William Sowerby (1799–1875) was an English

cleric Clergy are formal leaders within established religions. Their roles and functions vary in different religious traditions, but usually involve presiding over specific rituals and teaching their religion's doctrines and practices. Some of the ter ...

who served in Cumberland before moving to New South Wales, Australia. He was the first Anglican priest at Goulburn and took a keen interest in the education, health and social welfare of the local population.

Early career

William Sowerby was born on 31 August 1799 at

Castle Sowerby Castle Sowerby is a civil parish in the Eden District of Cumbria, England. In 2001 it had a population of 337, increasing to 344 at the 2011 Census, and includes the hamlets of How Hill, Millhouse, Newlands, Sour Nook, Southernby and Sowerby Row. ...

near Penrith,

Cumberland Cumberland ( ) is a historic county in the far North West England. It covers part of the Lake District as well as the north Pennines and Solway Firth coast. Cumberland had an administrative function from the 12th century until 1974. From 19 ...

, England. He was the son of a farmer, William Sowerby. At the age of 16, after clerical tutelage, he became a school teacher and in 1823, he entered St Bees College to study for the ministry. William was ordained in 1826 becoming curate to St. Bridget Beckermet, Cumberland. It is apparent that Sowerby had a close association with the emerging campaigner for better architectural education and professional status, William Wallen (1807-1888). In 1836, Wallen dedicated his book, ''The History and Antiquities of the Round Church at Little Maplestead'', to the Rev. William Sowerby, “with sentiments of respect and esteem”.

Career in Australia

Sowerby was one of the first to respond to an appeal by

Bishop Broughton William Grant Broughton (22 May 178820 February 1853) was an Anglican bishop. He was the first (and only) Bishop of Australia of the Church of England. The then Diocese of Australia, has become the Anglican Church of Australia and is divided ...

for clergy to serve in New South Wales. On 31 October 1837, William and his wife, Hannah (née Grayson), reached Sydney aboard the ''

Andromache In Greek mythology, Andromache (; grc, Ἀνδρομάχη, ) was the wife of Hector, daughter of Eetion, and sister to Podes. She was born and raised in the city of Cilician Thebe, over which her father ruled. The name means 'man battler' or ...

'' and became the first Anglican clergyman at

Goulburn Goulburn ( ) is a regional city in the Southern Tablelands of the Australian state of New South Wales, approximately south-west of Sydney, and north-east of Canberra. It was proclaimed as Australia's first inland city through letters pate ...

, including

St Saviour's Cathedral, Goulburn The St Saviour's Cathedral is the heritage-listed cathedral church of the Anglican Diocese of Canberra and Goulburn in Goulburn, Goulburn Mulwaree Council, New South Wales, Australia. The cathedral is dedicated to Jesus, in his title of Saviour. ...

. During the early 1840s, Sowerby kept a school for 'the sons of highly respectable families' and took a keen interest in the institutions of the growing town. He also ministered to the convict gangs at Towrang, attended executions and from 1852, he was chaplain at

Goulburn Gaol The Goulburn Correctional Centre, (also known as The Circle) is an Australian supermaximum security prison for males. It is located in Goulburn, New South Wales, three kilometres north-east of the central business district. The facility is operat ...

. Nevertheless, he actively agitated against the transportation of convicts. Sowerby advocated for life assurance and was an agent and trustee of the Goulburn Savings Bank. For many years, he was the treasurer of the Goulburn District Hospital. He died from chronic

diarrhea Diarrhea, also spelled diarrhoea, is the condition of having at least three loose, liquid, or watery bowel movements each day. It often lasts for a few days and can result in dehydration due to fluid loss. Signs of dehydration often begin wi ...

on 22 November 1875 at Goulburn and was buried in the Anglican cemetery.‘Death of Dean Sowerby’,''Queanbeyan Age'', 24 November 1874, p2. Available http://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/30599628

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Sowerby, William Australian Anglican priests 1799 births 1875 deaths Deaths from diarrhea