Leonard John HARRIS

HARRIS, LEONARD JOHN (b. Dubbo, NSW 16 Nov 1911; d. Gerringong, NSW, 28 Sept 1988). Anglican missionary and pastor.

After attending Penrith and Parramatta High Schools, Len Harris was obliged to find whatever work he could during the difficult depression years. Experiencing a strong calling to the Church of England ministry, he entered MTC in 1934, supporting himself by working as a catechist at Gerringong and other country parishes. He was ordained deacon in 1937 and priest in 1938 by the Abp of Sydney, following which he served as curate in the parishes of Moss Vale and Manly. In 1938, he m. a schoolteacher, Margarita Morgan.

Len Harris had long had a deep personal interest in missionary work in general, and in Aboriginal people in particular. Offering to CMS, he was accepted, given some training in anthropology and tropical medicine, and appointed chaplain at Groote Eylandt, NT. The Harrises set out on a remarkable trek from Sydney in 1939, together with Dick and Nell Harris, missionaries returning north, becoming the first people to drive a truck all the way to Roper River. On Groote Eylandt, Len Harris and his wife assumed cheerfully the varied and demanding tasks expected of missionaries in that era, preaching, teaching, building gardening and much more. They lived in a bark hut, where Margarita, like so many unacknowledged missionary wives, patiently struggled to keep house and care for their new baby son, as well as undertaking the responsibility of fulltime school teaching. These, however, were war years, and when Singapore fell to the Japanese, missionary women and children were evacuated south. Len Harris remained behind as chaplain to all three CMS missions, commissioned as well by the Navy to enable him to undertake the role of coast-watcher.

From the outset, Harris had enthusiastically engaged in language learning. Convinced of the importance of having the Bible in the language of the people, his dream had always been to undertake translation. Unexpectedly, the war years provided this opportunity as the missions were reduced to minimal staff and activity. Realising that the Nunggubuyu language was widely understood in Eastern Arnhem Land, Harris commenced translation of the Gospel of Mark, with the assistance of Bidigainj, Grace Yimambu and Umbariri (Joshua). The translation was completed in 1945, together with the Epistle of James, both published a few years later by the Bible Society.

Regrettably, for health reasons, Len Harris felt unable to remain in the missionfield as a family after the war. Returning to Sydney, he became, successively, rector of Blacktown, NSW general secretary of the Bible Society, rector of Liverpool and, rector of Lidcombe, chaplain to Royal Prince Alfred Hospital, rector of Croydon, and chaplain to Lidcombe Hospital. His ministry as a hospital chaplain led him to develop a deep interest and clear gifts in the ministry of healing. He became the first Australian warden of the Order of St Luke, and was also instrumental in establishing the Order in New Zealand. Retiring to Gerringong in 1974, Len Harris led an active life in the healing ministry, and in relieving in parishes. He died in his garden and is survived by Margarita and their three sons.

Diocese of Sydney, Year Book, 1918

JOHN HARRIS