Alexander Hamilton (bishop)

Alexander Kenneth Hamilton (11 May 1915 – 22 December 2001)[1] was an eminent Anglican clergyman during the second half of the 20th century.[2]

Educated at Malvern[1] and Trinity Hall, Cambridge (he proceeded Cambridge Master of Arts {MA Cantab} in 1941), he trained for the ministry at Westcott House, Cambridge.[1] He was ordained a deacon by John Willis, assistant bishop, at Holy Apostles, Leicester, on 8 October 1939;[3] and a priest by Guy Smith, Bishop of Leicester, at St Margaret's, Leicester, on 22 September 1940.[4] His first post was as a Curate in Birstall, Leicestershire,[5] after which he was a Chaplain in the RNVR. When peace returned he was Vicar of St Francis, Ashton Gate.[6] Appointed Rural Dean of Central Newcastle in 1962, when Vicar of the Parish Church of St John the Baptist, Grainger Street, he became Bishop of Jarrow, a suffragan bishop in the Diocese of Durham, three years later.[7] He was ordained (consecrated) a bishop by Donald Coggan, Archbishop of York, on St Matthias' day (24 February) 1965.[8]