Archives Corner

The Forgotten Kingdons

Most people know that John Medley was the first and longest serving bishop of this diocese. Books, theses and articles continue to be written about him and various aspects of the Medley episcopacy here in Fredericton. Despite the passage of time, the Medley years still arouse scholarly interest. Many people also know that Bishop Medley’s wife’s name was Margaret and while research on her is limited, stories abound. Just recently, the archives acquired its third identified photograph of her. Names of the Medley sons are also familiar. By contrast, other than his unusual name, Hollingworth Tully Kingdon, comparably little is known about the man who shared duties with Medley as coadjutor and became Fredericton’s second bishop following Medley’s death.

Kingdon’s name, no doubt in honour of Archdeacon Hollingworth, who baptized him, does not carry the same aura which his predecessor’s still evokes. Even scholars have largely ignored him. The only graduate thesis on his episcopacy was completed at UNB almost 40 years ago and an article on his theology was written 51 years ago. Of course a few words about the Kingdon years are included in any history of this diocese or the cathedral, but if we didn’t have the option of visiting the Kingdon grave in St. John’s churchyard in Nashwaaksis, would we even know the name of his wife? More importantly, does anyone know what she looked like?

At Diocesan Synods in 1879, Bishop Medley stated his desire for an assistant (a coadjutor), because as he aged, he could no longer do all the work in the diocese. So convinced was he of the need for an assistant that he offered to find the appropriate person and pay the coadjutor himself. To meet the bishop’s request, the existing canon, which gave the synod full power to fill a vacancy, was changed.

After careful searching, Bishop Medley selected H. Tully Kingdon and a special meeting of synod was held in Saint John on Jan. 12, 1881, where Bishop Medley presented his credentials and supporting letters and synod unanimously accepted him.

The bishop coadjutor was born on April 16, 1835 in London, England and earned both a bachelor’s degree (1858) and a master's degree (1861) from Trinity College, Cambridge. Ordained deacon in 1859 and priest in 1860, he served as curate at St. Andrew’s, London, vice-principal at Salisbury Theological College and vicar at Good Easter, Essex. He also attended Cuddesdon Theological College and it was Cuddesdon’s vice-principal who brought Kingdon to Medley’s attention.

Hollingworth Tully Kingdon was consecrated on July 10, 1881 in a packed cathedral. Until Medley’s death, in September 1892, his assistant took on duties which involved the most travel. His “Perpetual Diary” records many confirmations and the rare consecration or ordination in various parts of New Brunswick and in Nova Scotia. Sometimes his notes revealed he had traveled some 56 miles in one day and held four or even five services. On July 28, 1882, at the Cathedral, he confirmed Ellen Murray, who had come from South Carolina “on purpose to be confirmed by a British Bishop.”

On Nov. 23, 1892, Kingdon was enthroned as the second Bishop of Fredericton. He insisted “the business of the church must be undertaken in legal and business-like methods.” Under his guidance, the Incapacitated Clergy Fund grew significantly; the Cathedral Chapter was incorporated; and the first dean (Francis Partridge, 1895) and first chancellor (T. Carleton Allen, 1901), were appointed. Kingdon’s insistence on keeping proper church records Simonds, 1895) and the construction of a fire-proof vault in the cathedral to protect them.

On the national scene, he was very involved in the founding of General Synod in 1893 and well-known as a scholarly bishop. His publications included God Incarnate: The 1890 Bishop Paddock lectures in New York, and The Canadian Appendix to the Prayerbook (1903). The Diocesan Archives copy of the latter is reputed to be the only surviving one.

Bishop Kingdon died on Oct. 11, 1907, following a period of ill health. At his request a coadjutor bishop, John Andrew Richardson, had been elected in 1906 and succeeded him.

Fredericton’s third bishop established a committee to find a suitable way to honour his predecessor. This committee selected the raising of at least $10,000 to supplement clergy stipends as a fitting memorial. Initially contributions of only a dollar per person were requested in order that everyone could contribute equally. Canon Scovil Neales wrote that Bishop Kingdon believed on his clergy’s behalf that “as workmen worthy of their hire, they should at least receive a living wage.” Neales also revealed that when necessary (and it often was), Bishop Kingdon secretly “from his own pocket, augumented the slender stipends of his more needy clergy.”

A few letters from the Kingdon years show that his generosity extended to parishes as well. Gifts of a library to one and Prayer Books and Catechisms to others are acknowledged. A more tangible memorial, given by the clergy in memory of the second Bishop of Fredericton is the Bishop’s Chair or Cathedra that is still used in the Cathedral.

Bishop Kingdon was survived by his wife, Anna Beverley (Robinson) Kingdon, whom he had married on July 22, 1890 in a private ceremony at the cathedral. Their daughter, Anna Phillips Renorden (born Dec. 10, 1892) married Edward Alban Sturdee in Saint John on July 7, 1912. Anna and her mother moved there following the bishop’s death.

Kingdon’s widow, Anna Beverley Kingdon, died on June 10, 1912. 

 

Sources:

This article draws from Canon Mansel Shewen’s fond memories of the Second Bishop in One Hundred Years of Church Life (1945); Archdeacon Harding’s Citizens with the Saints (1995); Bishop Kingdon’s Perpetual Diary, 1881-1892; “The Bishop Kingdon Memorial Fund for the Augmentation of the Stipends of the Clergy in the Diocese of Fredericton” (1911) by Canon Scovil Neales; the Synod Journals of the Diocese, 1905-1907; and Gillian Liebenberg’s Guide to the Use of the Synod Journals of the Diocese of Fredericton, 1890-1990. 

The Archives Corner is prepared by Twila Buttimer (twila.buttimer at gnb.ca or 506-453-4306) and Frank Morehouse (frankm at nbnet.nb.ca or 506-459-3637). They welcome your comments or questions. 

 

 

Diocesan Communications
14 April 2009