Timothy Bavin

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Timothy John Bavin OSB FRSCM (born 17 September 1935) is a British Anglican bishop and Benedictine monk. He was the Bishop of Johannesburg from 1974 to 1985 and then the Bishop of Portsmouth from 1985 to 1995. After leaving the episcopate, he became a monk at Alton Abbey and has held roles as an honorary assistant bishop in Portsmouth (since 2012) and in Winchester (since 2013), while also serving as oblate master at Alton Abbey.

Early life and education
He was born into a family with a military background and was educated at St George’s School at Windsor Castle and Brighton College. He studied Literae Humaniores at Worcester College, Oxford, earning a BA in 1959 and an MA in 1961. He completed National Service as a platoon officer in Aden before training for ordination at Cuddesdon College, being ordained deacon in 1961 and priest in 1962.

Early ministry
Bavin’s first roles included being the first chaplain of St Alban’s College, Pretoria, then a curate at Uckfield with Little Horsted, and later Vicar of the Parish of the Good Shepherd in Brighton (1971–1973). In 1973 he became dean and rector of the cathedral parish of Johannesburg and archdeacon of the diocese, and in 1974 he was elected and consecrated bishop of Johannesburg, a position he held during a turbulent era in South Africa.

Bishop of Portsmouth and later life
In 1985 he moved to England to become Bishop of Portsmouth, a post he held until his resignation in 1995. During this time he was named an honorary fellow of the Royal School of Church Music and, in 1987, he joined the Oratory of the Good Shepherd. After resigning, he was professed as a Benedictine monk at Alton Abbey.

Safeguarding concerns
There were a number of safeguarding issues raised related to the Diocese of Portsmouth during his time as bishop. It has been reported that he did not notify the police about allegations against Father Terry Knight in 1985, and Knight continued in ministry before being convicted of abusing boys in 1996 and again in 2016. It was also reported that he allowed a convicted child sex offender, Father Michael Gover, to work in the church on his release in 1990. In 1994, OutRage! named him as one of ten gay bishops in the Church of England.