Reginald Foskett, Rector of Ordsall 1943-1948

Mr Foskett was born in Derby, the only child of Albert Ernest and Ellen Elizabeth Foskett, an engineer. He was educated at Derby Grammar School then at Keble College, Oxford, obtaining a BA in Theology in 1931. He took his MA in 1935. From Oxford University he moved to Cuddesdon theological training college for a year, being made deacon in 1932 and priest in 1933.

He was first curate at Gedling from 1932 to 1935, and then moved to Mansfield from 1935-1937, both in Nottinghamshire. In 1937 he became Public Preacher and, in 1939, Curate in charge of Rainworth Conventional District.

On April 7th 1937 he married Daphne Kirk; they had two daughters. Daphne was an expert on miniature paintings and wrote a number of books on the subject. Daphne was the granddaughter of Sir John Kirk who had accompanied Livingstone on his journeys into central Africa. Reginald Foskett edited The Zambezi Doctors (1964) and The Zambezi Journal and Letters of Dr. John Kirk, 1858-63 (2 vols.) published in 1965.

In 1943 he became Rector of Ordsall. Here he encouraged and oversaw the development of the Whitehall Youth Centre and St Mary's Chapel. In 1946 he became a Lecturer at the Nottinghamshire County Training College for Teachers 1946. He remained in this post until 1950, though in 1948 he moved from Ordsall to Ilkeston, Derbyshire. From 1950 he was Rural Dean of Ilkeston, examining chaplain to the Bishop of Derby from 1952, and honorary Canon of Derby Cathedral from 1953. “Throughout this period [in Ilkeston] he was well known as a good trainer of assistant clergy, and good administrator and an excellent lecturer on nineteenth century industry with a wide knowledge of other periods.”[1]

In 1957 Foskett was awarded a PhD Nottingham University, and in that year he moved from the midlands to Scotland to become Provost of the Episcopal Cathedral in Edinburgh. From 1959 he was examining chaplain to the Bishop of Edinburgh.

In 1967 Bishop Bulley of Carlisle invited Foskett to become his suffragan as Bishop of Penrith (the official letter came from the Prime Minister, Harold Wilson on May 26th 1967). Bulley had been Diocesan Director of Education in Southwell from 1936 to 1942, and incumbent at Mansfield from 1946. He was godfather to one of Foskett's children. Foskett was consecrated, with 12 other bishops, in Carlisle Cathedral by Archbishop Coggan of York on 21st September 1967. It was the first consecration in the Cathedral in its 800 year history. Reginald Foskett was described as "a ‘Prayer Book man,’ a middle of the road churchman who liked the splendour of the liturgy with priestly vestments.”[2]

“Quietly and patiently he settled into his new role, covering many miles, and congregations and individuals alike were just beginning to get to know ‘the man under the mitre’ when illness forced him to retire. His quiet, personal ministry was his great strength and with small groups of people he had a deep ministry. His official side lacked presence, his presence – read as one layman put it, ‘like a schoolmaster with a quiet voice’ – but this was the result of a lifetime of lecturing, which fitted him better than the role of ‘preacher’.”[3]

After just three years he resigned on medical grounds and moved from Ambleside to Field Broughton Vicarage, near Cartmel, where he died and was buried.

[1] Richard Watson, Mitred Men in Cumbria (Whitehaven, George Todd and Son, n.d.) p. 56.

[2] Mitred Men in Cumbria, p. 58.

[3] Mitred Men in Cumbria, p. 61.