Charles Henry Bromby

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Charles Henry Bromby (11 July 1814 – 14 April 1907) was an Anglican bishop of Tasmania.

[edit] Early life

Bromby was the second son of the Rev. John Healey Bromby and brother of Dr John Edward Bromby, and was born at Hull, England. He was educated at Hull Grammar School, Uppingham School and St John's College, Cambridge, where he graduated B.A. in 1837 with third-class honours in classics, M.A. in 1840 and D.D. in 1864.

[edit] Career

Bromby was a curate at Chesterfield from 1838–9, and then headmaster of Stepney Grammar School from 1839. In 1843 Bromby was appointed vicar at St Paul's, Cheltenham, and was joint-founder and principal of the Cheltenham training college for teachers 1843–1864. He published The Sorrows of Bethany and other Sermons (1846), which was followed by The Pupil Teacher's English Grammar (1848), and a volume on Liturgy and Church History (1852), the third edition of this appeared in 1862 under the title of Church Students' Manual. In 1864 he was appointed bishop of Tasmania, the last Australian bishop to be nominated by the crown, and was consecrated in Canterbury Cathedral. In 1868, when the question of the abolishing of state aid to religion was dealt with, Bromby was largely responsible for the passing of the commutation act which resulted in the Church of England in Tasmania receiving about £60,000 as a perpetual endowment instead of the former yearly payments. Early in 1869 a contract was made for the building of the nave of St David's cathedral, and the cathedral was consecrated in 1874. In 1880 Bromby visited England, and in 1882 resigned his see. His episcopate was marked by the building of several new churches and a great increase in the number of clergy.

Bromby returned to England and became rector of Shrawardine-cum-Montford (1882–1887), and assistant-bishop of Lichfield (1882-1891). He was also warden of St John's Hospital, Lichfield (1887–1891). He then became assistant bishop to the bishop of Bath and Wells until he resigned in 1900 at the age of 86. He lived in retirement with his son, Canon Bromby, at Clifton, and died there on 14 April 1907.

[edit] Legacy

Bromby also published several sermons and addresses in pamphlet form. He married in 1839 Mary Anne, daughter of Dr Bodley of Brighton, and there were several children. The eldest son, Henry Bodley Bromby (1840–1911) became dean of Hobart in 1876. The Tasmanian Synod founded a studentship in Bishop Bromby's memory in 1910.