Bishopric

In 1916 the Prime Minister, H. H. Asquith, offered him the post of Bishop of Exeter, and although initially unwilling to move, he finally accepted. Trevor Beeson, in his book The Bishops (2002), expresses surprise at the appointment, stating that it was "easily the most extraordinary episcopal appointment of the twentieth century" because of his total unsuitability "by aptitude and experience for a bishopric".^[2] Beeson went on to surmise that only a person with a large personal income such as Cecil could have been appointed to the see at the time because one third of its annual income was being paid as a pension to his predecessor, Archibald Robertson who had resigned aged 63 and lived until 1931.^[2]

Cecil was bishop for the last two years of the Great War. He pressed women to take on jobs vacated by men. ‘The foulest task honours the hands of those who work for their country.’^[8] He instructed clergy to keep up appearances in wartime ‘A gloomy face and a prognostication of evil is now not only unpatriotic but is also most unchristian.’^[9]

Cecil's episcopate was notable for its tolerance. He took the view that the principles of the Church were broad enough to allow wide latitude in the permissible forms of religious service, so he did not try to enforce any particular theological school of thought, and maintained a friendly relationship with the leaders of Nonconformist groups.^[5] He did, however, quarrel with his cathedral when he suggested the abolition of the office of the Dean, with the money that would be saved being used to pay for a suffragan bishop to increase pastoral care in the diocese. His proposal did not come to fruition and was put down as one of "Love in a Mist's" madcap ideas.^[2]

Eccentricity

As bishop, Cecil gained a reputation for eccentricity and the nickname of "Love in a Mist" was given to him, according to Beeson, on account of his "administrative ineptitude and autocratic unwillingness to take advice", ameliorated by a most loving personality.^[2]

Beeson relates several instances of Cecil's eccentric behaviour. On one occasion a guest having tea with him at his home was surprised when he fed pieces of crumpets to two rats that came out of holes in the floor, and threw powdered copper sulphate on the fire to turn the flames green, remarking that he liked the colour. Once, goes another story, while robing in the vestry before a service, he held a handkerchief between his teeth, but forgot to return it to his pocket and proceeded to the altar with it still hanging from his mouth. He had been heard to complain that the Bible was "an awkward book", and while travelling around his diocese he would often ring up his wife to ask where he was.^[2]

Shortly after his death in 1936, he was commemorated in the cathedral by two sculptures, both bearded: one is on the screen of the Speke chapel in which he is depicted as St Martin giving his cloak to a beggar;^[10] the other, as St Peter, is high up on the bishop's throne and was created in 1938 by the Exeter woodcarver, Herbert Read.^[11] A tablet in the floor by the throne expresses the wish that the statue will "keep for ever alive the memory" of Lord William Cecil.^[10]

Writings

• Science and Religion, Changing China (1910)
• Difficulties and Duties

Family

Cecil married, on 16 August 1887, Lady Florence Mary Bootle-Wilbraham, daughter of the 1st Earl of Lathom. They had issue:

• Randle William Gascoyne-Cecil (28 November 1889 - 1 December 1917)
• Victor Alexander Gascoyne-Cecil (21 May 1891 - 17 January 1977)
• John Arthur Gascoyne-Cecil (28 March 1893 - 27 August 1918)
• Rupert Edward Gascoyne-Cecil (20 January 1895 - 11 July 1915)
• Eve Alice Gascoyne-Cecil (13 January 1900 - 1994)
• Mary Edith Gascoyne-Cecil (13 January 1900 - 1994), married Francis Manners, 4th Baron Manners and had four children.
• Anne Gascoyne-Cecil (8 October 1906 - 23 December 1924).