Christopher Chavasse

Christopher Maude Chavasse, OBE, MC, TD (9 November 1884 – 10 March 1962 ) was a British athlete, soldier and religious leader. He competed at the 1908 Summer Olympics in London, served in the First World War and was later the Bishop of Rochester.

Early life
Chavasse was the son of Francis Chavasse, a Bishop of Liverpool and founder of St Peter's College, Oxford and his wife Ethel Maude. His twin brother, Noel Godfrey Chavasse, won the Victoria Cross and bar. Christopher was the elder of the two by 20 minutes. The twins had two other brothers and three sisters.

Both Christopher and Noel Chavasse attended Trinity College, Oxford, competing in both rugby and athletics. They competed on the British team at the 1908 Summer Olympics in London: Christopher came second in his preliminary heat of the 400 metres shortly after Noel came third in his heat of the same event. Neither advanced to the semi-finals.

Military service
During World War I, Chavasse served as a Chaplain in the Royal Army Chaplains' Department of the British Army. On 15 August 1916, he was promoted from Chaplain to the Forces 4th Class (equivalent to Captain) to Chaplain to the Forces 3rd Class (equivalent to Major). On 30 September 1918, he was promoted to Chaplain to the Forces 2nd Class (equivalent to Lieutenant Colonel).

Career
After the First World War, Chavasse rose through the ranks of the Church of England. He was nominated Bishop of Rochester on 19 March 1940, consecrated on 25 April the same year and served in that position until his resignation on 30 September 1960.

In 1948, a sermon given by Chavasse about Belshazzar's Feast was featured as a religious short film produced by J. Arthur Rank.

In 1943 Chavasse was chairman of the Archbishops' Commission on Evangelism which published the controversial report Towards the conversion of England. In accordance with his hope for mass evangelisation, in 1955 Chavasse supported the Crusade of Billy Graham at Harringay Arena.

Chavasse gave his views on homosexuality informally to the Wolfenden Committee, disagreeing with the eventual proposal of the committee to allow same-sex relationships to be legal in private, and arguing that "homosexual practice is alarmingly catching".

He served as the first Master of St Peter's College, Oxford upon its founding in 1929 by his father. He also served briefly as an original Trustee of the college upon its incorporation in 1961.

Personal life
Chavasse married Beatrice Willink shortly after the First World War, in July 1919. They had three sons: Noel, their eldest son named in honour of his uncle Noel Godfrey Chavasse, Michael and John, and two daughters, Anna and Susan.

Honours and decorations


Chavasse was awarded the Military Cross (MC) during World War I. His citation, published in the London Gazette dating 25 August 1917, read: "For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty. His fearlessness and untiring efforts in attending to the wounded were magnificent. Although continually under fire, he volunteered on every possible occasion to search for and bring in the wounded. No danger appeared to be too great for him to face, and he inspired others to greater effort by his splendid example."

He was also awarded the Croix de Guerre (1914–1918) by the Republic of France 'for distinguished services rendered during the course of the campaign'. Chavasse's other World War I decorations included the 1914 Star with clasp, the British War Medal, and the Victory Medal.

In the 1936 King's Birthday Honours, he was appointed Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) in its Military Division. In 1937, he was awarded the King George VI Coronation Medal.

On 31 January 1941, he was awarded the Efficiency Decoration (TD) for long service in the Territorial Army. In June 1946, he was appointed Chaplain of the Venerable Order of Saint John (CStJ). On 18 March 1959, he was commissioned as a Deputy Lieutenant (DL) by the Lord Lieutenant of Kent.