Fisher, Geoffrey Francis (1887-1972)

The papers consist primarily of his official correspondence as archbishop of Canterbury (vols. 1-271), although there are a few volumes of correspondence and sermons covering his earlier career and his retirement (vols.272-81, 288, 327). The collection include a few papers particularly on Anglican-Methodist unity after his retirement. The collection also includes some correspondence and recollections of Fisher acquired by Dr. Edward Carpenter, dean of Westminter, during his preparation of the archbishop's biography (vols. 272, 274, 278, 328).

The official papers cover the whole range of Archbishop Fisher's concerns, from international affairs to Canterbury diocesan business. The bulk relates however to administration of the Church of England at home and Anglican Communion affairs abroad. Fisher took a close personal interest in the establishment of independent Anglican provinces overseas, particularly in Africa, and this interest is reflected in the papers. At home Fisher's involvement in administrative reform is amply demonstrated by the voluminous correspondence on Archbishops' Commissions, canon law revision, Convocation and Church Assembly business. On a more personal level Fisher's close interest in the restoration of Lambeth Palace after wartime bombing is evident. In addition his singular obsession with marriage discipline runs as a constant refrain through the papers.

Apart from Church of England affairs, the papers shed light on many important aspects of British post-war political, social and colonial history. There are files on such matters as birth control, capital punishment, gambling, homosexuality, prostitution, areas in which the Church had as it were a vested interest. Fisher's interest in Africa led to considerable dealings with many leading political figures, from the Kabaka of Uganda to Sir Roy Welensky, and the papers are in general a valuable source for the history of the twilight years of Empire.

Geoffrey Francis Fisher (1887-1972) was appointed bishop of Chester in 1932, translated to the see of London in 1939, and elevated to the primacy in 1945. He resigned as archbishop in 1961.

These form part of the Archbishops' Papers. These in turn form part of the archives of the Archbishops of Canterbury, which also comprise: Bishops' Meetings records (BM), Cartae Antiquae et Miscellaneae (Lambeth Charters) (CM), Convocation records (Conv), Court of Arches records (Arches), Faculty Office records (F), Lambeth Conference papers (LC), Temporalities records (ED and T), including correspondence on the Archbishops' estates (TR 8-36), and Vicar General records (V).

For each year of Archbishop Fisher's primacy, the papers are arranged in the alphabetical order of the original titles of the files.

Open

Most 20th-century Archbishops' Papers (Davidson, Lang, Fisher) are catalogued more summarily than the 19th century papers. The indexes to most of the 20th-century papers give a guide to the overall contents to the subjects of individual files, but people are not indexed unless they are the subject of the file (e.g. appointments) - so not every correspondent will appear in the index.

Catalogue descriptions are based on a finding aid for which the initial cataloguing was undertaken by Geoffrey Pick and the work completed and the index edited by Dr. Richard K. Aspin, 'Catalogue of the correspondence and papers of Geoffrey Francis Fisher, archbishop of Canterbury, 1945-1961' (typescript, 1993).

The catalogue comprises a list of volumes with the titles of the first and last file of papers within each volume of the official correspondence, and descriptions of the individual files of papers in the volumes. The cataloguing principles adopted are similar to those applied to the papers of the earlier twentieth century archbishops of Canterbury: individual correspondents are not noted, except when they are the subject of the correspondence. The contents of the volumes of sermons and addresses, diaries and newspaper cuttings have not been indexed.

Copyright in official papers of Archbishop Fisher is owned by Lambeth Palace Library (transferred by literary executors, 1988).

Correspondence of Fisher as bishop of London is in the Library's collection of Fulham Papers.

The Library also holds a bust of Archbishop Fisher by Jacob Epstein.

Recordings at the British Library Sound Archive.

Family papers at Repton School.