bodyType

customContents

entityId

entityUuid

articlePageQuery

filter

article

articleBaseAdvertisingInfoArticle

articleListArticle

articleSeoArticle

helpersCheckIsPostiesArticle

hooksArticleAcknowledgementGateOverlayArticle

hooksTrackPageViewArticle

hooksContentInterestArticle

articleLinkingDataContent

articleSchemaContent

liveArticle

advertZone

sentiment

contentLock

topics

types

sections

moreOnThisArticles

urlAlias

commentCount

sponsorType

authorLocations

authors

paywallTypes

corrections

displaySlideShow

multimediaEmbed

printHeadline

seriesContainer

socialHeadline

headline

flag

firstTopic

glossary

flattenTypeIds

publishedDate

additionalInfoBoxes

images

image

relatedLinks

relatedNewsletters

__typename

createdDate

sponsor

factSheets

series

disableOffPlatformContent

published

updatedDate

summary

subHeadline

body

keywords

copyrighted

customTimezone

liveContents

Raquel Carvalho

Reverend Joyce Bennett
1923-2015
"That people consider what a woman has to say about being a priest should be a matter of interest never ceases to amaze me," wrote Joyce Bennett in 1975's Women Priests? Yes - Now! "How many male priests are asked 21/2 years after their ordination what this sacrament of ordination has meant to them?"
Bennett was in a unique position to comment. Four years earlier, in Hong Kong, she had become the first English woman ever ordained as a priest in the Anglican church. A pioneering educator, she would later serve for seven years as a lawmaker.
With her hearty laugh still lingering in the memories of many in Hong Kong, Bennett was described as a strong and caring woman, devoted to working with underprivileged people.
Susan Chan, who taught at St Catharine's School for Girls in Kwun Tong, of which Bennett was founder and principal, said she was a "very caring and loving" teacher, adding: "We were all seen as her children."
But Bennett was assertive and protective of her "children"; so much so, Chan said with a smile, that she would scare Education Bureau inspectors. "In her eyes, her teachers were the best and no one would dare challenge that."
While Bennett preached in Cantonese at church, Chan said she used both Chinese and English at school, where she was seen as a "humble and approachable".
Born in London, Bennett held a degree in history and a diploma in education. She arrived in Hong Kong in 1949 as a missionary.
She was a deacon when she founded St Catharine's in 1968 and three years later, along with another woman, she was ordained to the priesthood. Only one other Hong Kong woman had been ordained before, and women in England would not be ordained for another 23 years.
Allen Lee Peng-fei, former leader of the Liberal Party, served with Bennett in the legislature. He recalled a "fair" and "friendly" woman who "would always be willing to listen to other opinions, although she would take the side of the underprivileged".
Esther Pak Tsang Tze-har, vice-principal of St Stephen's Girls' College in Mid-Levels, where Bennett taught for 11 years until 1960, said she was remembered as a "caring teacher and a very strong administrator".
Bennett returned to England in 1983. A year later, she was granted an honorary degree by the University of Hong Kong.
Bennett died on July 11. A memorial will be held at St Catharine's at 3pm on Saturday.


Obituary: Reverend Joyce Bennett, a pioneer in religion, education and politics in Hong Kong

Joyce Bennett in 1976, on her appointment as a lawmaker.

Bennett taught at St Stephen's Girls' College in Mid-Levels for 11 years until 1960. Photo: Jonathan Wong

News

Hong Kong