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Name: WILLIS, John Jamieson CBE, DD (Rt. Rev.)
Birth Date: 8 Nov 1872 Blackheath, London
Death Date: 12 Nov 1954 Teignmouth, Devon
Nationality: British
First Date: 1900
Last Date: 1934
Profession: Appointed under the CMS to Ankole, Uganda and later transferred to Entebbe where in addition to his missionary work, he was Chaplain to the English Community. Opened up a new mission station in Kavirondo. Bishop of Uganda
Area: Ankole, Entebbe, Kavirondo, Drumkey - Kisumu
Married: In Bordighera, Italy 21 May 1924 Beatrix Maud Tyrrell b. 9 May 1875 Madras, India, d. 9 May 1953 Teignmouth (dau. of Lieut.-Gen. Francis Harding Tyrrell d. 1953)
Book Reference: Gillett, Cuckoo, Tucker, Debrett, EAHB 1905, Red 25, Hut, North, EA & Rhodesia, Drumkey, Red 22, EAS, UJ, EAHB 1906, CMS, EAHB 1904, EAHB 1907, Leader14, Foster, Red Book 1912, Who's Who
School: Haileybury College, Pembroke College and Ridley Hall Cambridge
General Information:
In 1909 he was appointed Archdeacon of Kavirondo and in 1912 was consecrated Bishop of Uganda. Chairman of the Kikuyu Conference in 1919 was awarded the OBE and retired in 1933.
Cuckoo - 1904 - Maseno Escarpment, where was situated the CMS's station in charge of the Venerable Archdeacon Willis, later Bishop of Uganda.
Tucker - arrived in Uganda in Dec. 1900 - to Nkole .......... 1904 opened new station at Maragole Debrett Bishop of Uganda 1912-34, and Assist. Bishop of Leicester 1935-49
EAHB 1905 - at Ntebe
East Africa & Rhodesia - 18/11/54 - The Rt. Rev. J.J. Willis, CBE, DD, who died in Teignmouth, Devonshire, on Saturday while out walking, was Bishop of Uganda from 1912 to 1934, and at the time of his retirement was one of the best loved men in that country. Born in 1872, son of the late Sir William Willis, of Blackheath, he was educated at Haileybury and at Pembroke College and Ridley Hall, Cambridge. After 5 years in Great Yarmouth as a curate he joined the CMS in 1900, worked for 2 years in Ankole, for 3 in Entebbe, and then from 1905 to 1911 in Kavirondo, latterly as archdeacon and chaplain to Bishop Tucker. Soon after his own consecration as bishop, Church harmony was disturbed by the so-called Kikuyu controversy, in which he played a very prominent part. He was active in the development of the Native Church in Uganda, being ahead of most people in foreseeing the need for it to strike strong local roots. He was very much the father of his people, incessantly travelling his diocese on bicycle or afoot, for not until after the 1914-18 war did motor cars come into common use. The cathedral at Kampala was built in his early years as bishop.
In 1935 he became assistant bishop to the Bishop of Leicester, and when he retired from that work 14 years later he went to live in Teignmouth. He married in 1924 Beatrix Maud, only daughter of Lieut.-General F.H. Tyrrell, of Blackheath. They had been friends in their youth. She died last year.
Drumkey 1909 - CMS Uganda - Maseno, Kavirondo
EAS - 22/1/1903 - The Rev. J. Willis has taken up his residence among us, as pastor to the European community. The CMS authorities are to be congratulated on their choice as he has already made himself one of the most popular men in town.
Uganda Journal - Vol. 19, No. 1 - Obituary
Uganda Journal - Vol. 20, No. 1 - Uganda Twenty-Five Years Ago by C. Handley Bird CBE - Bishop Willis was an outstanding man, cultured in every sense of the word. He had an imposing presence, which he knew how to use. I have seldom met a man in authority with such human understanding and humble kindliness of heart to all and sundry.
CMS - 1900 - Age 28. Of Lee, SE Haileybury Sch., Pembroke Coll. and Ridley Hall, Camb.; BA 1894; MA 1898. 1895 Deacon and 1896 Priest by Bp. Norwich. Curate of Gt. Yarmouth. 1899 Dec 19 Accepted as Missionary CMS. 1900 Aug 30 Depart for Uganda Mission - Ankole - Mbarara. 1902 Dec. Entebbe
Red Book 1912 - J.J. Willis - Kisumu
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