Dr. Alfred Barry (15 January 1826 - 1 April 1910) was an Anglican clergyman and school headmaster who ministered in London before becoming the first Bishop of Sydney, Australia.
Born in London, he was the second son of Charles Barry, architect of the Houses of Parliament, and his wife Sarah née Boswell. He was educated at King's College London and Trinity College, Cambridge. He was elected a fellow of Trinity College in 1849.
He was ordained as a deacon in 1850 and as a priest in 1853. He was headmaster of Leeds Grammar School, 1854–62, Principal of Cheltenham College 1862-8 and Principal of King's College, London, 1868-83. As neither post provided sufficient remuneration to support him, he was additionally appointed Canon Residentiary of Worcester from 1871-1881 and Canon of Westminster Abbey from 1881-1883. He was also Chaplain to the Queen from 1879-1883.
His interest in education led to him being elected to the first London School Board in 1870 as one of the representatives of Westminster. He was re-elected in 1873 for a second three-year term.
At the end of 1883 it was announced that Barry was to become the first Bishop of Sydney, and he left for Australia, where he was installed as bishop in April 1884. His tenure in the office was seen as unsuccessful, however, as he was often absent from Australia. Eventually he resigned the see for family reasons in May 1889 and returned to England. He became assistant bishop to Anthony Thorold, Bishop of Rochester. Thorold had also been a member of the first London School Board. In 1891 he was appointed Dean of Windsor. From 1895-1900 he was rector of St James's Piccadilly and in 1896 was appointed an assistant bishop to the Bishop of London.
He died at Windsor, where he had responsibility for St George's chapel, in April 1910, aged 84, and was buried in Worcester.
Wikipedia page [1] refers. Victorian Web page [2] has some details.
References[]
- "Obituary: Bishop Barry". The Times: p. 17. 2 April 1910.
- Barry, Right Rev. Alfred. The Dictionary of Australasian Biography (1892).
- Barry, Alfred. A Cambridge Alumni Database.