Field Flowers Goe
Encyclopedia
Field Flowers Goe was an Anglican Bishop
of Melbourne
.
, Lincolnshire
, England
, the only son of Field Flowers Goe, a solicitor, and his wife Mary Jane. Goe was educated at the King Edward's Grammar School, Louth and later at Hertford College, Oxford
where he graduated B.A. in 1857 and M.A. in 1860. His brother was Garden Flowers Goe and his sister Wild Flowers Goe.
and priest
in 1858 by Archbishop Thomas Musgrave of York. Later that year Goe was appointed curate at Kingston upon Hull
. He was rector of Sunderland from 1873 to 1877 and St George's, Bloomsbury
, London, from 1877 to 1887. Goe had shown ability as a parish worker, preacher and organiser and in 1886 he was appointed the Bishop of Melbourne in succession to James Moorhouse
. Though strongly Evangelical
he was not bigoted and had signed the memorial protesting against the persecution of the ritualists. He was installed at the cathedral church of St James, Melbourne
, on 14 April 1887. Goe was aware of many problems in his church which needed attention but resolved that until the cathedral could be finished and paid for these must stand aside. St Paul's Cathedral, Melbourne
was completed, except for its spires, and consecrated on 22 January 1891. By that time the land boom had burst and for the next ten years Melbourne suffered from a severe depression
. The financial question caused so many difficulties that it was almost impossible to do more than mark time. The forming of new diocese
s had several times been discussed and, on 3 October 1901, an act was passed in the church assembly which gave to the state of Victoria three additional dioceses; Bendigo
, Wangaratta
and Gippsland
.
, near London, until his death on 25 June 1910. In 1861 he married Emma, the daughter of William Hurst, who died in 1901. They had no children.
Goe was a large man, and regarded as kind. He was neither a great scholar nor a great thinker, but he was a man of shrewd sense who preached peace on earth and goodwill to all men and kept his diocese going through a difficult period.
Bishop
A bishop is an ordained or consecrated member of the Christian clergy who is generally entrusted with a position of authority and oversight. Within the Catholic Church, Eastern Orthodox, Oriental Orthodox Churches, in the Assyrian Church of the East, in the Independent Catholic Churches, and in the...
of Melbourne
Melbourne
Melbourne is the capital and most populous city in the state of Victoria, and the second most populous city in Australia. The Melbourne City Centre is the hub of the greater metropolitan area and the Census statistical division—of which "Melbourne" is the common name. As of June 2009, the greater...
.
Early life
Goe was born in LouthLouth, Lincolnshire
Louth is a market town and civil parish within the East Lindsey district of Lincolnshire, England.-Geography:Known as the "capital of the Lincolnshire Wolds", it is situated where the ancient trackway Barton Street crosses the River Lud, and has a total resident population of 15,930.The Greenwich...
, Lincolnshire
Lincolnshire
Lincolnshire is a county in the east of England. It borders Norfolk to the south east, Cambridgeshire to the south, Rutland to the south west, Leicestershire and Nottinghamshire to the west, South Yorkshire to the north west, and the East Riding of Yorkshire to the north. It also borders...
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
, the only son of Field Flowers Goe, a solicitor, and his wife Mary Jane. Goe was educated at the King Edward's Grammar School, Louth and later at Hertford College, Oxford
Hertford College, Oxford
Hertford College is one of the constituent colleges of the University of Oxford in England. It is located in Catte Street, directly opposite the main entrance of the original Bodleian Library. As of 2006, the college had a financial endowment of £52m. There are 612 students , plus various visiting...
where he graduated B.A. in 1857 and M.A. in 1860. His brother was Garden Flowers Goe and his sister Wild Flowers Goe.
Career
Goe was ordained deaconDeacon
Deacon is a ministry in the Christian Church that is generally associated with service of some kind, but which varies among theological and denominational traditions...
and priest
Priest
A priest is a person authorized to perform the sacred rites of a religion, especially as a mediatory agent between humans and deities. They also have the authority or power to administer religious rites; in particular, rites of sacrifice to, and propitiation of, a deity or deities...
in 1858 by Archbishop Thomas Musgrave of York. Later that year Goe was appointed curate at Kingston upon Hull
Kingston upon Hull
Kingston upon Hull , usually referred to as Hull, is a city and unitary authority area in the ceremonial county of the East Riding of Yorkshire, England. It stands on the River Hull at its junction with the Humber estuary, 25 miles inland from the North Sea. Hull has a resident population of...
