Michael Furse
The Rt Rev Michael Bolton Furse, KCMG, DD was an eminent Anglican bishop in the first half of the 20th century.
Born in 1870 in Staines, Middlesex, Furse was the fourth son of Ven. Charles Furse, Archdeacon of Westminster, and Jane Diana Monsell, second daughter of John Samuel Bewley Monsell, vicar of Egham. His elder brothers included the sculptor John Henry Monsell Furse, Lt.-Gen. Sir William Furse and the artist Charles Wellington Furse.
He was educated at Eton and Trinity College, Oxford, he was ordained in 1897. He was Fellow and Dean of his old college then Archdeacon of Johannesburg. In 1904 the Baker house, Bishopskop was built for him. In 1909 he was elevated to the Episcopate as Bishop of Pretoria, a post he held for 11 years. The Jane Furse Memorial Hospital was built in memory of his daughter, Jane, who died of scarlet fever in 1918. In 1920 he was translated to St Albans, retiring in 1944. He died on 18 June 1955.
