Cosmo Gordon Lang

William Cosmo Gordon Lang, 1st Baron Lang of Lambeth, GCVO, PC (known as Cosmo Gordon Lang; 31 October 1864 – 5 December 1945) was a Scottish Anglican prelate who served as Archbishop of York (1908–1928) and Archbishop of Canterbury (1928–1942). His rapid elevation to Archbishop of York, within 18 years of his ordination, is unprecedented in modern Church of England history. As Archbishop of Canterbury during the abdication crisis of 1936, he took a strong moral stance, his comments in a subsequent broadcast being widely condemned as uncharitable towards the departed king.

The son of a Scots Presbyterian minister, Lang abandoned the prospect of a legal and political career to train for the Anglican priesthood. Beginning in 1890, his early ministry was served in slum parishes in Leeds and Portsmouth, except for brief service as an Oxford college chaplain. In 1901 he was appointed suffragan Bishop of Stepney in London, where he continued his work among the poor. He also served as a canon of St Paul's Cathedral, London.

Gordon Lang

Rev. Gordon Lang (25 February 1893 – 20 June 1981) was a Welsh Congregationalist minister and Labour Party politician. He was Member of Parliament (MP) for Oldham from 1929 to 1931, and for Stalybridge and Hyde from 1945 to 1951.

Lang was born in Monmouth, and attended the town's grammar school and Cheshunt College. He combined his pastoral work with political activity including being honorary secretary of the United Europe Movement and a leading member of the Proportional Representation Society.

MP for Oldham

In 1929 he was nominated as one of two Labour candidates for the two-seat Oldham constituency along with James Wilson. The election saw a large swing to the party, and Lang and Wilson were elected, unseating the two sitting members (one Conservative and one Liberal.)

Following the collapse of the second Labour Government and the formation of a National Government, a further general election was held in 1931. Lang and Wilson defended their seats against two government candidates, but were heavily defeated. Lang stood at Oldham again at the next general election in 1935, but failed to regain the seat for Labour.