James POLLITT

POLLITT, JAMES (b. Worsley, Yorks, England, 7 April 1813; d. Adelaide, SA, 15 Aug 1881). Anglican clergyman.

After training at the CMS College, Islington, Pollitt served as a lay missionary in Jamaica 1834-41. After sick leave and some medical training, in British Guiana, 1843 he was ordained deacon 1843 in the West Indies. He returned to England, to serve as a curate in Westmoreland. Service as an SPG missionary in SA had obvious attractions. He was incumbent of St Luke's Whitmore Square Adelaide, 1855-81. Pollitt was insistent on establishing an evangelical tradition at St Luke's, one which his congregation fought hard to maintain in a number of controversies, one even involving Pollitt's own son, Henry Martyn Pollitt, whose ritualistic churchmanship belied his given names. St Luke's became and has largely remained an evangelical parish within an increasingly high church diocese, despite its declining economic fortunes, which were apparent by the time of Pollitt's death.

Reed, Anglican Clergymen (Gumeracha, 1986)

BRIAN DICKEY