Gerard Addington D'ARCY IRVINE

D'ARCY IRVINE, GERARD ADDINGTON (b. Wandsworth, England, 17 June 1862- d. Sydney, NSW, 18 Apr 1932). Anglican clergyman and bishop.

Born of a clerical family, Gerard D'Arcy Irvine journeyed to New Zealand in 1870 with his parents, where he was educated at Napier Grammar School, of which his father was headmaster. When his family moved to Goulburn, D'Arcy Irvine worked as a bank clerk in Newcastle and then studied at MTC under Lukyn Williams (q.v.), and was deaconed 27 Sept 1885, and priested 1886, by Bp Barry. After curacies in Newtown and Parramatta, he was rector successively at Windsor, Bowral Wollongong, Millers Point and Rose Bay with Vaucluse. When assistant bishop, he was rector of St Philip's, Church Hill.

Steadily he acquired enlarged duties in the diocese of Sydney: Archdeacon of Cumberland and examining chaplain 1908, vicar general 1917, commissary (for the archbishop) 1920 and coadjutor bishop to the ailing Abp Wright (q.v.) 1926.

He served on school and diocesan committees, helping to found Cranbrook School and building St Paul's, Rose Bay. He did much to manage diocesan funds and parochial expansion through the Home Mission Society as Hon Clerical Secretary. He also participated in the creation of St Luke's Hospital (1927).

D'Arcy Irvine's progress and his appointment as coadjutor bishop emphasise the early twentieth century preference of the diocese of Sydney for men of pastoral dedication and administrative commitment. Even as a bishop he was expected to have a specific parochial ministry. Thus it was as a faithful parish pastor that he was recalled in the funeral tributes, and 'as a wise and able administrator [of the diocese]. He had the courage of his convictions, and was the true father of his flock. His kindly disposition had endeared him to all who knew him...' (Dean Talbot). That same quiet generosity was remarked on by Dr Wright: 'He has left behind him the memory of a most faithful witness, and whilst we shall often be recalling his graciousness, his geniality, his gifts as a poet, his love of the high and noble things, it is as an unflinching soldier of the Cross that we shall chiefly recollect him'.

ADB 8; Dorothy D'Arcy Irvine, "'He had won all our hearts": the Right Reverend Gerard Addington D'Arcy Irvine, First Coadjutor-Bishop of Sydney', Church of England Historical Society Diocese of Sydney, 30.4, Dec 1985.

BRIAN DICKEY