Spencer Leeson


Spencer Stottisbury Gwatkin Leeson was an eminent Headmaster and Anglican bishop in the mid 20th century.

Life

He was born on 9 October 1892 and educated at Winchester and New College, Oxford. After World War I service with the Middlesex Regiment he was Assistant Principal at the Board of Education then an Assistant Master at his old school. He was appointed Headmaster of Merchant Taylors’ in 1927 then Winchester College eight years later. He was made deacon at Michaelmas 1939 at Wolvesey chapel and ordained priest on Trinity Sunday 1940 at Winchester Cathedral — both times by Cyril Garbett, Bishop of Winchester. He was Rector of St. Mary's Church, Southampton and then Wiccamical Prebendary at Chichester Cathedral. Appointed to the See of Peterborough in 1949 and ordained and consecrated a bishop that All Saints' Day at Westminster Abbey by Geoffrey Fisher, Archbishop of Canterbury; he held this post until his death on 27 January 1956.

Memorials

A memorial stained glass window was erected in the south aisle of Peterborough Cathedral to his memory.