Person

Edward Laurie King

Edward Laurie King was born in Wales on 30 January 1920. He attended secondary school, first at Howard Garden School in Cardiff (1932–35) and then at King’s College, Taunton (1935-37). He obtained his B.A. at the University College of South Wales in 1943, whereafter he studied for the priesthood, passing his general ordination examination at St Michael’s College, Llandaff in Wales in 1945. After serving as a curate in the Parish of Risca in Monmouth, he was admitted into the priesthood in 1946 at the Cathedral Church of St Woolos in Newport, Wales. He came to South Africa in 1948 and served first as assistant clergyman in the parish of Germiston, then in 1950 he was appointed rector of the parish of Robertson, moving to Stellenbosch in 1953, where he served for 5 years as rector. In 1958, he was confided to the office of Dean and Rector of the Cathedral Church of St George, where he served for 30 years, until his retirement in 1988. It was during his deanship that this Cathedral became a haven and symbol of resistance to the divisive laws of the apartheid regime. He upheld the statement of his predecessor, Dean Tom Savage, that the Cathedral Church should be “open to all people at all times”. He became a South African citizen in 1959. He was a popular Dean, known for his humility and sense of humour. He sought to build relationships with other religions by founding the Inter-Faith Forum. He wrote two books and many articles. He was married to the oncologist, Dr Helen King. They had three daughters and one son. He died on 4 August 1998 at the age of 78.