Lowther Clarke

Henry Lowther Clarke (23 November 1850 – 23 June 1926) was the fourth Anglican bishop and first archbishop of Melbourne, Australia.

Early life

Clarke was born at Firbank Vicarage, Westmorland, England, the son of the Revd William Clarke and his wife Sarah, née Lowther.

Clarke was ordained deacon in 1874 and priest in 1875 by William Thomson, the Archbishop of York. He was curate of St John's Kingston-on-Hull from 1874 to 1876 before various positions in the north of England during the next 26 years. He was vicar of Hedon from 1876 to 1883, then assistant master at St. Peter's school in York for a year from 1883 to 1884, when he became vicar of St. Martin, Coney-street, York. In 1890 he became vicar of Dewsbury, and in 1901 vicar of Huddersfield. He was an honorary canon of Wakefield Cathedral from 1893, and proctor for the clergy of the Wakefield diocese in the Convocation of York in 1902.

Melbourne

Clarke was approached for nomination as Bishop of Melbourne and announced his acceptance of this in early September 1902. He was consecrated Bishop by the Archbishop of Canterbury in St Paul's Cathedral, London, on 1 November 1902, and arrived in Melbourne in February 1903.