Robert Gray | |
|---|---|
| Bishop of Cape Town | |
 | |
| Church | Anglican |
| Province | Southern Africa |
| Diocese | Cape Town |
| Orders | |
| Consecration | 1847 |
| Personal details | |
| Born | (1809-10-03)3 October 1809 |
| Died | 1 September 1872(1872-09-01) (aged 62) |
| Spouse | Sophy Gray (architect) |
Robert Gray (3 October 1809 – 1 September 1872) was the firstAnglicanBishop of Cape Town.
Gray was born inBishopwearmouth, north east England, the 12th child and son ofRobert Gray,Bishop of Bristol, who made him deacon inWells Cathedral on 11 January 1834. His first parish was atWhitworth. In 1845 he became the vicar ofStockton-on-Tees. As a priest he was interested in mission, and was local secretary for theSociety for the Propagation of the Gospel in Foreign Parts.
In 1847, he was consecratedBishop of Cape Town inWestminster Abbey, along with three bishops for Australia, and arrived in his diocese, the boundaries of which were undefined, in February the following year.
Soon after arriving he set out on a journey to explore his diocese, accompanied by James Green, who was to be rector ofPietermaritzburg in theColony of Natal. On reaching Grahamstown he ordained William Long, with whom he was to come into conflict later.
In 1849, he visitedSt Helena,[1] and in 1850 set out on another tour of the mainland,[2] reaching as far asPietermaritzburg. This journey convinced him that the division of the diocese was necessary. He returned to England to arrange for this, and in 1853 he resigned his diocese and received freshletters patent for a smallerAnglican Diocese of Cape Town, while two new bishops were consecrated:John William Colenso as Bishop ofNatal andJohn Armstrong as Bishop ofGrahamstown.
Robert Gray was married on 6 September 1836 toSophy Myddleton, the daughter of county squire Richard Wharton Myddleton ofDurham andYorkshire, and foundedSt George's Grammar School, in 1848 in the shadow of the St. George's Cathedral andDiocesan College, or Bishops as it is commonly known, inRondebosch, Cape Town, in 1849. A notable part of his life concerned his feud with Colenso about Colenso's alleged heretical opinions.[3] Gray and his wife looked after the children ofSandile kaNgqika, including his daughterEmma, aiming to provide influence over theGaika people.[4]
Robert Gray's son, the Rev. Charles Norris Gray, M.A., edited the book'Life of Robert Gray' (Rivingtons, 1876).[5]
| Anglican Church of Southern Africa titles | ||
|---|---|---|
| New diocese | Bishop of Cape Town 1847 - 1872 | Succeeded by |
| International | |
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| National | |
| Other | |
