George Merrick Long
Encyclopedia
George Merrick Long CBE (5 November 1874 – 9 July 1930) was an Anglican bishop
who had previously served as a brigadier general in the Australian Army
in World War I
. He was also involved in the establishment of Trinity Grammar School in Melbourne where he also became headmaster. He was the father of the historian Gavin Long
.
. He was educated at Maryborough Grammar School. He later matriculated and was awarded the Rupertswood theological studentship to Trinity College
at the University of Melbourne
, from which he graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree in 1899 and a Master of Arts in 1901.
Long became a deacon on 28 May 1899 and a priest on 10 June 1900. In 1899 he was posted to the district of Foster in Gippsland
. He later returned to Melbourne to become senior curate at Holy Trinity Church, Kew
. There he became involved with the foundation of Trinity Grammar School, becoming its headmaster in 1904. Long served on several diocesan committees and was made a canon of St Pauls Cathedral
in 1910. In May 1911 he was elected to the see of Bathurst, New South Wales
, and was consecrated on 30 November 1911 at St Andrew's Cathedral
in Sydney. For his services, Long was awarded a Lambeth degree
of Doctor of Divinity
by the Archbishop of Canterbury
.
on 16 November 1917 as an Anglican chaplain. He sailed for London in January 1918 and was posted to the Australian Reinforcement Camp in France in April 1918. There he was approached by Major General Brudenell White to head the AIF's education project. Long accepted the post of Director of Education, AIF on 10 May 1918 and was promoted to lieutenant colonel on 1 June 1918.
Long established himself in London, and drew up a scheme for professional, general and technical training to be conducted by teaching within the AIF and by sending men out to universities, schools and businesses. Officers with instructional experience were selected and assembled for three weeks training at the University of Cambridge
. In three weeks at Cambridge, Kelly produced the books Beef, Mutton and Wool, the first of a series of fifteen texts written by Long's agricultural section.
. For his services, Long was awarded honorary Doctor of Letters (LLD) degrees by both the University of Cambridge
and the University of Manchester
, and was appointed a Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE).
In July 1919, Long returned to his diocese, where he continued his involvement with education. He restarted All Saints College
in Bathurst on a new site, and opened the Marsden School for Girls at Kelso
. Long was grand chaplain of the United Grand Lodge from 1923 to 1926. He drafted a new constitution for the Church of England
in Australia, making it independent of the church in Britain, and advocated the White Australia Policy
. Long was elected bishop of Newcastle in December 1927 and was enthroned on 1 May 1928.
Long went to England in March 1930 to attend the Lambeth Conference in London. There he suffered a cerebral haemorrhage and died on 9 July 1930. His requiem was celebrated by Archbishop Cosmo Lang
before 300 bishops and his ashes returned to New South Wales and placed in All Saint's Cathedral in Bathurst. He was commemorated in Christ Church Cathedral, Newcastle
, where a window of its Tyrrel chapel contains his portrait.
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...
who had previously served as a brigadier general in the Australian Army
Australian Army
The Australian Army is Australia's military land force. It is part of the Australian Defence Force along with the Royal Australian Navy and the Royal Australian Air Force. While the Chief of Defence commands the Australian Defence Force , the Army is commanded by the Chief of Army...
in World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
. He was also involved in the establishment of Trinity Grammar School in Melbourne where he also became headmaster. He was the father of the historian Gavin Long
Gavin Long
Gavin Merrick Long OBE was an Australian journalist and military historian. He was the general editor of the Australia in the War of 1939–1945 and the author of three of the 22 volumes in the series....
.
Early life and career
George Merrick Long was born in Carisbrook, VictoriaCarisbrook, Victoria
Carisbrook is a town in Victoria, Australia, located on the Pyrenees Highway, east of the regional and local government centre of Maryborough, in the Shire of Central Goldfields...
. He was educated at Maryborough Grammar School. He later matriculated and was awarded the Rupertswood theological studentship to Trinity College
Trinity College (University of Melbourne)
Trinity College is the oldest college of the University of Melbourne. Founded in 1872 on a site granted to the Church of England, Trinity is unique among Australian university colleges in its diverse education programs...
at the University of Melbourne
University of Melbourne
The University of Melbourne is a public university located in Melbourne, Victoria. Founded in 1853, it is the second oldest university in Australia and the oldest in Victoria...
, from which he graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree in 1899 and a Master of Arts in 1901.
Long became a deacon on 28 May 1899 and a priest on 10 June 1900. In 1899 he was posted to the district of Foster in 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...
. He later returned to Melbourne to become senior curate at Holy Trinity Church, Kew
Kew, Victoria
Kew is a suburb in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, 6 km east from Melbourne's central business district. Its Local Government Area is the City of Boroondara. At the 2006 Census, Kew had a population of 22,516....
. There he became involved with the foundation of Trinity Grammar School, becoming its headmaster in 1904. Long served on several diocesan committees and was made a canon of St Pauls Cathedral
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...
in 1910. In May 1911 he was elected to the see of Bathurst, New South Wales
Bathurst, New South Wales
-CBD and suburbs:Bathurst's CBD is located on William, George, Howick, Russell, and Durham Streets. The CBD is approximately 25 hectares and surrounds two city blocks. Within this block layout is banking, government services, shopping centres, retail shops, a park* and monuments...
