Adrian Charles Explained

Type:Bishop
Adrian Owen Charles
Assistant bishop, Brisbane (Western Region)
Bishop to the Australian Defence Force
Church:Anglican Church of Australia
Diocese:Brisbane
Term:1983–1992 (Assistant Bishop, Brisbane)
1989–1994 (Bishop to the Defence Force)
Other Post:Dean of Townsville (1972–1977)
Ordination:1950 (as deacon)
1952 (as priest)
Consecration:1 March 1983
Consecrated By:John Grindrod
Birth Date:31 July 1926
Birth Place:Warwick, Queensland
Death Place:Sinnamon Park, Queensland

Adrian Owen Charles (31 July 1926 – 10 April 2013) was an Australian Anglican bishop, who served as Assistant bishop for the Western Region[1] in the Anglican Diocese of Brisbane from 1983 to 1992, and as Bishop to the Australian Defence Force from 1989 to 1994.[2]

Charles was born in Warwick, Queensland on 31 July 1926.[3] He attended St Catherine's School and Slade School in Warwick, and later studied at St Francis' Theological College and the University of Queensland.[4] He was ordained deacon in 1950 and priest in 1952.

In his parish ministry, Charles served in a variety of roles, including as chaplain to the Southport School, as Vicar at Wondai and St Lucia and Ipswich, and as Senior Anglican Chaplain to the Northern Command from 1963 to 1966. Charles was appointed Archdeacon of Moreton from 1968 to 1970, became Dean of St James' Cathedral, Townsville in the Diocese of North Queensland from 1972 to 1977, and returned to a military role from 1978 to 1983 as Senior Anglican Chaplain to the 1st Military District.

Charles was consecrated as bishop, and appointed Assistant Bishop for the Western Region, on 1 March 1983 by Archbishop of Brisbane Sir John Grindrod.[5] He later served as the third Anglican Bishop to the Australian Defence Force, replacing Ken Short, from 1989 to 1994.

Charles was appointed as a Member of the Order of Australia in the 1994 Queen's Birthday Honours for "service to the community through the Anglican Church of Australia".[6]

Charles was married to Leonie and was survived by children and grandchildren.

Charles died on 10 April 2013 in Sinnamon Park, Queensland.[7]

Notes and References

  1. News: Gearing . Amanda . Truth of child sexual abuse rises to surface in film Don't Tell . 16 February 2020 . The Australian . News Corp Australia . 13 May 2017.
  2. News: Main . Andrew . Stretton . Rowena . REAR WINDOW . 16 February 2020 . Australian Financial Review . The Australian Financial Review . 2 September 1994.
  3. Web site: Eulogy – Adrian Owen Charles . https://web.archive.org/web/20200216011739/http://www.scpsawarwick.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/08/Kinawah-2013-Vol-2.pdf. 16 February 2020. KINAWAH Journal of the Slade-St Catharine’s Past Students’ Association - Volume 13 Issue 2 . 16 February 2020 . 15 April 2013.
  4. Web site: CHARLES, The Right Reverend Adrian Owen . The Anglican Records and Archives Centre Guide to Records . Anglican Diocese of Brisbane . 16 February 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20121222084554/http://www.anglicanarchives.org.au/hdms-html/provlist.htm . 22 December 2012 . 6 May 2008 . dead.
  5. Web site: 2001–2006. Series SPSES257 - Special Services - Collection of forms of service and orders of service. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20130410114708/http://anglicanarchives.org.au/HDMS-HTML/SPSES257.htm. 10 April 2013. 14 March 2021. Anglican Archives. Anglican Diocese of Brisbane.
  6. Web site: The Right Reverend Adrian Owen CHARLES . Australian Honours Search Facility . Commonwealth of Australia . 16 February 2020.
  7. Web site: Adrian Owen Charles . Ryerson Index . 16 February 2020.