Bishop Ambrose Reeves returns to South Africa

Date: 10 Sep 1960
Updated: 30 Sep 2019

Bishop Ambrose Reeves returns to South Africa

Anti-apartheid cleric, Dr Richard Ambrose Reeves, Anglican (Church of the Province of South Africa) Bishop of Johannesburg, returned to South Africa from his long leave spent in England. Reeves was not welcomed back by the South African government, because he believed in the justice of the struggle against oppression and inhumanity and publicised his views internationally. He was seized by police two days after his return and deported to England. His deportation was strongly denounced by the Rand Daily Mail, while Black rallies were called to protest against the action taken against him. Reeves was lovingly called 'our Bishop' by many in the Black community because of his untiring efforts to alleviate their suffering.

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01Potgieter, D.J. et al. (eds)(1970). Standard Encyclopaedia of Southern Africa, Cape Town: NASOU, v. 1, p. 463.

Last updated · 30 Sep 2019

Cite this entry

South African History Online. (2011, March 16). Bishop Ambrose Reeves returns to South Africa. South African History Online. https://sahistory.org.za/ref/E-0011913

South African History Online (2011) 'Bishop Ambrose Reeves returns to South Africa', South African History Online, 16 March. Available at: https://sahistory.org.za/ref/E-0011913 (Accessed: 23 July 2026).

South African History Online, Bishop Ambrose Reeves returns to South Africa [website], https://sahistory.org.za/ref/E-0011913, (accessed 23 July 2026).

"Bishop Ambrose Reeves returns to South Africa." South African History Online, 16 Mar. 2011, https://sahistory.org.za/ref/E-0011913. Accessed 23 July 2026.

South African History Online. "Bishop Ambrose Reeves returns to South Africa." South African History Online. March 16, 2011. https://sahistory.org.za/ref/E-0011913.