, and was consecrated on 30 November 1911 at St Andrew's Cathedral
St. Andrew's Cathedral, Sydney
St Andrew's Cathedral is the cathedral church of the Anglican Diocese of Sydney in the Anglican Church of Australia. The cathedral is the seat of the Anglican Archbishop of Sydney and Metropolitan of New South Wales, the Most Reverend Peter Jensen...
in Sydney. For his services, Long was awarded a Lambeth degree
Lambeth degree
A Lambeth degree is an academic degree conferred by the Archbishop of Canterbury under the authority of the Ecclesiastical Licences Act 1533 as successor of the papal legate in England...
of Doctor of Divinity
Doctor of Divinity
Doctor of Divinity is an advanced academic degree in divinity. Historically, it identified one who had been licensed by a university to teach Christian theology or related religious subjects....
by the Archbishop of Canterbury
Archbishop of Canterbury
The Archbishop of Canterbury is the senior bishop and principal leader of the Church of England, the symbolic head of the worldwide Anglican Communion, and the diocesan bishop of the Diocese of Canterbury. In his role as head of the Anglican Communion, the archbishop leads the third largest group...
.
World War I
Long joined the First Australian Imperial ForceFirst Australian Imperial Force
The First Australian Imperial Force was the main expeditionary force of the Australian Army during World War I. It was formed from 15 August 1914, following Britain's declaration of war on Germany. Generally known at the time as the AIF, it is today referred to as the 1st AIF to distinguish from...
on 16 November 1917 as an Anglican chaplain. He sailed for London in January 1918 and was posted to the Australian Reinforcement Camp in France in April 1918. There he was approached by Major General Brudenell White to head the AIF's education project. Long accepted the post of Director of Education, AIF on 10 May 1918 and was promoted to lieutenant colonel on 1 June 1918.
Long established himself in London, and drew up a scheme for professional, general and technical training to be conducted by teaching within the AIF and by sending men out to universities, schools and businesses. Officers with instructional experience were selected and assembled for three weeks training at the University of Cambridge
University of Cambridge
The University of Cambridge is a public research university located in Cambridge, United Kingdom. It is the second-oldest university in both the United Kingdom and the English-speaking world , and the seventh-oldest globally...
. In three weeks at Cambridge, Kelly produced the books Beef, Mutton and Wool, the first of a series of fifteen texts written by Long's agricultural section.
Post war
When the war ended on 11 November 1918, Long was forced to put the education scheme into full effect earlier than expected. He was promoted to colonel and then temporary brigadier general on 1 January 1919. In March, with the scheme fully underway, Long's health began to suffer, and in April he handed over control to Major General McNicollWalter McNicoll
Brigadier General Sir Walter Ramsay McNicoll KBE, CB, CMG, DSO was an Australian teacher, soldier, and colonial administrator.-Early life:...
. For his services, Long was awarded honorary Doctor of Letters (LLD) degrees by both the University of Cambridge
University of Cambridge
The University of Cambridge is a public research university located in Cambridge, United Kingdom. It is the second-oldest university in both the United Kingdom and the English-speaking world , and the seventh-oldest globally...
and the University of Manchester
University of Manchester
The University of Manchester is a public research university located in Manchester, United Kingdom. It is a "red brick" university and a member of the Russell Group of research-intensive British universities and the N8 Group...
, and was appointed a Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE).
In July 1919, Long returned to his diocese, where he continued his involvement with education. He restarted All Saints College
All Saints College, Bathurst
All Saints' College is an independent, co-educational Christian college in the Anglican tradition. Located in Bathurst, New South Wales, Australia, the college caters for day students from Transition to Year 12 and boarders from Years 7 to 12....
in Bathurst on a new site, and opened the Marsden School for Girls at Kelso
Kelso, New South Wales
Kelso is a suburb of Bathurst, New South Wales, Australia, in the Bathurst Regional Council area.-History:Kelso was the original European settlement in the area. In 1816, the initial settlement of Bathurst was established on the eastern banks of the Macquarie River, in current-day Kelso...
. Long was grand chaplain of the United Grand Lodge from 1923 to 1926. He drafted a new constitution for the Church of England
Church of England
The Church of England is the officially established Christian church in England and the Mother Church of the worldwide Anglican Communion. The church considers itself within the tradition of Western Christianity and dates its formal establishment principally to the mission to England by St...
in Australia, making it independent of the church in Britain, and advocated the White Australia Policy
White Australia policy
The White Australia policy comprises various historical policies that intentionally restricted "non-white" immigration to Australia. From origins at Federation in 1901, the polices were progressively dismantled between 1949-1973....
. Long was elected bishop of Newcastle in December 1927 and was enthroned on 1 May 1928.
Long went to England in March 1930 to attend the Lambeth Conference in London. There he suffered a cerebral haemorrhage and died on 9 July 1930. His requiem was celebrated by Archbishop Cosmo Lang
Cosmo Lang
William Cosmo Gordon Lang, 1st Baron Lang of Lambeth GCVO PC was an Anglican prelate who served as Archbishop of York and Archbishop of Canterbury . His rapid elevation to Archbishop of York, within 18 years of his ordination, is unprecedented in modern Church of England history...
before 300 bishops and his ashes returned to New South Wales and placed in All Saint's Cathedral in Bathurst. He was commemorated in Christ Church Cathedral, Newcastle
Christ Church Cathedral (Newcastle, New South Wales)
The Cathedral Church of Christ the King or Christ Church Cathedral is the Anglican cathedral in Newcastle, New South Wales Australia. The church, in the Gothic Revival style, is located on a hill at the city's eastern end in the suburb called The Hill....
, where a window of its Tyrrel chapel contains his portrait.