T. C. Hammond facts for kids

Thomas Chatterton Hammond was an important Irish church leader. He was born in Cork, Ireland on February 20, 1877. He later moved to Sydney, Australia, where he died on November 16, 1961. Hammond was a cleric, which means he was a religious leader. He taught about Christian beliefs and defended them. His ideas were very important to many Christian groups, especially in Ireland, Australia, and South Africa. He also held a high position in a group called the Orange Order.

Early Life and Education

Thomas Chatterton Hammond was born in Cork. His father, Colman Mark Hammond, was a farmer. His mother was Elizabeth Sergeant. When Thomas was six years old, his father passed away. After this, he lived for a while with his aunt.

He went to Cork Model School for his education. At the age of 13, he started working. His first job was as a clerk for the railway. In 1892, he became a member of the Church of Ireland. He also joined the YMCA in Cork. There, he studied with John McNay, who would later become his brother-in-law.

Becoming a Church Leader

When he was 18, Thomas went to a special training school. This school was for people who wanted to become missionaries. It was called the Irish Church Missions Training School in Dublin.

He became a deacon in the Church of Ireland in 1903. Two years later, in 1905, he became a priest. He worked as a curate at St. Kevin's Church, Camden Row, Dublin. His family lived nearby on Synge Street. He earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in 1903. Later, he received a Master of Arts degree from Trinity College Dublin. Much later, he also earned a special theology degree.

In 1906, he married Margaret McNay. She was from Cork, but her family was originally from Scotland. They had three sons: John, Thomas, and Charles. They also had one daughter named Doris.

Work in Ireland

From 1919 to 1936, Hammond led the Irish Church Missions. This group worked to share Christian teachings in Dublin. He often had discussions with other religious leaders. He was known for his deep understanding of religious topics. Bishops in the Church of Ireland often asked for his advice.

Hammond also helped create important rules. He helped set up the constitution for the Anglican Church of Australia. At that time, it was called the Church of England in Australia. He also helped protect the independence of the Diocese of Sydney. He even helped a church group in South Africa create its own rules.

Moving to Australia

In 1936, Hammond left Ireland. He moved to Sydney, Australia. There, he became the Principal of Moore Theological College. This is a very important college for training church leaders. He also became the rector of St Philip's Church in York Street. In 1949, he was made an archdeacon.

He wrote several well-known books. One was called In Understanding be Men. This book explained Christian beliefs. Another book was The One Hundred Texts. It used Bible verses to explain Reformed teaching. He also continued to debate religious topics on the radio. His program was on radio 2CH.

Involvement in the Community

Thomas Hammond was a member of the Orange Order. He was part of this group in both Dublin and Sydney. He eventually became the Grand Master of the Orange Institution of New South Wales in 1961. This was a very high position.

He was also involved with the Bethany Home. This home cared for children and mothers. Hammond was on the board of trustees for the Bethany Home. He served there from 1922 to 1935. Other Church of Ireland clergy also served on the board. There were some concerns raised about the care provided at the home during its existence.

Later Life and Legacy

Thomas Chatterton Hammond passed away on November 16, 1961. His life and work were important to many people. A book about him was published in 1994. It was called T C Hammond - Irish Christian. The book was written by Rev. Warren Nelson.