Peter Frederick (Charles) Anson (22 August 1889 – 10 July 1975) was an English non-fiction writer on religious matters and architectural and maritime subjects. He spent time as anAnglican Benedictine monk[1] before converting toRoman Catholicism.
Peter Anson was born Frederick Charles Anson inSouthsea on 22 August 1889, the son ofCharles Eustace Anson (1858–1940), later a rear-admiral (son ofFrederick Anson,Canon of Windsor and Caroline Maria, daughter ofGeorge Venables-Vernon, 5th Baron Vernon), and his wife, (Maria) Evelyn, née Ross (1863–1904). His brother was the electrical engineerHoratio St George Anson. He was educated atWixenford School until the age of almost 15. His father'sfamily had a history of prominence in the Anglican Church.[2][3]
Anson converted to Roman Catholicism on 5 March 1913. In doing so, he followed the example of the members of theAnglican Benedictine monastery onCaldey Island (Ynys Bŷr),Pembrokeshire, Wales, underAelred Carlyle, of which he had been one since 1910. He was received into the Third Order of theFranciscans in 1922, adopting the name Peter.[2]
Anson was the author of some 40 books, many of them on religious subjects, and one of them a biography ofAelred Carlyle, who founded the first regular Anglican Community of Benedictines. He was also an accomplished artist.[4]
In 1936, Anson moved to the north-east of Scotland, his mother's country of origin, living atMacduff,Banffshire from 1937 to 1952, and becoming involved in the early activities ofScottish nationalism. His acquaintance there includedNeil M. Gunn andCompton Mackenzie.[2]
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