Stanley Booth-Clibborn

Stanley Eric Francis Booth-Clibborn (20 October 1924 – 6 March 1996) was a British Anglican bishop in the late 20th century.

He was well known during his episcopal ministry for his outspoken political views and interventions on behalf of the poor.

Having returned to England after five years military service, he studied history at Oriel College, Oxford, and then trained for the priesthood at Westcott House, Cambridge.

[4] Having returned from military service, he spent three years studying modern history at Oriel College, Oxford.

[3][6] In 1950, he entered Westcott House, Cambridge, an Anglican theological college in the Liberal Catholic tradition.

[7] He spent two years serving in India during which he was attached to the Royal Indian Artillery.

[11] In November 1992, Booth-Clibborn stepped down as Bishop of Manchester and retired from full-time ministry.

[12] In June 1994, it was reported that while in Uganda Booth-Clibborn had been shot in the leg by attackers who demanded money.

[16] His ashes are buried in a grave in Morningside Cemetery, Edinburgh in the south-west section.

[3] Anne's parents, William and Margaret Forrester, had been distinguished figures in the Church of Scotland.

[2] During his time in Kenya, Booth-Clibborn would preach that the Kenyans had "to be responsible for their own nation", stating on one occasion that "politics is not a dirty business Africans can leave to the British".

[3] During his time as bishop, Booth-Clibborn took an active interest in politics and social policy, and wrote letters to various newspapers.

In a letter to The Times, he said that "Politicians' task is to improve the state schools where the vast majority of our children are educated.

[18] In 1987, he wrote a letter to The Independent speaking out against credit cards and accusing financial institutions of "selling debt".

[19] In 1988, during a debate about the Local Government Act, he spoke out against Section 28 (which banned the promotion of homosexuality) saying "Many peers should surely be well aware of the dangers of encouraging prejudice".

[20] Also in 1988, during a speech in the House of Lords, he described the million-pound salaries of some company chairmen as "obscene" especially when compared to the £5000 paid to a trainee nurse: he stated it is "utterly wrong and misguided thinking to imagine that one can have a nation which is spiritually healthy when one has large numbers of millionaires".