Frank Weston

Frank Weston [ [http://anglicanhistory.org/weston/ Contemporary Photo] ] (13 September 1871 – 2 November 1924) was Bishop of Zanzibar from 1908 [ “Who was Who” 1897-1990 London, A & C Black, 1991 ISBN 071363457X] until his death 16 years later.

Born into a clerical family [ [http://anglicanhistory.org/weston/weston2.html His nephew (also called Frank Weston) was later Bishop of Knaresborough] ] , he was educated at Dulwich College and Trinity College, Oxford before being ordained priest in 1906. After a Curacy in Westminster ["A short life of Frank Weston" Abdy, D: London, SPCK, 1937] he was to spend the rest of his life in Zanzibar ["The Legacy of Bishop Frank Weston of Zanzibar 1871-1924 in the Global South Anglicanism" Byaruhanga, C Exchange, Volume 35, Number 3, 2006 , pp. 255-269(15)] . A staunch Anglo Catholic [ [http://anglicanhistory.org/weston/weston2.html Anglo Catholic Viewpoint] ] he was Chaplain then Principal of "St Andrew's College" [Additionally serving as Chancellor of "Zanzibar Cathedral" from 1904-08] before ascending to the Episcopate [The Times, Wednesday, Apr 15, 1908; pg. 10; Issue 38621; col C Ecclesiastical Intelligence "New Bishop of Zanzibar"] . Already known within the church as a man of principle [”The One Christ: an enquiry into the manner of the incarnation” Weston,F London, Longmans, 1907] he was responsible for one of the deepest disputes within the Anglican communion. It stemmed from a conference at Kikuyu where representatives from many Christian churches discussed how to repel the perceived threat from non-Christian groups [New York Times.January 4, 1914 "Origins of the Kikuyu Dispute"] . The general consensus of opinion seemed to be that a loose alliance of different groups(Methodist, Presbyterian etc) was the best way of moving forward. Weston immediately accused the proponents such as the "Bishop of Mombassa" of Heresy [The Times, Tuesday, May 12, 1914; pg. 9; Issue 40521; col F Issues Of Kikuyu. "Bishop Weston's Reply To Bishop Peel"] .

The onset of war caused the issue to fade from prominence and Weston himself served with distinction during the conflict, being awarded an OBE for his role as Major commanding the "Zanzibar Carryng Corps" [He was, additionally Mentioned in Despatches in 1916] . The post-war years saw him become increasingly influential and he died, aged 63, much mourned and widely praised [ The Times, Tuesday, Nov 04, 1924; pg. 19; Issue 43800; col A "Bishop Weston. Mission Work In Zanzibar".] .

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