Fisher, Geoffrey Francis

Fisher, Geoffrey Francis, 1887–1972, archbishop of Canterbury (1945–61). He was educated at Oxford and ordained a priest in 1913. He served as assistant master of Marlborough College (1911–14) and as headmaster of Repton School (1914–32). In 1932 he became bishop of Chester; from 1939 to 1945 he was bishop of London. As archbishop of Canterbury (1945–61) he traveled widely in the interest of church unity. His visit to the pope in 1960 was the first by the archbishop of Canterbury since the Reformation. He was president of the World Council of Churches from 1946 to 1954. Upon his retirement in 1961 he was raised to the peerage.