The Rock That is Higher Than I by Rev. Bill Bendyshe Burnett

The Rock That is Higher Than I is the remarkable autobiography of the Right Reverend Bill Bendyshe Burnett, one of South Africa’s most influential Anglican church leaders during the twentieth century. Published posthumously in 1997 by Mrs Sheila Burnett, the book chronicles the extraordinary life of a man whose ministry spanned war, social upheaval, and profound spiritual renewal. Burnett served as Archbishop of Cape Town from 1974 to 1981 and was also Bishop of Bloemfontein, Bishop of Grahamstown, and the first General Secretary of the South African Council of Churches. His memoir offers readers an intimate account of both his personal journey and the major historical events that shaped modern South Africa.

In The Rock That is Higher Than I, Burnett begins by recounting his early years and his service during the Second World War. Captured in North Africa, he became a prisoner of war in Italy before making a dramatic escape and living in hiding until Allied forces liberated the country. These wartime experiences profoundly influenced his Christian faith and later ministry, forming one of the most compelling sections of the autobiography.

The memoir then follows Burnett’s calling to the Anglican priesthood and his rise to become one of South Africa’s leading church figures. He reflects on the challenges of ministering during the apartheid era, the growth of the charismatic renewal movement within the Anglican Church, and his commitment to ecumenism and reconciliation. Written with honesty, humility, and spiritual insight, the book provides a valuable first-hand perspective on the relationship between faith, leadership, and social justice in twentieth-century South Africa.

For readers interested in South African history, Christian biography, Anglicanism, or wartime memoirs, The Rock That is Higher Than I is both historically significant and deeply inspiring. As a privately published work issued after the author’s death by his wife, it is also a relatively uncommon title that appeals to collectors of South African church history and religious literature. Combining personal recollection with national history, this autobiography preserves the legacy of a respected church leader whose influence extended well beyond the Anglican Communion.

Condition: Near fine – Minimal wear present.