H.B. Bousfield, first Bishop of Pretoria, to 1881: the foundation of the diocese of Pretoria (1870-1879) and the early episcopacy of H.B. Bousfield, first Bishop of Pretoria (1878-1881)

Abstract

In 1870 the Synod of the Anglican Church in South Africa decided to found a see in the Transvaal. The pioneer of Anglican work there was Bishop T.E. Wilkinson of Zululand who during visits of 1873 and 1874 organised the Church. In 1875 Wilkinson resigned his diocese over his involvement in the Transvaal. It was only after the annexation of the Transvaal by Britain 1877 that a bishop was chosen. This was not Wilkinson whom the Transvaalers desired but was H.B. Bousfield, an excellent organiser though an egotistical man. From the time of his arrival in the diocese of Pretoria in 1879 Bousfield organised Anglican work at a diocesan level. Through his tireless travelling he got the congregations functioning. His episcopacy was plagued by financial worries. Little mission work was attempted. With the retrocession of the Transvaal to the Boers after the War of Independence Bousfield had to rebuild his diocese.