The Bush Brotherhood was a group of Anglican religious orders providing itinerant priests to minister to sparsely-settled rural districts in Australia. They were described as a "band of men" who could "preach like Apostles" and "ride like cowboys".[1]

All Saints Chapel, known as the Bush Brotherhood of St Paul, Charleville, 1933
The Reverend Harold Victor Hodson, Bush Brother from England, stationed at Richmond, Queensland, 1913–1916

History

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The St Andrew's Bush Brotherhood was established in 1897 in Longreach, Queensland, by the Bishop of Stepney, Canon Body and the Bishop of Rockhampton, Nathaniel Dawes.[2][3][4] The first group of brothers was led by the Reverend George Halford.[5]

The Brotherhood of St Barnabas was established in 1902 in Herberton, Queensland by Aneirun Vaughan Williams and Joseph Braybarton. It was also known as the North Queensland Brotherhood.[6]

The Brotherhood of the Good Shepherd was established about 1903 in Dubbo, New South Wales.[7] The Brotherhood of the Good Shepherd published The Bush Brother magazine from 1904 to 1980.[8]

The Bush Brotherhood of St Boniface operated in the Diocese of Bunbury in Western Australia from July 1911 to 1929.[9][10]

In 1922, Bryan Robin published a book "The Sundowner" about his experiences in the Bush Brotherhood of St Barnabas in North Queensland from 1914 to 1921. This book attracted other priests to join the brotherhood.[11]

The Brotherhood of St John the Baptist was established in Murray Bridge, South Australia.[5]

The Bush Brotherhood of St Paul operated in Charleville and Cunnamulla in Queensland.

Operation of the orders

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There were a number of different orders of Bush Brothers, but all operated on a similar basis of an almost monastic life, committed to:[1]

  • temporary vows of poverty, chastity and obedience
  • periodic returns from the bush to a community house for spiritual replenishment
  • obedience to a warden or principal (often a bishop)

Their duties included:[7]

  • giving religious instruction in schools
  • holding services
  • administering sacraments

The Bush Brothers were either single (or left their wives behind during their period of service). Many were recruited from England where life in the Outback had a romantic appeal. Australian brothers were less frequently recruited.[1]

Although the Bush Brothers originally rode horses, they drove vehicles in later years.

Notable members

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The narrator of Nevil Shute's novel In the Wet is a member of the Bush Brotherhood and provides a (fictional) account of the life of one of these itinerant priests.

See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b c "Ministry in rural and outback communities". Archived from the original on 12 April 2011. Retrieved 26 December 2014.
  2. ^ "The Church". The Australasian. Melbourne. 6 April 1901. p. 5. Archived from the original on 30 August 2022. Retrieved 25 September 2015 – via National Library of Australia.
  3. ^ "Work Without Pay". The Western Champion and General Advertiser for the Central-Western Districts. Barcaldine, Qld. 18 November 1901. p. 14. Archived from the original on 30 August 2022. Retrieved 25 September 2015 – via National Library of Australia.
  4. ^ "Untitled". The Morning Bulletin. Rockhampton, Qld. 21 September 1897. p. 5. Archived from the original on 30 August 2022. Retrieved 25 September 2015 – via National Library of Australia.
  5. ^ a b "Religious News And Views". The Advertiser. Adelaide. 11 January 1947. p. 12. Archived from the original on 30 August 2022. Retrieved 25 September 2015 – via National Library of Australia.
  6. ^ "Brotherhood of St Barnabas (BSB)". Anglican Consecrated Life. Archived from the original on 6 October 2022. Retrieved 10 April 2023.
  7. ^ a b "Bush Mission Work". The Sydney Morning Herald. 3 September 1903. p. 5. Archived from the original on 30 August 2022. Retrieved 25 September 2015 – via National Library of Australia.
  8. ^ Brotherhood of the Good Shepherd (Dubbo, N.S.W.) (1904), The Bush brother : a quarterly paper, Brotherhood of the Good Shepherd, archived from the original on 30 August 2022, retrieved 25 June 2018
  9. ^ "COUNTRY". The West Australian. Perth. 13 July 1911. p. 8. Archived from the original on 30 August 2022. Retrieved 26 September 2015 – via National Library of Australia.
  10. ^ "Brotherhood of St Boniface". Great Southern Herald. Katanning, WA. 11 September 1929. p. 6. Archived from the original on 30 August 2022. Retrieved 26 September 2015 – via National Library of Australia.
  11. ^ Radford, Robin. Robin, Bryan Percival (1887–1969). Canberra: National Centre of Biography, Australian National University. Archived from the original on 26 September 2015. Retrieved 26 September 2015.
  12. ^ "Rev. and Lieut. Frederick Hulton Sams, B.A." The Western Champion and General Advertiser for the Central-Western Districts. Barcaldine, Qld. 14 August 1915. p. 6. Archived from the original on 30 August 2022. Retrieved 26 September 2015 – via National Library of Australia.
  13. ^ "Frederick Hulton-Sams". The Western Champion. Barcaldine, Qld. 18 July 1925. p. 4. Archived from the original on 30 August 2022. Retrieved 26 September 2015 – via National Library of Australia.
  14. ^ a b "St Peter's Anglican Church and Hall (entry 600022)". Queensland Heritage Register. Queensland Heritage Council. Retrieved 1 August 2014.
  15. ^ "FIGHTING PARSON KILLED". The Barrier Miner. Broken Hill, NSW. 22 August 1915. p. 3. Archived from the original on 30 August 2022. Retrieved 26 September 2015 – via National Library of Australia.
  16. ^ "MUSCULAR CHRISTIANITY". Daily Standard. Brisbane. 21 August 1915. p. 12 Edition: SECOND EDITION. Archived from the original on 30 August 2022. Retrieved 26 September 2015 – via National Library of Australia.
  17. ^ "THE LATE REV. F. HULTON SAMS". The Capricornian. Rockhampton, Qld. 15 April 1916. p. 19. Archived from the original on 30 August 2022. Retrieved 26 September 2015 – via National Library of Australia.
  18. ^ "The Late Rev. G. J. Roxby". The Western Champion and General Advertiser for the Central-Western Districts. Barcaldine, Qld. 19 April 1913. p. 11. Archived from the original on 30 August 2022. Retrieved 26 September 2015 – via National Library of Australia.
  19. ^ "NEWS OF THE CHURCHES". The Maitland Weekly Mercury. NSW. 5 July 1913. p. 5. Archived from the original on 30 August 2022. Retrieved 26 September 2015 – via National Library of Australia.
  20. ^ "Years of faith for this bush brother". The Daily Liberal. Archived from the original on 10 April 2016. Retrieved 28 March 2016.

Further reading

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