George Ellis AICKIN

AICKIN, GEORGE ELLIS (b. Manchester, England, c1869; d. Melbourne, Vic, 4 Aug 1937). Anglican scholar and clergyman.

After initial education in Manchester, Aickin went to St John's College, Cambridge in 1888 on a Naden Scholarship and graduated BA 1891 (1st cl, classics), MA 1902. He was deaconed 1894 and priested 1895 by the bp of Oxford. Before coming to Australia he combined pastoral duties with academic work, being lecturer at St Aidan's College, Birkenhead and teacher of Hellenistic Greek, Liverpool University, 1906-10.

Aickin became the first principal of Ridley College, Melbourne in November 1910, freeing Canon W. C. Sadlier (q.v.), who had been acting principal for most of the year. Soon after their arrival Aickin and his wife threw themselves wholeheartedly into the work and speedily won a leading place in the church life in Melbourne and beyond. He was principal of Ridley 1910-17, guiding the college through the difficult years of formation, including financial problems, unsuitable location and prejudice from Abp Lowther Clarke. The archbishop appreciated Aickin's scholarship, but wanted to establish a provincial theological college in addition to Trinity College, which was associated with the University of Melbourne, and considered that an independent evangelical institution such as Ridley threatened his plans.

Aickin never spared himself. He was chaplain and lecturer at Trinity College in Melbourne University, the Moorhouse lecturer in 1916, examining chaplain for the bishop of Gippsland 1910-17 and for the bishop of Bendigo 1910-19. At General Synod he was appointed to three committees. He also frequently engaged on deputation on behalf of the college.

He resigned from Ridley College in 1917. The college council passed a resolution of appreciation for his scholarship, teaching ability, devotion to the principles of the college, and his success in establishing the work.

Aickin was a loyal evangelical, but his scholastic ability and buoyant personality enabled him to mix easily with people of other schools of thought. On leaving Ridley, he served from 1917-19 under the aging Bp J. D. Langley as rector of St Paul's, and archdeacon of Bendigo. On his return to Melbourne he became archdeacon of Dandenong 1919-32, and dean of Melbourne 1927-32. During most of this time he was also Administrator or Vicar-General of the diocese. He retired in 1932.

The Aickins had only one child, Godfrey, a boy of great promise, who died when he was only 6 years old.

Melbourne Year Books and Records; L L Nash, Forward Flows the Time (Melbourne, 1960)

KEITH COLE