John Norman Bateman-Champain (14 March 1880 – 22 October 1950) was a British Anglican bishop who served as Bishop of Knaresborough, the suffragan bishop of the Church of England Diocese of Ripon.[1] He had previously been a first-class English cricketer, making five appearances (two for Gloucestershire: and three for the Free Foresters);[2] he was a right-handed batsman.

John Bateman-Champain
Bishop of Knaresborough
DioceseDiocese of Ripon
In office1938–1948
PredecessorPaul de Labilliere
SuccessorHenry de Candole
Other post(s)Provost of Newcastle (1931–1938)
Orders
Ordination1903 (deacon); 1904 (priest)
Consecration24 February 1938
by William Temple
Personal details
Born(1880-03-14)14 March 1880
Richmond Hill, Surrey, UK
Died22 October 1950(1950-10-22) (aged 70)
Westbury-on-Trym, Gloucestershire, UK
NationalityBritish
DenominationAnglican
Cricket information
BattingRight-handed
Domestic team information
YearsTeam
1899Gloucestershire
Career statistics
Competition First-class
Matches 5
Runs scored 36
Batting average 5.14
100s/50s –/–
Top score 17
Balls bowled 6
Wickets
Bowling average
5 wickets in innings
10 wickets in match
Best bowling
Catches/stumpings 2/–
Source: Cricinfo, 26 June 2010

Early life and education

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Bateman-Champain was born at Richmond Hill, Surrey. Bateman-Champain was born into a military family, son of army officer John Underwood Bateman-Champain (of the Bengal Royal Engineers). John Norman was educated at Cheltenham College and Gonville and Caius College, Cambridge,[3][4] and studied for ordination at Wells Theological College.

Sporting career

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Bateman-Champain played 2 first-class matches for Gloucestershire in 1899, with his debut for the county coming against Lancashire and his second and final first-class match for the county coming against Nottinghamshire.[5] Additionally, he also represented the Free Foresters in a 3 first-class matches, firstly in 1919 against Cambridge University and Oxford University and finally against Oxford University in 1920.

Ecclesiastical career

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Upon graduating theological college, Bateman-Champain was made deacon at Advent 1903[6] and ordained priest the following Advent (18 December 1904) — both times by George Forrest Browne, Bishop of Bristol, at Bristol Cathedral.[7] He served his title as assistant curate of St Mary Redcliffe, Bristol until 1908;[1] from 1904 onwards, John Maud (his future father-in-law) was Vicar of St Mary Redcliffe.[8] His first post was overseas (South Africa) as vicar of Krugersdorp and St Boniface Church, Germiston.[9] On the Feast of the Ascension (16 May) 1912, he was instituted Vicar of St Mary Redcliffe.[10] During the Great War he was interviewed for a commission with the Army Chaplains' Department, and was described as an 'attractive personality A1'. He was sent to the Western Front and, from 1918, served at General Headquarters.[11]

Remaining at Redcliffe until 1928, he became also Rural Dean of Bedminster starting in 1927, before a ten-year stint as Vicar of Newcastle Cathedral (to which he was instituted on 31 October 1928).[12] While at Newcastle, he was the first Vicar to bear the additional title Provost, becoming Provost of Newcastle in 1931[13] (after the Cathedrals Measure 1931). His final appointment was as Bishop of Knaresborough, a suffragan bishop in the Diocese of Ripon;[14] alongside this, he held the Rectory of Methley.[13] He was consecrated a bishop on St Matthias' day (24 February) 1938, by William Temple, Archbishop of York, at York Minster.[15] On 15 July 1944, he was appointed as the second principal of the RAF Chaplains' School based at Magdalene College, Cambridge.[16] Clergymen with a sporting background were favoured in the RAF Chaplains Branch, and the Master of Magdalene College would later comment that Bateman-Champain's presence in college "brought lustre and distinction to the scene".[16] He continued as Bishop of Knaresborough until retirement to Bristol in 1948.

Family and later life

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Bateman-Champain was part of a large cricketing family. His brothers Claude, Francis and Hugh all played first-class cricket, as did his brother-in-law Frederick Currie. His uncles Fendall Currie, Revd Sir Frederick Currie, Robert Currie and William Currie also played first-class cricket.

During his second time at Redcliffe, he married in 1912, Jean Monsell Maud, eldest daughter[1] of John Maud, previously Vicar there (while Bateman-Chapmain was Curate)[8] but by then Bishop of Kensington; they had two sons and two daughters.[1] One son was killed on active service in 1943.[17] Bateman-Champain died at Westbury-on-Trym on 22 October 1950.

References

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  1. ^ a b c d "Bateman-Champain, Rt Rev. John Norman". Who's Who. A & C Black. doi:10.1093/ww/9780199540884.013.U222355. (Subscription or UK public library membership required.)
  2. ^ John Bateman-Champain at Cricinfo
  3. ^ "Bateman-Champain, John Norman (BTMN898JN)". A Cambridge Alumni Database. University of Cambridge.
  4. ^ The Times, Monday, 27 May 1907; pg. 7; Issue 38343; col D University Intelligence. Oxford, 25 May
  5. ^ First-Class Matches played by John Bateman-Champain
  6. ^ "The Advent Ordinations". Church Times. No. 2135. 24 December 1903. p. 822. ISSN 0009-658X. Retrieved 17 August 2024 – via UK Press Online archives.
  7. ^ "The Ordinations". Church Times. No. 2187. 23 December 1904. p. 855. ISSN 0009-658X. Retrieved 17 August 2024 – via UK Press Online archives.
  8. ^ a b "Church News. Personal". Church Times. No. 2585. 9 August 1912. p. 162. ISSN 0009-658X. Retrieved 17 August 2024 – via UK Press Online archives. Fri 09 Aug 1912, Page 162
  9. ^ "The New Vicar of St Mary Redcliffe". Church Times. No. 2550. 8 December 1911. p. 795. ISSN 0009-658X. Retrieved 17 August 2024 – via UK Press Online archives.
  10. ^ "Redcliffe's New Vicar". Church Times. No. 2574. 24 May 1912. p. 733. ISSN 0009-658X. Retrieved 17 August 2024 – via UK Press Online archives.
  11. ^ Index Card Museum of Army Chaplaincy
  12. ^ "Church News". Church Times. No. 3430. 19 October 1928. p. 434. ISSN 0009-658X. Retrieved 17 August 2024 – via UK Press Online archives.
  13. ^ a b "Clerical obituary". Church Times. No. 4577. 27 October 1950. p. 795. ISSN 0009-658X. Retrieved 17 August 2024 – via UK Press Online archives.
  14. ^ The Times, Friday, 31 December 1937; pg. 12; Issue 47880; col E New Bishop suffragan of Knaresborough appointed
  15. ^ "Two bishops consecrated". Church Times. No. 3919. 4 March 1938. p. 261. ISSN 0009-658X. Retrieved 21 March 2017 – via UK Press Online archives.
  16. ^ a b Johnson, Bruce R. (2011). ""Answers that Belonged to Life": C. S. Lewis and the Origins of the Royal Air Force Chaplains' School, Cambridge". Sehnsucht: The C.S. Lewis Journal. 5/6: 81–102. ISSN 1940-5537.
  17. ^ The Times obituary, 24.10.1950
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Church of England titles
New title Provost of Newcastle
1931–1938
Succeeded by
Preceded by Bishop of Knaresborough
1938–1948
Succeeded by