Biographical entry: Caulton, Sidney Gething (1895 - )

Born: 1895

Details

Sidney Caulton, the eight Anglican Bishop of Melanesia, was born in 1895, son of John Caulton and Dorothy (née Hunt) of Derbyshire. He attended St. Chad's College, Durham and Durham University (1911-1928) and earned B.A., M.A. and B.D. degrees. Ordained a deacon in 1922 and a priest the next year, he served in the First World War and then in 1922-1929 was an assistant curate in Liverpool. He became a missionary in the Diocese of Melanesia, serving at Ugi (1929-1930), Makira (1930-1933) and Nggela (1933-1937) before moving to New Zealand as Vicar of Whakatane (1937-1946) and Dean of St, Mary's Cathedral, Auckland (1946-1948). In 1933, he married Beryl Guylee, a Melanesian Mission nurse. He became Bishop of Melanesia from 1948-1953, then resigned to return to Auckland as a vicar (1954-1957). He then became Assistant Bishop of Auckland (1955-1964) and of Southwark (1964-1968), after which he retired. He was part of the 'old guard' of the Diocese of Melanesia. He served as Bishop on Malaita during the later Maasina Rule (q.v.) years, and was slightly more sympathetic that his predecessor. His episcopate also included the defection of the Community of the Cross (q.v.) to the Catholic Church. (Bain BSAC; PIM Dec. 1947)