Geoffrey Fisher - Archbishop of Canterbury

Archbishop of Canterbury

Fisher put an effort into the task of revising the Church of England's canon law. The canons of 1604 were at that time still in force, despite being largely out of date.

He presided at the marriage of Princess Elizabeth and later at her coronation in 1953 as Queen Elizabeth II. The event was carried on television for the first time. (The previous coronation, in 1937, had been filmed for newsreel.)

He is remembered for his visit to Pope John XXIII in 1960, the first meeting between an Archbishop of Canterbury and a Pope since the English Reformation, and an ecumenical milestone.

Fisher was a committed Freemason. Many Church of England bishops of his day were also members of Freemasonry. Fisher served as Grand Chaplain in the United Grand Lodge of England.

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