Thomas Henry ARMSTRONG

ARMSTRONG, THOMAS HENRY (b. Dublin, Ireland, 2 Apr 1857- d. Melbourne, Vic, 23 Mar 1930). First Anglican bp of Wangaratta.

Armstrong was the eldest son of John Simpson Armstrong, for many years one of the Crown Prosecutors in Vic. He arrived in Vic with his parents in Aug 1858. Educated at the Geelong Grammar School and later at the Geelong College, he entered the Victorian Law Department in 1874, where he spent two years before entering the University of Melbourne (BA 1880). He was deaconed the same year, and priested in 1881, curate of St Kilda 1881; curate of St Columb's Hawthorn, 1883, and incumbent of Hawthorn 1883-94. In 1892 he married the eldest daughter of Henry Henty, a well-known Melbourne merchant, who was the son of one of the pioneers of Victoria, and a very earnest churchman. In 1894 he was appointed archdeacon of Gippsland in succession to Archd H A Langley (q.v.). From 1900 he also took over the work of the archdeacon of Beechworth which then included part of the diocese of Bendigo.

With the formation of the new Victorian dioceses of the Church of England in 1902, he was elected unanimously to both Gippsland and Wangaratta, but chose the latter. He was consecrated bp of Wangaratta on 24 Feb 1902 in St Paul's Cathedral, Melbourne. During his term the See increased greatly in importance.

When he accepted election he had a staff of 25 clergy and 77 churches. The total number of communicants was 2949, who raised £10 633 for church purposes as well as £330 for home mission funds. When he retired he had a staff of 35 clergy with 97 churches. The number of communicants, in spite of a decrease in population, had increased to 3817, who contributed £20 201 for church purposes and £1500 for home missions. In addition, during his term Bishop's Lodge was built, St Columb's Hall for local theological students was established, and the cathedral completed except for two west-end bays and towers.

Bp Armstrong resigned from his diocese as from the end of March 1927. When he gave notice of his intention to retire at the 1926 Wangaratta Synod, the members passed the motion moved by Archdeacon Potter: 'That the Synod places on record its profound gratitude to Almighty God for the Bishop's long and honourable term of office, his wise, fatherly sympathetic and spiritual rule and guidance, and for the many outward and tangible results of progress that have marked his Episcopate; congratulates his lordship on his 25 years occupancy of the See'.

Armstrong retired to Hawthorn in Melbourne and died three years later, his wife having predeceased him about eighteen months previously. He was survived by a son, J H B Armstrong, and a daughter, Dorothy. He was a convinced evangelical clergyman and bishop, and a deeply spiritual person, but was broadminded and tolerant, agreeing to differ with some of his clergy in matters of ritual.

Records of the Diocese of Wangaratta

KEITH COLE