Percival Stephenson

The Rt Rev Percival William Stephenson was the 6th Anglican Bishop of Nelson whose Episcopate spanned a 14 year period in the mid 20th century.

He was born on 5 May 1888, educated at Caulfield Grammar School, Melbourne and the University of Melbourne and ordained in 1914.

He moved to India to teach at CMS Edwards College in Peshawar, where he was initially a teacher and then Principal (1921–1924). From 1924 to 1928 he was Professor of Exegetical Theology at St John’s College, Winnipeg.

On his return to Australia he became Federal Secretary of the Church Missionary Society of Australia and Tasmania and Headmaster of Trinity Grammar School, Sydney (1935–37) and then Commonwealth Secretary of the British and Foreign Bible Society until his elevation to the Episcopate in 1940. He died on 29 May 1962.