Datuk Basil Temenggong (11 October 1918 – 22 September 1984) was a Malaysian clergyman in the Anglican Church. He was the second Bishop of Kuching from 1968 until his death in 1984, and the first indigenous Sarawakian bishop.^[1]

Early life

Temenggong was born in 1918 at Pasa, an Iban longhouse a mile downriver from Betong, in what was then the Raj of Sarawak.^[2] He was educated at St Augustine's mission school in Betong and, after completing Standard 6, at St Thomas's School in Kuching.^[3] He returned to Betong, and for a short while he taught, before seeking ordination.^[4]

Clerical career

In 1939 he went to Bishop's College, Calcutta, for training for ordination.^[5] He was ordained deacon in 1941 and priest in 1943.^[6] He was an assistant chaplain at St Thomas's, Calcutta (1941–43) and at Asansol (1943–46).^[7] In the latter post, he found himself ministering to allied soldiers massing at the border, waiting to fight the Japanese.^[8] In 1946 he returned to Sarawak to become headmaster of St Augustine's School, Betong until 1953.^[9][10] He then went to England to do a post-ordination course at St Augustine's College, Canterbury,^[11] followed by six months with the Community of the Resurrection at Mirfield, three months at All Saints Church, Poplar and a further three months at All Saints, Margaret Street.^[12] Subsequent appointments were as Priest-in-Charge of Saratok (1956–62) (and Canon of Borneo 1960–62) and Priest-in-Charge of St Luke's Mission, Simanggang (1962–68) (and Canon of Kuching 1962-68 and Archdeacon of Kuching 1965–68).^[13][14]

When Nicholas Allenby resigned as Bishop of Kuching in 1968, Temenggong was the unanimous choice to replace him.^[15]

He was President of the Council of Churches of Malaysia from 1972 to 1974^[16] and the President of the Council of Churches of East Asia from 1979 until 1983.^[17]

Personal life

He was made Datuk.^[18] He died during a confirmation service at Simunjan in 1984, aged 66.^[19][20]

References