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Name: BURNS, George Reed OBE (Archdeacon)

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Nee: uncle of Louis Leakey

Birth Date: 27 Sep 1876 Sligo, Ireland

Death Date: 1 Aug 1944 Limuru

Nationality: Australian

First Date: 1899

Last Date: 1944

Profession: Joined the CMS in Mombasa and Freretown as a layman in 1899. In 1910 in Nairobi, he was ordained Deacon and, two years later, Priest

Area: Mainly Nairobi, Red 31 - G.C. Burns, Box 395, Nairobi?, Limuru

Married: In Mombasa 19.4.1902 Sibella L. Bazett b. 22 May 1868 Reading, d. 12 Dec 1954 Limuru). She joined mission in 1892 with sister Mary who m. Rev Harry Leakey

Children: Arthur Bazett (1903 E. Africa); Margaret Ruth (Freretown 1904-1905); Norman Reed (Nairobi 21.12.1907); Joyce Sibella (1906 Reading-1989 Surrey, trained as a nurse); Katharine Margery (15 Oct 1913 Nairobi- 4 Feb 1921 Mombasa)

Book Reference: Gillett, Nellie, White African, EAHB 1905, KAD, Red 25, Red 31, Hut, North, EA Diary 1903, Drumkey, Red 22, EAHB 1906, CMS, Nicholls, Foster, EAHB 1904, EAHB 1907, Red 19

School: Ireland and Moore Theological College, Sydney

General Information:

For many years he served in Nairobi being mainly attached to St. Stephen's Church and later at All Saints.
Worked with Europeans and Africans. In 1916 he was made a Canon, and in 1926 was awarded the OBE. A nominated Member of Legco for a considerable time, representing especially native interests, he was a man of vigour and earnestness, having strong views and expressing them freely. His daughter Joyce served at the Mission Hospital at Maseno for some years and later at Limuru.
North - New South Wales Church Missionary Assoc., Layman; accepted as missionary in EA  27-9-1898; dep. Sydney for Mombasa 22-2-1899; Freretown Boys' School; Shimba Nov 1900
Drumkey 1909 - CMS Nairobi
CMS 1899 - Age 29. NS Wales CMA Catechist. Formerly in Government Service. Moor Coll. Sydney. 1898 Sept. 27 Accepted by NSW CMA recorded. 1899 Feb 22 Depart from Sydney for E. Africa Mission - Frere Town - Boys' School. 1900 Nov. Shimba. 1903 May 16 to England. 1904 Feb 6 to Frere Town
Nicholls - Revd George Burns became canon and later archdeacon of the diocese. A tall, heavily built man with rosy face, white walrus moustache and bald head with a tonsure of white hair, he was an evangelical, a breed not too welcome among Nairobi's whites.
Foster - Born Ireland 27 Sep 1867 went to Australia joined Australian CMS. In 1899 he arrived in Frere Town, Mombasa. Blackwater fever so posted to Nairobi and stayed there till he retired 1933. Archdeacon 1935. 2 sons 1 daughter
Red Book 1919 - Rev. Canon G. Burns - CMS - Nairobi
Gazette 6 Dec 1938 Kiambu Voters List with Sibella
Barnes - Nairobi South Cemetery - Katharine Margery Burns, born 15 Oct 1913, died 4 Feb 1921 aged 8, daughter of Canon Burns CMS
FindaGrave  buried at St Cuthbert's Church, Limuru, with his wife Sibella

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