Charles John Prescott (9 June 1857 – 12 June 1946) was an English born Australian army chaplain,
Methodist
Methodism, also called the Methodist movement, is a group of historically related denominations of Protestant Christianity whose origins, doctrine and practice derive from the life and teachings of John Wesley. George Whitefield and John's ...
minister and headmaster.
Early life
Prescott was born in
Bridport
Bridport is a market town in Dorset, England, inland from the English Channel near the confluence of the River Brit and its tributary the Asker. Its origins are Saxon and it has a long history as a rope-making centre. On the coast and wit ...
, Dorset, the eldest child of a
Wesleyan
Wesleyan theology, otherwise known as Wesleyan– Arminian theology, or Methodist theology, is a theological tradition in Protestant Christianity based upon the ministry of the 18th-century evangelical reformer brothers John Wesley and Charle ...
clergyman. Educated at
Kingswood School
(''In The Right Way Quickly'')
, established =
, closed =
, type = Independent
, religious_affiliation = Methodist
, president =
, head_label = Headmaste ...
,
Bath, he attended
Worcester College, Oxford and graduated BA in 1880 and
MA in 1893. He began theological studies in
Birmingham
Birmingham ( ) is a City status in the United Kingdom, city and metropolitan borough in the metropolitan county of West Midlands (county), West Midlands in England. It is the second-largest city in the United Kingdom with a population of 1. ...
but on his marriage in 1882 migrated to Sydney to improve his wife's health.
Ministry and school career
On arrival in Australia, Prescott was appointed to
Parramatta
Parramatta () is a suburb and major Central business district, commercial centre in Greater Western Sydney, located in the state of New South Wales, Australia. It is located approximately west of the Sydney central business district on the ban ...
Wesleyan Circuit and as a part-time tutor at the provisional
theological
Theology is the systematic study of the nature of the divine and, more broadly, of religious belief. It is taught as an academic discipline, typically in universities and seminaries. It occupies itself with the unique content of analyzing the s ...
institute. In 1886, he was ordained as a minister and became the founding president and headmaster of the
Wesleyan Ladies' College,
Burwood. (now
MLC School
, motto_translation = Walk as daughters of the light
, established =
, type = Independent single-sex early learning, primary, and secondary day school
, gender = Girls
, denomination = Uniting Church
, oversight =
, educati ...
). He introduced challenging academic studies for girls, as well as music and competitive games. In time ex-pupils excelled at the
University of Sydney
The University of Sydney (USYD), also known as Sydney University, or informally Sydney Uni, is a public research university located in Sydney, Australia. Founded in 1850, it is the oldest university in Australia and is one of the country's ...
, enhancing the college's reputation. He also established a co-educational kindergarten, probably the first in the Australia.
MLC School
, motto_translation = Walk as daughters of the light
, established =
, type = Independent single-sex early learning, primary, and secondary day school
, gender = Girls
, denomination = Uniting Church
, oversight =
, educati ...
was given colours, crest, motto, uniform, magazine and other traditions from English
public schools. He was greatly helped by his wife, Annie, who took charge of the domestic arrangements and music. In 1900 he moved to
Newington College
, motto_translation = To Faith Add Knowledge
, location = Inner West and Lower North Shore of Sydney, New South Wales
, country = Australia
, coordinates =
, pushpin_map = A ...
,
Stanmore, as president and headmaster, the first to hold dual office. He fostered the ideal of a balanced liberal education within a Christian environment, with an emphasis on mathematics and classical studies. Other emphases were correct English, team games, and commitment to 'family, school, King and God'. He retired from Newington in 1931 after a record term. Prescott House, one of the eight Houses within the College, was named after Prescott as was Prescott Hall. Prescott Hall was previously used as the venue where the College hosted important school events such as end of Season dinners and award nights, as well as debating, however, during 2020 the space was repurposed as the Year 12 Study Centre.
Community service
Prescott was elected president of the
New South Wales
)
, nickname =
, image_map = New South Wales in Australia.svg
, map_caption = Location of New South Wales in AustraliaCoordinates:
, subdivision_type = Country
, subdivision_name = Australia
, established_title = Before federation
, es ...
Methodist Conference in 1910 and served as acting senior army chaplain during World War I, making many visits to camps and barracks. He was senior Methodist chaplain from 1919. In that year he was awarded an
honorary doctorate
An honorary degree is an academic degree for which a university (or other degree-awarding institution) has waived all of the usual requirements. It is also known by the Latin phrases ''honoris causa'' ("for the sake of the honour") or ''ad hon ...
of
divinity
Divinity or the divine are things that are either related to, devoted to, or proceeding from a deity.[divine< ...](_blank)
by
Emory University
Emory University is a private research university in Atlanta, Georgia. Founded in 1836 as "Emory College" by the Methodist Episcopal Church and named in honor of Methodist bishop John Emory, Emory is the second-oldest private institution of ...
,
Georgia, USA
Georgia is a state in the Southeastern region of the United States, bordered to the north by Tennessee and North Carolina; to the northeast by South Carolina; to the southeast by the Atlantic Ocean; to the south by Florida; and to the west by ...
. Esteemed by his peers, Prescott became the spokesman for other headmasters in negotiations with governments, the university and Department of Education. He was a founder and several times chairman of the Teachers' Association of New South Wales and the foundation chairman, in 1923, of the Headmasters' Association. In retirement he continued on boards and committees and contributed to the ''
Sydney Morning Herald''. His portrait in oils hangs in Prescott Hall at Newington College.
Marriage and family
Prescott married Annie Elizabeth Price (d.1931) on 30 August 1882 at
Cardiff
Cardiff (; cy, Caerdydd ) is the capital and largest city of Wales. It forms a principal area, officially known as the City and County of Cardiff ( cy, Dinas a Sir Caerdydd, links=no), and the city is the eleventh-largest in the United Kingd ...
, before migrating to Australia. They had five children: William Arnold Prescott (1883–1946); Annie Constance Prescott (d. in infancy 1885); Theodora Mary Prescott (1886–1966); Kathleen Margaret (Kitty) Prescott
OBE (1888–1984); and Clarence Gordon Prescott
MC (1892–1974). Theodora, Kitty and Clarence were all born at
MLC School
, motto_translation = Walk as daughters of the light
, established =
, type = Independent single-sex early learning, primary, and secondary day school
, gender = Girls
, denomination = Uniting Church
, oversight =
, educati ...
during Rev. Prescott's time as Principal. Annie Prescott died in 1931 and on his death Prescott was survived by two sons and two daughters.
Publications
* Pastoral Letters (Syd, 1911)
* Romance of School (Syd, 1932)
References
{{DEFAULTSORT:Prescott, Charles
1857 births
1946 deaths
Staff of Newington College
Australian Methodist ministers
Australian headmasters
People educated at Kingswood School, Bath
Australian military chaplains
World War I chaplains
People from Bridport
Members of the United States National Academy of Sciences
Australian Army chaplains