Denis Bryant
Denis William Bryant DFC (31 January 1918 – 9 August 2005) was a Royal Air Force Officer and then an Anglican bishop in Australia in the third quarter of the 20th century.
Early life
[edit]He was born on 31 January 1918, and educated at Cardiff University.[1] His father Tom was a well-known harpist and kept the Carpenters' Arms public house in Efail Isaf.
Air Force
[edit]Bryant served in the RAF both during the War and afterwards. In 1942 he was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross.[2] He was appointed Pilot Officer in 1943,[3] Flying Officer in 1946[4] and Flight Lieutenant in 1948.[5] He had a conversion experience whilst flying a plane, and proceeded to ordination.[6]
Church
[edit]After training for ordination at Queen’s College, Birmingham, Bryant was ordained in the Diocese of Guildford, as deacon in 1958 and priest in 1959.[7] He served curacies at St Thomas-on-the-Bourne, Farnham, (1958-1960) and St Mary the Virgin, Cuddington, Worcester Park (1960-1961).[8]
Having seen an advertisement in the church press for priests to serve in the remote and sparsely-populated Australian Diocese of Kalgoorlie he became Rector of St Andrew's, Esperance (1961-1967). His new parish extended 200 miles north to south, and 65 east to west.[9] During his incumbency, he replaced the galvanised iron church with a new building, which was opened in 1964.[10] In 1966 he was additionally appointed as Archdeacon of the Goldfields.
He was consecrated a bishop on 30 November 1967 at St George's Cathedral, Perth, to become the 4th Bishop of Kalgoorlie.[11] With closure of the goldfields, however, he realised that his diocese was no longer viable as a separate entity, and asked the Archbishop of Perth to reabsorb it, which occurred in 1973.[12][13][14]
After merger, he then served in parish ministry in Perth as Rector of St John the Evangelist, Northam (1973–1975) and St Lawrence's, Dalkeith (1975–1985),[15] as well as being an Assistant Bishop of Perth.[16][17]
Personal life
[edit]He was married to Linda, and had a daughter. They both predeceased him. He died in 2005, aged 87.[18]
References
[edit]- ^ Who was Who 1897-1990 London, A & C Black, 1991 ISBN 0-7136-3457-X
- ^ "Second Supplement to the London Gazette of 15 Sept 1942, of 18 September 1942, p 4061". Retrieved 13 December 2020.
- ^ "Second Supplement to the London Gazette of 15 January 1943, of 19 January 1943, p 387". Retrieved 13 December 2020.
- ^ "Supplement to the London Gazette of 16 August 1946, of 20 August 1946, p 4167". Retrieved 13 December 2020.
- ^ "Supplement to the London Gazette, 31 December 1948, p 6728". Retrieved 13 December 2020.
- ^ "Church Times, Obituary: Denis Bryant, 16 September 2005". Retrieved 13 December 2020.
- ^ Crockford's Clerical Directory, 1973-74, 85th edition, p 128.
- ^ "Church Times, Obituary: Denis Bryant, 16 September 2005". Retrieved 13 December 2020.
- ^ "Church Times, Obituary: Denis Bryant, 16 September 2005". Retrieved 13 December 2020.
- ^ "St Andrew's Esperance: History". Retrieved 14 December 2020.
- ^ Consecration details Archived 10 April 2013 at the Wayback Machine
- ^ "Proposed merger of two Australian dioceses". Church Times. No. 5726. 10 November 1972. p. 24. ISSN 0009-658X. Retrieved 29 August 2019 – via UK Press Online archives.
- ^ "Church Times, Obituary: Denis Bryant, 16 September 2005". Retrieved 13 December 2020.
- ^ "Anglican Diocese of Kalgoorlie (1914 - 1973)". Find & Connect. Retrieved 8 April 2021.
- ^ "WA Heritage Council: St Lawrence's, Dalkeith". Retrieved 14 December 2020.
- ^ "obituaries: Denis Bryant". Church Times. No. 7436. 16 September 2005. p. 28. ISSN 0009-658X. Retrieved 29 August 2019 – via UK Press Online archives.
- ^ "deaths: Bryant". Church Times. No. 7431. 12 August 2005. p. 24. ISSN 0009-658X. Retrieved 29 August 2019 – via UK Press Online archives.
- ^ "Church Times, Obituary: Denis Bryant, 16 September 2005". Retrieved 13 December 2020.