John Bateman-Champain

John Norman Bateman-Champain (14 March 1880 – 22 October 1950) was a British Anglican bishop who served as Bishop of Knaresborough, the suffragan bishop of the Church of England Diocese of Ripon.^[1] He had previously been a first-class English cricketer, making five appearances (two for Gloucestershire: and three for the Free Foresters);^[2] he was a right-handed batsman.

Bateman-Champain was born at Richmond Hill, Surrey. Bateman-Champain was born into a military family, son of army officer John Underwood Bateman-Champain (of the Bengal Royal Engineers). John Norman was educated at Cheltenham College and Gonville and Caius College, Cambridge,^[3][4] and studied for ordination at Wells Theological College.

Bateman-Champain played 2 first-class matches for Gloucestershire in 1899, with his debut for the county coming against Lancashire and his second and final first-class match for the county coming against Nottinghamshire.^[5] Additionally, he also represented the Free Foresters in a 3 first-class matches, firstly in 1919 against Cambridge University and Oxford University and finally against Oxford University in 1920.

Upon graduating theological college, Bateman-Champain was made deacon at Advent 1903^[6] and ordained priest the following Advent (18 December 1904) — both times by George Forrest Browne, Bishop of Bristol, at Bristol Cathedral.^[7] He served his title as assistant curate of St Mary Redcliffe, Bristol until 1908;^[1] from 1904 onwards, John Maud (his future father-in-law) was Vicar of St Mary Redcliffe.^[8] His first post was overseas (South Africa) as vicar of Krugersdorp and St Boniface Church, Germiston.^[9] On the Feast of the Ascension (16 May) 1912, he was instituted Vicar of St Mary Redcliffe.^[10] During the Great War he was interviewed for a commission with the Army Chaplains' Department, and was described as an 'attractive personality A1'. He was sent to the Western Front and, from 1918, served at General Headquarters.^[11]

Remaining at Redcliffe until 1928, he became also Rural Dean of Bedminster starting in 1927, before a ten-year stint as Vicar of Newcastle Cathedral (to which he was instituted on 31 October 1928).^[12] While at Newcastle, he was the first Vicar to bear the additional title Provost, becoming Provost of Newcastle in 1931^[13] (after the Cathedrals Measure 1931). His final appointment was as Bishop of Knaresborough, a suffragan bishop in the Diocese of Ripon;^[14] alongside this, he held the Rectory of Methley.^[13] He was consecrated a bishop on St Matthias' day (24 February) 1938, by William Temple, Archbishop of York, at York Minster.^[15] On 15 July 1944, he was appointed as the second principal of the RAF Chaplains' School based at Magdalene College, Cambridge.^[16] Clergymen with a sporting background were favoured in the RAF Chaplains Branch, and the Master of Magdalene College would later comment that Bateman-Champain's presence in college "brought lustre and distinction to the scene".^[16] He continued as Bishop of Knaresborough until retirement to Bristol in 1948.

Bateman-Champain was part of a large cricketing family. His brothers Claude, Francis and Hugh all played first-class cricket, as did his brother-in-law Frederick Currie. His uncles Fendall Currie, Revd Sir Frederick Currie, Robert Currie and William Currie also played first-class cricket.

During his second time at Redcliffe, he married in 1912, Jean Monsell Maud, eldest daughter^[1] of John Maud, previously Vicar there (while Bateman-Chapmain was Curate)^[8] but by then Bishop of Kensington; they had two sons and two daughters.^[1] One son was killed on active service in 1943.^[17] Bateman-Champain died at Westbury-on-Trym on 22 October 1950.

• John Bateman-Champain at ESPNcricinfo
• John Bateman-Champain at CricketArchive (subscription required) (archive)