Christopher and Noel Chavasse both attended Magdalen College School in Oxford (1896–1900) followed by Liverpool College (1900–1904) before progressing to Trinity College, Oxford, competing in rugby, lacrosse, and athletics.[4] They competed on the British team at the 1908 Summer Olympics in London: Christopher came second in his preliminary heat of the 400 metres shortly after Noel came third in his heat of the same event. Neither advanced to the semi-finals.
He was also an England lacrosse international.
After being ordained, he was appointed to the St Helens Parish Church staff. The former Liverpool RU player played mostly in the 'A' Team as an amateur and made his debut for the St Helens RLFC first team in the 24 points to 2 home victory over Hunslet on the 2 Jan 1910. The "Flying Curate", as he became known, played on the wing and scored three tries in six matches for the Saints.[6]
He was nominated Bishop of Rochester on 19 March 1940, consecrated on 25 April the same year, and served in that position until his resignation on 30 September 1960.[1]
In 1943, Chavasse was chairman of the Archbishops' Commission on Evangelism which published the controversial report Towards the Conversion of England.[13][14][15] In accordance with his hope for mass evangelisation, in 1955, Chavasse supported the Crusade of Billy Graham at Harringay Arena.[16]
Chavasse gave his views on homosexuality informally to the Wolfenden Committee, disagreeing with the eventual proposal of the committee to allow same-sex relationships to be legal in private and arguing that "homosexual practice is alarmingly catching".[17]
In 1951, Chavasse founded Bennett Memorial Diocesan School in Tunbridge Wells with the school's main benefactress, Lady Elena Bennett. The school was founded on 17 October 1951 and opened to students on 8 January 1953, to 400 students and only 18 teachers. Bennett Memorial is a Church of England school based within the Diocese of Rochester, having been founded while Chavasse served as the Bishop of Rochester. He founded Rochester Theological College in 1959, which was intended for mature students.[18]
Chavasse also served briefly as an original trustee of St Peter's College upon its incorporation in 1961.[19]
Personal life
Chavasse married Beatrice Willink in July 1919, shortly after the First World War. They had three sons: Noel, their eldest son named in honour of his uncle Noel Godfrey Chavasse, who served as an aide to Bernard Montgomery during the war; Michael and John; and two daughters, Anna and Susan.
In 1939, he lost a leg in a boating accident and was fitted with an artificial leg.[20]
Honours and decorations
Medals of Noel and Christopher Chavasse. Noel's medals are top row. Christopher's medals are bottom row.
For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty. His fearlessness and untiring efforts in attending to the wounded were magnificent. Although continually under fire, he volunteered on every possible occasion to search for and bring in the wounded. No danger appeared to be too great for him to face, and he inspired others to greater effort by his splendid example.
↑Towards the Conversion of England: Being the Report of a Commission On Evangelism Appointed by the Archbishop of Canterbury and York Pursuant to a Resolution of the Church Assembly Passed at the Summer Session 1943. (Dedicated to the Memory of William Temple). Commission on Evangelism Westminster Press and Publications Board of the Church Assembly, 1945. 172 pages.
Cook, Theodore Andrea (1908). The Fourth Olympiad, Being the Official Report. London: British Olympic Association.
De Wael, Herman (2001). "Athletics 1908". Herman's Full Olympians. Archived from the original on 27 September 2006. Retrieved 24 July 2006.
Fryde, E. B.; Greenway, D. E.; Porter, S.; Roy, I., eds. (1986) [1941]. Handbook of British Chronology (Thirded.). Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. ISBN0-521-56350-X.
