The Right Reverend Mesac Thomas (10 May 1816 – 15 March 1892) was an Anglican bishop in Australia.[1][2][3][4]

Thomas was born in Aberystwyth, Ceredigion (Cardiganshire), Wales, to Welsh parents:[5] his father was a John Thomas of Shrewsbury;[6] and his mother was Elizabeth, née Williams[4] (daughter of Edward Williams, of Llwynyrhedydd). [7] He was educated at Oswestry School,[7] Shrewsbury[8] and Trinity College, Cambridge, where he graduated B.A. in 1840 and M.A. in 1843.[6] Ordained in 1840,[9] he was a Curate at Bishop Ryder Church, Birmingham[10] before holding incumbencies at Tuddenham[11] and Attleborough.[12]

In 1851 he became Secretary of the Colonial Church and School Society,[13] a post he held for twelve years until his consecration as the inaugural Bishop of Goulburn in 1863.[14] Thomas was consecrated on 25 March 1863 and installed on 8 April 1864. During his long incumbency[15] he travelled widely within his diocese[16][17] and oversaw the completion of the diocese's cathedral[18] and a home for its future bishops.[19] Bishop Thomas married on 7 November 1843 Mary Campbell Hasluck,[4] the second daughter of Thomas Hinton Hasluck, of Handsworth, near Birmingham.[7]

Death edit

Thomas died at Bishopthorpe Manor[20] in Goulburn, New South Wales, Australia on 15 March 1892 aged 75.[7][21] In March 1892 his death (in office) was announced in British newspapers.[22][23]

References edit

  1. ^ The Times, Friday, 13 March 1863; pg. 5; Issue 24505; col F University Intelligence. Oxford, 12 March
  2. ^ "The Clergy List, Clerical Guide and Ecclesiastical Directory" London, Hamilton & Co 1889
  3. ^ "A Goodly Heritage : A History of the Diocese of Canberra and Goulburn", William Chalmers, Second Bishop of Goulburn 1892-1901", The Southern Churchman. Vol.60, July 1962, pp.4-7.
  4. ^ a b c Thorn, Barbara. "Thomas, Mesac (1816–1892)". Australian Dictionary of Biography. National Centre of Biography, Australian National University. ISSN 1833-7538. Retrieved 12 February 2013.
  5. ^ The Welsh in Australia
  6. ^ a b "Thomas, Mesac (THMS836M)". A Cambridge Alumni Database. University of Cambridge.
  7. ^ a b c d Mennell, Philip (1892). "Thomas, Right Rev. Mesac" . The Dictionary of Australasian Biography. London: Hutchinson & Co – via Wikisource.
  8. ^ Alphacrusis Archived 6 July 2011 at the Wayback Machine
  9. ^ Jackson's Oxford Journal (Oxford, England), Saturday, 26 December 1840; Issue 4574.
  10. ^ The Standard (London, England), Thursday, 17 March 1892; pg. 5; Issue 21122. (3133 words). 19th Century British Library Newspapers: Part II.
  11. ^ The Bury and Norwich Post, and East Anglian (Bury Saint Edmunds, England), Wednesday, 5 July 1843; Issue 3184. 19th Century British Library Newspapers: Part II
  12. ^ Hampshire Advertiser & Salisbury Guardian (Southampton, England), Saturday, 7 June 1845; pg. 2; Issue 1139. 19th Century British Library Newspapers: Part II
  13. ^ ECCLESIASTICAL INTELLIGENCE .The Morning Post (London, England), Monday, 24 March 1851; pg. 3; Issue 24113. 19th Century British Library Newspapers: Part II
  14. ^ The Times, Thursday, 26 March 1863; pg. 14; Issue 24516; col E Consecration of Bishops
  15. ^ Anglican Historical Society Archived 6 July 2011 at the Wayback Machine
  16. ^ Mulwaree Historical Society Archived 14 June 2011 at the Wayback Machine
  17. ^ Monaro Pioneers
  18. ^ Cathedral website Archived 16 June 2013 at the Wayback Machine
  19. ^ "Getaway". Archived from the original on 17 July 2011. Retrieved 2 January 2011.
  20. ^ Cross, E. T. "Goulburn House Names Past and Present" (PDF). Goulburn Mulwaree Library. Unknown. Retrieved 12 April 2023.
  21. ^ "THE BISHOP OE GOULBURN'S DEATH". Singleton Argus (NSW : 1880 - 1954). 19 March 1892. p. 2. Retrieved 12 April 2023.
  22. ^ The Belfast News-Letter (Belfast, Ireland), Tuesday, 22 March 1892; Issue 23936 BORN 1816
  23. ^ Obituary For 1892 The Times Saturday, 31 December 1892; pg. 7; Issue 33836; col A
Church of England titles
New diocese Bishop of Goulburn
1863–1892
Succeeded by