William Grant Broughton correspondence and related papers, 1836-1853

MLMSS 9806

fonds

1836-1853

1000724

0.16 metres of textual material (1 box)

William Grant Broughton (1788-1853) arrived in the colony in 1829 and remained an influential figure in the colony until his death. From 1829-1836, he was Anglican Archdeacon of New South Wales. In 1836, he was consecrated as the first Bishop of Australia and in 1848 he took up office as the Bishop of Sydney. He travelled widely, consecrated or dedicated almost one hundred church buildings on the Australian mainland, commenced the building of St Andrew's Cathedral, set up a theological college and secured the establishment of the bishoprics of New Zealand, Tasmania, Melbourne, Newcasstle and Adelaide. In October 1850 he summoned a meeting of the Australasian bishops in order to consider the role of the church and the nature of its governance. Broughton decided to travel to England in 1852 to discuss the future of the colonial church and to try to resolve some of its constitutional and procedural difficulties. However, he became ill on the voyage and died three months after his arrival.

The papers were found in a house purchased by the donor's parents, Mr and Mrs Moase. The house was previously the residence of Archdeacon Whitington, the author of the first biography of Bishop Broughton.

FOLDER 01: Letters received, 1843-1851
1. Copied extract of letter to Bishop Broughton regarding Church funds, February 1843. Author unidentified.
2. Letters patent from Lord Bathurst to Archdeacon Broughton (copy), 6 February 1847.
3. Letter from Frances Russell Nixon, Bishop of Tasmania, reporting on visit to London, 30 April 1847.
4. Colonial Secretary Edward Deas Thomson to Bishop Broughton (49/116, M8407) regarding proper designation to be given in official correspondence to Prelates of the Roman Catholic Church, 29 June 1849, together with enclosed copy of letter from Earl Grey directing that the Anglican Bishop be given precedence over the Roman Catholic Archibishop, 9 January 1849.
5. Colonial Secretary Edward Deas Thomson 49/118, M8445) regarding proper designation to be given in official correspondence to Prelates of the Roman Catholic Church, 29 June 1849, together with enclosed copy of letter from Earl Grey, 27 December 1848.
6. Incomplete letter from Bishop of Adelaide regarding Church matters, 1851.
7. Letter from Charles Perry, Bishop of Melbourne, with local news and comment on local and Australian governance matters, 26 June 1851.

FOLDER 02: Letters received from William Tyrrell, Bishop of Newcastle, 1849-1852
1. Concerning death of Mrs Broughton, 19 September 1849.
2. Comments regarding meeting of six Bishops, 21 February 1851.
3. Incomplete letter regarding visit to New Zealand, 28 October 1851.
4. Concerning first steps towards self government, 20 December 1851.
5. Concerning Synod education, meeting of Bishops, 14 January 1852.
6. Concerning clergy/Bishop relationship, 3 February 1852.

FOLDER 03: Letters sent, 1836-1852
1. To wife Sarah regarding journey to O'Connell Plains, 4 December 1836.
2. To wife from Melbourne regarding travels in Victoria, 14 October 1843 (damaged).
3. Copy of Circular Letter No. 2 to Rev. R Allwood and Rev. William Cowper; pleased they support his going to England, 6 May 1844.
4. Typed carbon transcript of letter to Rev. Edward Coleridge regarding education, partition of the Dioceses, creation of a Metropolitan, 12 October 1846.
5. To George Augustus Selwyn, Bishop of New Zealand, regarding Roman Secessions, 2 March 1848 (major insect damage).
6. To Edward Coleridge regarding subjects for 1850 meeting, 6 July 1850 (major insect damage).
7. Concerning submissions to Synod of Australasia, 1850 (major insect damage).
8. To Archbishop of Canterbury regarding Declaration and Petition, 22 March 1852.
9. Copy of letter to Rev. Allwood regarding right of clergy to meet separately, 14 April 1852.

FOLDER 04: Letters sent to Joshua Watson, treasurer of the Society for Promoting Christian Knowledge, 1839-1846
1. Concerning Roman Catholicism, 9 September 1839.
2. Concerning Roman Catholicism, 14 September 1839.
3. Concerning Roman Catholicism, 11 February 1843.
4. Concerning Colonial Church Society, Evangelicalism, November 1844.
5. Concerning Church matters, 19 November 1844 (major insect damage).
6. Concerning the future of the Church of England, 22 April 1845.
7. Concerning Newman's secession, 30 January 1846.

FOLDER 05: Documents relating to church discipline, 1836 and undated
1. Document A: Correspondence between the Bishop of Australia and His Excellency Governor Bourke respecting the constitution of a Consistorial Court. Comprises letter from Broughton to Bourke, 7 October 1836, and reply from Colonial Secretary Alexander Macleay, 11 October 1836; letter from Broughton to Bourke, 17 October 1836, and reply from Macleay to Broughton, 25 October 1836, enclosing Attorney-General's memorandum 20 October 1836.
2. Document C: Copy of Instrument under the Bishop's stand and seal, adopting portions of the Church Discipline Act and appointing same to be observed in this Diocese, undated.
3. Document D: Order of proceeding, consequent upon the above, in cases of Enquiry into alleged misconduct on the part of Clergymen of the Church of England in the Diocese of Australia, undated.

FOLDER 06: Printed material, 1852-1853
1. Declaration from meeting of Bishops of the Province of Australia calling for duly constituted Provincial and Diocesan Synods, and Petition to Queen Victoria, passed in 1852, with duplicate copies (trimmed).
2. Circular letter from Bishop Broughton, forwarding the Declaration and the Petition, and recommending Petition to the General Meeting of the Clergy of the Diocese, 8 March 1852, with duplicate copy (trimmed).
3. Resolution of the Standing Committee of the Sydney Diocesan Society on the death of Bishop Broughton recording the thanks of the Society and of the Australasian Church for his endeavours, 5 July 1853.
4. Circular calling for subscriptions for memorial window to Bishop Broughton in East Wing of St Andrew's Cathedral, with a list of subscribers who contributed in 1853 when the idea was first mooted, undated.

Chronological within folder

Copyright status:: In copyright - Manuscript material in this collection has multiple rights owners
Out of copyright: Printed material
Research & study copies allowed: Authors have been deceased for more than 50 years
Rights and Restrictions Information:: No publication without prior written approval of copyright holder
Please acknowledge:: Mitchell Library, State Library of New South Wales and Courtesy copyright holder

These papers were microfilmed for the University of Tasmania Library in the 1950s or 1960s.