Nathaniel Dawes

Nathaniel Dawes (24 July 1843 – 12 September 1910) was the first Anglican Bishop of Rockhampton from 1892 until 1909.^[1] He was the first bishop to be consecrated in Australia.^[2]

Early life

Dawes was born in Rye, Sussex, England^[3] and educated at Montpelier College, Brighton^[4] and St Alban Hall, Oxford. He was an engineer who was involved in the construction of the Blackfriars Bridge.^[5]

Religious life

Dawes was ordained a deacon in 1871 and priest in 1872.^[4][6] His first post was as a curate at St Peter’s Vauxhall from 1871 to 1877^[4] after which he was Vicar of Charterhouse before emigrating to Australia^[3] to become the Rector of St Andrew's South Brisbane. He was then appointed Archdeacon of Brisbane and later its coadjutor bishop before translation to Rockhampton in 1892. In 1897 he was involved in the establishment of the Bush Brotherhood, an order of itinerant outback priests.^[5] Dawes travelled to England in 1907 for medical treatment. On 27 May 1908, on medical advice, he reluctantly resigned his see and was succeeded by George Halford.

Later life

Dawes died on 12 September 1910 in Malvern, Worcestershire, England.^[3]

References

1. Ecclesiastical Intellrrigence New Bishopric The Times Friday, Oct 07, 1892; pg. 7; Issue 33763; col B
2. Webb, Paul (1978), Brothers in the sun : a history of the Bush Brotherhood Movement in the outback of Australia, Rigby, ISBN 978-0-7270-0623-3
3. Bayton, John. "Dawes, Nathaniel (1843–1910)". Australian Dictionary of Biography. Canberra: Australian National University. Retrieved 23 August 2012.
4. Mennell, Philip (1892). " Dawes, Right Rev. Nathaniel". The Dictionary of Australasian Biography. London: Hutchinson & Co. Wikisource 
5. "ANAKIE.". The Capricornian (Rockhampton, Qld. : 1875 - 1929) (Rockhampton, Qld.: National Library of Australia). 25 September 1897. p. 26. Retrieved 25 September 2015.
6. The Times, 25 December 1871; pg. 4; Issue 27255; col E, Ordinations. York