John Richard Worthington Poole-Hughes (8 August 1916 – 25 October 1988) was a Bishop of South-West Tanganyika and a Bishop of Llandaff.

Poole-Hughes's grave in the churchyard of Llandaff Cathedral. Picture taken in May 2020.

He was born in Carmarthenshire, Wales to Canon W. W. Poole-Hughes and his wife,[1] and was educated at Uppingham School and Hertford College, Oxford. On graduation, he joined the Royal Artillery and fought in World War II; he was taken prisoner at Mersa Matruh in Egypt, but escaped to return to his unit.[1]

After the war he studied at Wells Theological College and was ordained in 1948. After a curacy at St Michael and All Angels, Aberystwyth[2] he served as a missionary in East Africa[3] rising to the rank of diocesan Bishop in Tanzania.[4] After serving as Assistant Bishop and as curate of Llantwit Major he was appointed to succeed Eryl Thomas as Bishop of Llandaff in 1975[5] and enthroned in the following year.

He contributed to the publication of Escape an episode in the life of John Richard Worthington Poole-Hughes, Bishop of South West Tanganyika, 1962-1974.[6]

His diaries and letters are held at the Bodleian Library at Oxford University.[7]

He died in 1988; he left no wife or children.[1]

Notes edit

  1. ^ a b c Hertford College Oxford website, Hertford College Magazine, Volume 75 (1989), page 45
  2. ^ Church web site
  3. ^ Sinclair, J. B; Fenn, R. W. D (1992). Just the right man: a biography of the Rt Revd John Richard Worthington Poole-Hughes, 1916-1988. Kington, Herefordshire: Cadoc Books. ISBN 978-0-9516865-1-5.
  4. ^ “Who was Who”1897-1990 London, A & C Black, 1991 ISBN 0-7136-3457-X
  5. ^ The Times, Wednesday, 10 December 1975; pg. 18; Issue 59574; col E Church news New Bishop of Llandaff
  6. ^ Imperial War Museum website, Escape an episode in the life of John Richard Worthington Poole-Hughes, Bishop of South West Tanganyika, 1962-1974
  7. ^ National Archives website, Poole Hughes, John Richard Worthington, (1916-1988), Bishop of Llandaff
Anglican Communion titles
Preceded by Bishop of South-West Tanganyika
1962–1974
Succeeded by
Church in Wales titles
Preceded by Bishop of Llandaff
1975–1985
Succeeded by