Noel Baring Hudson

Noel Baring Hudson DSO, MC (18 December 1893-5 October 1970) was an Anglican Bishop, serving at Labuan and Sarawak, St Albans, Newcastle and Ely.

Hudson was the sixth son of Rev. Thomas Hudson and his wife Alethea Matheson and was educated at St Edward's School (Oxford), where his father had been headmaster. His maternal grandmother Alethea Hayter was the sister of Henry Heylyn Hayter Australian statist, and Harrison Hayter engineer and married Charles Matheson of the Clergy Orphan School where his father had also taught. Hudson went on to Christ's College Cambridge where he was Tancred Student. In 1914, on the outbreak of World War I he joined the Royal Berkshire Regiment and was Lieutenant Colonel Commanding the 8th Royal Berkshires by the age of 23. He gained the reputation for outstanding courage and ability and was wounded some 15 times. Later in the war he was raised to the rank of Brigadier-in-the-field. His injuries put an end to an outstanding Rugby career. He and his brothers played for Harlequins, of which he was at one time captain.

At the end of the war he went to Westcott House, Cambridge and in 1921 and began his ministry in the parish of Christ Church, Leeds, and the following year became Vicar of the same parish. After four years in Leeds he was appointed to St John the Baptist, Newcastle on Tyne. In 1931, at the age of 39, he became Bishop of Labuan and Sarawak for seven years. In 1938 he was recalled to become Secretary of the Society for the Propagation of the Gospel in Foreign Parts. In 1939 he became Honorary Canon and Assistant Bishop of St Albans, and was also Select Preacher in Cambridge. In 1941 he was appointed Bishop of Newcastle for nearly 16 years. In 1957 he became Bishop of Ely until 1963.

His sister Elizabeth Hudson married the Duke of Richmond.

References

*Times Obituary, October 1970
*Who’s Who