Arthur Greaves

Arthur Ivan Greaves was an Anglican bishop in the mid 20th century.

He was born on 11 January 1873 and educated at Hurstpierpoint College and Keble College, Oxford.[1] After a period of study at Ripon College Cuddesdon he was ordained in 1897.[2]

His first post was as a Curate in Kettering[3] after which became Vicar of St Mary's, Northampton before further incumbencies at Leicester and Finedon.[4] During the Great War, he served as a Temporary Chaplain to the Forces for 15 months from June, 1917. He had been described at his interview with the Chaplain-General as ‘Bright, sane, moderate, A1’ and was posted to France. In September, 1918, an ‘Excellent Report from BEF about his work and qualifications’ was noted.[5] He spent a year at Etaples in charge of the Military Church and ‘His ability as a leader of men, his marked power as an organiser .... ‘ were praised. [6] Although far from the front lines, Greaves could remember sheltering from German air-raids, including a ‘narrow shave while waiting in a railway station, and a series of temporary sleeping quarters including a tent and a deserted bathing-machine.[7] In September, 1918, he returned to Finedon. Subsequently Archdeacon of Oakham[8] and then Bishop of Grantham he was translated to Grimsby in 1937,[9] a post he held for a further 21 years.[10] He was also Archdeacon of Stow from 1937 to 1951. A keen musician,[11] he died a year after his retirement on 29 November 1959.[12] His papers are housed within The National Archives.[13]