LATE BISHOP RICHARDS.

Manawatu Standard, Volume LVI, Issue 141, 16 May 1936, Page 14

LATE BISHOP RICHARDS.

WORK FOR ANGLICAN CHURCH. The late Rt. Rev. Isaac Richards, who died at Christchurch last week, at the age of 77 years, was for 14 years Bishop of Dunedin and his work i'or the Anglican Church in Otago and Southland extended over a period of close on 40 years. Bishop Richards was born at Tavistock, Devonshire, in 1859, the son of Isaac and Ann Richards, and was married in 18S5 to Gertrude, daughter of Dr and Mrs Oxland, of Plymouth. His education began at the Wesleyan College, Taunton, and was continued at Exter College, Oxford, where he gained the degree of M.A. Ordained to the ministry m 1882 he was in that year appointed curate of St. Paul’s, Truro, England, and came to New Zealand in 1886, his first charge in this country being as vicar of St. Mark’s, Remuera, Auckland. He went south in 1895 as warden of Sehvyn College, and five years later he was vicar of Tuapeka, in which charge he remained until 1916, with the added title of Archdeacon of Queenstown. In 1916 ho was appointed to St. John’s, Invercargill, and he remained there for four years. It was at a special session of the synod of the diocese of Dunedin on October 7, 1919, that the Veil. I. Richards was elected Bishop of Dunedin in succession to Bishop Nevill,' and his consecration took place in St. Paul’s Cathedra! on January 6, 1920. Bishop Richards was always regarded as one of the most loi able personalities of the Anglican Church of New Zealand. A man of high literary and theological attainments, ho was endowed with much personal charm and truly catholic sympathy. Publications from his pen include “The Church in Danger” and “The Lord and Giver of Life.” In his younger days Bishop Richards was a skilful and enthusiastic cricketer, the captain of his school and college elevens. He represented Auckland province on several occasions and played for the Opoho Club in Dunedin. Though not in the best of health for several years, Bishop Richards carried out his important and onerous duties as head of the bishopric in his usual sympathetic and capable manner until continued failing health brought about his retirement early in 1934. His family life was somewhat clouded by the death of two sons, who made the supreme sacrifice in the Great War, and by the death of a daughter. One son, Mr R. J. Richards, M.A., who was wounded in France when serving with the New Zealand Rifle Brigade, is headmaster of Christ’s College, Christchurch, and another is the Rev. I. L. Richards, who is vicar of Gladstone parish, Invercargill. Bishop Richards is also survived by his wife and a daughter, Miss Ann Richards.