Clerical Directory, 1989-90, London, Church House