From The Times

June 18, 2009

The Right Rev Richard Cartwright: Bishop of Plymouth

The Right Rev Richard Cartwright

In addition to its handsome cathedral the city of Bristol also has one of the largest and finest Gothic churches in England, St Mary Redcliffe. The parish always attracted distinguished incumbents, and Richard Cartwright made his mark there in the postwar period as incumbent for 20 years before becoming Bishop of Plymouth. A long-lived priest, in 2007 he celebrated the 70th anniversary of his ordination.

Richard Fox Cartwright was born in 1913, the son of a vicar of Plumstead, Kent. He was educated at The King’s School, Canterbury. He went up to Pembroke College, Cambridge, in 1932, and did his ordination training at Cuddesdon. He was ordained in 1936 in the Southwark diocese, where he was first curate of St Anne’s at Kennington Cross in South London, and then priest-in-charge of Lower Kingswood during most of the war years. He then moved to the thriving middle-class parish of St Andrew, Surbiton. During his time there he was elected a proctor in convocation for the diocese.

In 1952 he moved to St Mary Redcliffe. He made strong connections in the city and when the church needed a substantial restoration in 1962 he committed himself to raising the necessary money. He argued that it was “unthinkable that the county’s most beautiful parish church should fall into decay”. Aware that he was unlikely to raise all the money in Bristol, and exploiting the merchant venturers’ historic links with America, he toured the United States.

On one visit he covered 17,000 miles in five weeks. These visits raised a considerable donation and are marked by the American Chapel under the central tower. His American connections led to his being awarded an honorary doctorate in divinity by the University of the South, Tennessee. The whole restoration had been paid for and completed by 1965.

A small, dapper man, Cartwright was a clear and precise preacher and a good pastor who trained many curates. He was also a disciplinarian: the clergy all had to wear grey suits, and he laid great emphasis on pastoral visits. He played a notable part in the life of the Church Assembly and the Convocation of Canterbury, serving on various committees.

In 1971 he was invited by Bishop Robert Mortimer of Exeter to become suffragan Bishop of Plymouth. He spent ten years as an able support throughout the diocese. He chaired the governors of Kelly College, Tavistock, for 15 years. For many years he was also a director of the Ecclesiastical Insurance Office. He retired at the age of 68 and moved to Cornwall where he acted as an assistant bishop in the Diocese of Truro. He moved back to Exeter in 1988.

A Freemason, and someone who worked well with secular authorities, his churchmanship was that of a moderate Catholic. Originally opposed to the ordination of women, he later changed his mind. He was a sub-chaplain of the Order of St John from 1957. In retirement he enjoyed flyfishing, gardening and painting.

He was married to Rosemary Bray in 1947. She predeceased him in 2003. They had one son and three daughters.

The Right Rev Richard Cartwright, Bishop of Plymouth 1972-82, was born on November 10, 1913. He died on April 10, 2009, aged 95