The Right Reverend Walter Howard Frere

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The Right Reverend Walter Howard Frere

Birth
Balsham, South Cambridgeshire District, Cambridgeshire, England
Death
2 Apr 1938 (aged 74)
Mirfield, Metropolitan Borough of Kirklees, West Yorkshire, England
Burial
Mirfield, Metropolitan Borough of Kirklees, West Yorkshire, England Add to Map
Plot
In plain stone altar tomb on south side of high altar (see details below)
Memorial ID
View Source
Frere was born in Cambridge, England, on 23 November 1863, the younger son of Philip Howard Frere and his wife Emily, née Gipps. His siblings were Arthur, Ellen and Lucy. Lucy became the wife of Wilfred J. Barnes. He was educated at Trinity College, Cambridge and Wells Theological College; and ordained in 1889. His first post was as a curate at Stepney Parish Church. He was Examining Chaplain to the Bishop of Southwark from 1896 to 1909.

Frere was twice Superior of the order 1902–1913 and 1916–1922, and returned to it after resigning the see of Truro. He was consecrated bishop in Westminster Abbey on 1 November 1923, and as he regarded membership of a religious order an obligation taking precedence over others, the bishop's palace became a branch house of the Community.

Frere assisted the Indian Syro-Malankara church with the foundation of the Bethany religious order in 1919: however the dioceses forming this church were received into the Roman Catholic communion in 1930.

He was a member of the Anglican delegation to the Malines Conversations in the 1920s, and active in various other ecumenical projects including relations with the Russian Orthodox Church. He was a noted liturgical historical scholar; he was also a high churchman and a supporter of Catholic ideas. In his early writings and addresses he emphasised the importance of spiritual life, and explained some of the liturgical revision which was then in preparation.

He played a major part in the proposed revision of the Church of England Book of Common Prayer in 1928, which was later rejected by Parliament, and was responsible for the service book for the Guild of the Servants of the Sanctuary. Some of the books which belonged to Walter Frere form part of the Mirfield Collection which is housed in the University of York Special Collections.
Frere was born in Cambridge, England, on 23 November 1863, the younger son of Philip Howard Frere and his wife Emily, née Gipps. His siblings were Arthur, Ellen and Lucy. Lucy became the wife of Wilfred J. Barnes. He was educated at Trinity College, Cambridge and Wells Theological College; and ordained in 1889. His first post was as a curate at Stepney Parish Church. He was Examining Chaplain to the Bishop of Southwark from 1896 to 1909.

Frere was twice Superior of the order 1902–1913 and 1916–1922, and returned to it after resigning the see of Truro. He was consecrated bishop in Westminster Abbey on 1 November 1923, and as he regarded membership of a religious order an obligation taking precedence over others, the bishop's palace became a branch house of the Community.

Frere assisted the Indian Syro-Malankara church with the foundation of the Bethany religious order in 1919: however the dioceses forming this church were received into the Roman Catholic communion in 1930.

He was a member of the Anglican delegation to the Malines Conversations in the 1920s, and active in various other ecumenical projects including relations with the Russian Orthodox Church. He was a noted liturgical historical scholar; he was also a high churchman and a supporter of Catholic ideas. In his early writings and addresses he emphasised the importance of spiritual life, and explained some of the liturgical revision which was then in preparation.

He played a major part in the proposed revision of the Church of England Book of Common Prayer in 1928, which was later rejected by Parliament, and was responsible for the service book for the Guild of the Servants of the Sanctuary. Some of the books which belonged to Walter Frere form part of the Mirfield Collection which is housed in the University of York Special Collections.

Gravesite Details

Ashes lie in a plain stone altar tomb on the south side of that high altar in the Mirfield Community's chapel, balanced on the north side by that of the founder. In the floor of the south choir aisle in Truro Cathedral there is a brass.


  • Created by: David Luders
  • Added: Sep 2, 2018
  • Find a Grave Memorial ID:
  • David Luders
  • Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/192782670/walter_howard-frere: accessed ), memorial page for The Right Reverend Walter Howard Frere (23 Nov 1863–2 Apr 1938), Find a Grave Memorial ID 192782670, citing Community of the Resurrection Monastery Cemetery, Mirfield, Metropolitan Borough of Kirklees, West Yorkshire, England; Maintained by David Luders (contributor 49008885).