Martin Crane OSA, DD (11 October 1818 – 21 October 1901),[2] an Irish-born Australian suffragan bishop, was the first Roman Catholic Bishop of the Diocese of Sandhurst, serving between 1874 until his death in office in 1901.[3]

The Most Reverend

Martin Crane

1st Bishop
DioceseSandhurst
Installed4 August 1874
Term ended21 October 1901
PredecessorNew diocese
SuccessorStephen Reville, OSA
Orders
Ordination12 August 1841 (Priest)[1] at Perugia, Italy
Consecration21 September 1874 (Bishop)[1] in St Mary's Pro-Cathedral, Dublin
Personal details
Born(1818-10-11)11 October 1818
Died21 October 1901(1901-10-21) (aged 83)
Victoria, Australia
NationalityIrish
DenominationRoman Catholic
OccupationRoman Catholic bishop
ProfessionCleric

Biography

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Crane was born in Bannow, County Wexford, Ireland, the son of James Crane, a farmer and his wife, Mary. Together, they had five sons, who all became priests and a sister who became a Carmelite nun.[2]

Crane received his early education at Wexford and joined the Augustinian order at Grantstown and completed his ministerial studies in Rome. Crane was ordained a priest at Perugia, Italy on 12 April 1841 at age 22.[1] He later returned to Ireland.

He was consecrated bishop in St Mary's Pro-Cathedral, Dublin on 21 September 1874. He left for Australia the next year and was installed on 16 May 1875. He greatly expanded the Diocese of Sandhurst in Victoria, increasing the number of resident priests and building new schools and churches.

Bishop Crane died on 21 October 1901, aged 83 in Victoria.

Since Crane's death, Shepparton's Notre Dame College have named one of their six houses in his name.

References

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  1. ^ a b c "Bishop Martin Crane". The Hierarchy of the Catholic Church. 2011. Retrieved 2 July 2011.
  2. ^ a b Owens, A. E. "Crane, Martin (1818–1901)". Australian Dictionary of Biography. National Centre of Biography, Australian National University. Retrieved 4 February 2012.
  3. ^ "Bishop Martin Crane OSA - Catholic Diocese of Sandhurst". Catholic Diocese of Sandhurst. 2011. Archived from the original on 21 February 2011. Retrieved 2 July 2011.
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Catholic Church titles
Preceded by
New diocese
1st Catholic Bishop of Sandhurst
1874 – 1901
Succeeded by