Francis Phelps
Francis Robinson Phelps was an Anglican bishop in the first half of the 20th century.Early life
Phelps was born in Canada on 19 September 1863 and educated at Keble College, Oxford. he was made deacon in 1887 and ordained priest in 1888. Following curacies at Battersea, St John the Evangelist, Westminster and St John the Divine, Kennington he was rector of Thorpe Episcopi, Norfolk.Phelps and his family emigrated to South Africa in 1909, he was successively warden of St Peter’s Home in Grahamstown and Archdeacon of Grahamstown. He was appointed Dean of Grahamstown in 1914.
Phelps was elected Bishop of Grahamstown in 1915. In 1931 he was translated to Cape Town. His consecration as archbishop was challenged by other Anglican clergy in the civil court in Cape Town. The court found for Phelps.
Due to ill-health Phelps resigned as archbishop in 1937, He died less than a year later on 27 June 1938. in Oxford.
Phelps married Edith Hunter in 1895.
