St John's Theological College, Perth

The second Bishop of Perth was Henry Hutton Parry, from 1876 to 1893. Parry wished to establish a theological college. At some point between his installation in Perth in 1876 and 1881, he opened his home to four theological students, whom he instructed, with a view to ordination.[1] These efforts appear to have petered out.

Parry's successor as Bishop of Perth (first Archbishop from 1914) was Charles Owen Leaver Riley (1894-1929). A priest in the diocese, Charles Lefroy, was instrumental in persuading Riley of the need for a theological college.[2] In 1898 the Perth diocesan synod resolved to establish a theological college, and the Clergy Training College was opened the following year with Lefroy as Principal and with two students.[3]

The college took up occupation of part of The Cloisters, and in 1909 changed its name to St John's Theological College.[4]

At the outbreak of war in 1914, the college closed, as all of the students enlisted.[5] At that point The Cloisters was converted into a hostel for undergraduates of the University of Western Australia.[6] In 1919 a new college council was formed, and a new Principal appointed in 1920.[7] At that point the college moved to Beaufort Street in Highgate.[8] In 1922 there was a concerted effort for fundraising,[9] but by 1926 there were no students at St John's, and a decision was taken to close.[10] The intention was that it be replaced by St George's College, along the lines of Trinity College, Melbourne and Trinity College Theological School: a residential college within a university but which also offered theological education for ordinands.[11] Although St George's was opened, and remains a residential college of UWA, it never offered theological education.

Training for ordination recommenced in Perth in 1957, with the establishment of Wollaston College.

• Charles Lefroy, 1899-1904[12]
• Cuthbert Hudleston, 1904-1906[13]
• Charles Edward John Chennell, 1906-1907 (acting)[14][15]
• Charles Hugh Duffy Grimes, 1907-1919[16][17] Grimes was subsequently Chaplain of Christ Church, Vienna (1934-1938) including during the Anschluss, and proceeded to baptise 900 Jews, thereby saving them from arrest.[18]
• Lionel Walpole Parry, 1920-1922 (and acting Principal thereafter). Parry was the son of Bishop Parry. He left the college to become Headmaster of Christ Church Grammar School, Claremont, Western Australia (1923-32).[19]

• John Bell, Dean of St Peter's Cathedral, Armidale (1946-1948) and St George's Cathedral, Perth (1953-1959).[20]