Carlyle Witton-Davies Explained

Carlyle Witton-Davies (10 June 1913 – 25 March 1993) was an Anglican priest^[1] and scholar.^[2]

He was born the son of T. Witton-Davies, Professor of Hebrew at the University College of North Wales, Bangor and educated at Friars School, Bangor; University College of North Wales, Bangor; Exeter College, Oxford;and Ripon College Cuddesdon.

He was ordained in 1938^[3] and began his ecclesiastical career with a curacy at Buckley. From 1940 to 1944 he was Subwarden of St. Michael's College, Llandaff. From then until 1949 he was a Canon Residentiary at St. George's Cathedral, Jerusalem.^[4] In that year he became Dean and Precentor^[5] of St David's. His last senior post was as Archdeacon of Oxford (1957–1982).^[6]

One of the last clerics to wear the traditional frock coat and gaiters,^[7] he died aged 79.

References

1. [Who's Who|“Who was Who” 1897-2007]
2. Amongst others he translated Martin Buber’s “Hasidism”, (1948) and “The Prophetic Faith” (1949); made major contributions to the “Oxford Dictionary of the Christian Church” (1957 edition) and “The Mission of Israel”, 1963 ; and wrote “Journey of a Lifetime” > British Library website accessed 19:58 GMT 18 April 2011
3. https://www.independent.co.uk/news/people/obituary-the-ven-carl-wittondavies-1454071.html Independent Obituary
4. [Crockford's Clerical Directory]
5. Although an ancient foundation, before 1840 the senior residentiary cleric was the Precentor, and not a Dean, due to a complication during the dissolution of the monasteries > “Eglwys Gadeiriol Tyddewi, 1181-1981 / St David’s Cathedral, 1181-1981” St David’s, Gwasg yr Oriel Fach, 1981
6. [The Times]
7. [The Times]