. He was rector of Sunderland from 1873 to 1877 and St George's, Bloomsbury
St. George's Church, Bloomsbury
St George's, Bloomsbury is a parish church in Bloomsbury, London Borough of Camden, United Kingdom.-History:The Commissioners for the Fifty New Churches Act of 1711 realised that, due to rapid development in the Bloomsbury area during the latter part of the 17th and early part of the 18th...
, London, from 1877 to 1887. Goe had shown ability as a parish worker, preacher and organiser and in 1886 he was appointed the Bishop of Melbourne in succession to James Moorhouse
James Moorhouse
James Moorhouse was an Anglican bishop of Melbourne and of Manchester.-Early life and career:Moorhouse was born in Sheffield, England, the only son of James Moorhouse, a book-lover and master-cutler, and his wife Jane Frances née Bowman...
. Though strongly Evangelical
Evangelicalism
Evangelicalism is a Protestant Christian movement which began in Great Britain in the 1730s and gained popularity in the United States during the series of Great Awakenings of the 18th and 19th century.Its key commitments are:...
he was not bigoted and had signed the memorial protesting against the persecution of the ritualists. He was installed at the cathedral church of St James, Melbourne
St James Old Cathedral
thumb|300px|St James Old Cathedral, MelbourneSt James Old Cathedral, an Anglican church, is the oldest church in Melbourne, Australia, and one of only three buildings in the central city which predate the Gold Rush of 1851...
, on 14 April 1887. Goe was aware of many problems in his church which needed attention but resolved that until the cathedral could be finished and paid for these must stand aside. St Paul's Cathedral, Melbourne
St Paul's Cathedral, Melbourne
St Paul's Cathedral, Melbourne, is the metropolitical and cathedral church of the Anglican Diocese of Melbourne, Victoria in Australia. It is the seat of the Anglican Archbishop of Melbourne and Metropolitan of the Province of Victoria...
was completed, except for its spires, and consecrated on 22 January 1891. By that time the land boom had burst and for the next ten years Melbourne suffered from a severe depression
Recession
In economics, a recession is a business cycle contraction, a general slowdown in economic activity. During recessions, many macroeconomic indicators vary in a similar way...
. The financial question caused so many difficulties that it was almost impossible to do more than mark time. The forming of new diocese
Diocese
A diocese is the district or see under the supervision of a bishop. It is divided into parishes.An archdiocese is more significant than a diocese. An archdiocese is presided over by an archbishop whose see may have or had importance due to size or historical significance...
s had several times been discussed and, on 3 October 1901, an act was passed in the church assembly which gave to the state of Victoria three additional dioceses; Bendigo
Bendigo, Victoria
Bendigo is a major regional city in the state of Victoria, Australia, located very close to the geographical centre of the state and approximately north west of the state capital Melbourne. It is the second largest inland city and fourth most populous city in the state. The estimated urban...
, Wangaratta
Wangaratta, Victoria
Wangaratta is a cathedral city of almost 17,000 people in the northeast of Victoria, Australia, about from Melbourne along the Hume Highway, with Benalla to the southwest, and Albury-Wodonga to the northeast. It is located at the junction of the Ovens and King rivers which flow from the...
and Gippsland
Gippsland
Gippsland is a large rural region in Victoria, Australia. It begins immediately east of the suburbs of Melbourne and stretches to the New South Wales border, lying between the Great Dividing Range to the north and Bass Strait to the south...
.
Late life and legacy
Goe's wife died on 24 July 1901 and he resigned on 1 November 1901 but acted as administrator until his departure for England on 7 April 1902. He lived in retirement at WimbledonWimbledon, London
Wimbledon is a district in the south west area of London, England, located south of Wandsworth, and east of Kingston upon Thames. It is situated within Greater London. It is home to the Wimbledon Tennis Championships and New Wimbledon Theatre, and contains Wimbledon Common, one of the largest areas...
, near London, until his death on 25 June 1910. In 1861 he married Emma, the daughter of William Hurst, who died in 1901. They had no children.
Goe was a large man, and regarded as kind. He was neither a great scholar nor a great thinker, but he was a man of shrewd sense who preached peace on earth and goodwill to all men and kept his diocese going through a difficult period.