Charles Jeffries

Jeffries, Sir Charles Joseph. (Beckenham, Kent, UK, 1896--December 10, 1972, Bromley, London). Church of England. Son of C.D. Jeffries. Married Myrtle Bennett, 1921. Graduated Malvern College and Magdalen College, Oxford. Lieutenant, Wilts Regiment, British Army, 1915-1917; Second Class Clerk, Colonial Office, 1917-1920; Principal, Colonial Office, 1920-1930; Assistant Secretary and Establishment Officer, Colonial Office, 1930-1939; Assistant Under-Secretary of State, Colonial Office, 1939-1947; Joint Department Under-Secretary of State, Colonial Office, 1947-1956.

Vice president for many years of the United Society for the Propagation of the Gospel; member of the governing board of the Society for Promoting Christian Knowledge; member of the House of Laity, Anglican Church, 1950-1955. Officer, Order of the British Empire, 1937; Knight Commander of St. Michael and St. George, 1943.

He wrote numerous books about Britain's colonial empire, and numerous articles on Christian unity. In his more famous book, Towards the Centre (1958), he described the "Centre" not as Rome, Canterbury, or Jerusalem, but Christ, who draws all men to himself. He wrote one hymn, "Speak Forth Your Word," which was first published in The Hymn Book of the Anglican Church of Canada and the United Church of Canada (1975).

--C. Bernard Ruffin, DNAH Archives