Thomas Nettleship Staley facts for kids
Quick facts for kids The Right Reverend Thomas Nettleship Staley SSC |
|
|---|---|
| Bishop of Honolulu | |
 |
|
| Church | Church of England |
| Diocese | Honolulu |
| In Office | 1862–1870 |
| Successor | Alfred Willis |
| Orders | |
| Ordination | 1847 |
| Consecration | 15 December 1861 by John Bird Sumner |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 17 January 1823 Sheffield, Yorkshire, England |
| Died | 1 November 1898 (aged 75) Bournemouth, England |
| Nationality | English |
| Denomination | Anglican |
| Spouse |
Catherine Workman Shirley
(m. 1850) |
Thomas Nettleship Staley (born January 17, 1823 – died November 1, 1898) was an important British bishop. He belonged to the Church of England and became the very first Anglican bishop in the Church of Hawaii.
Contents
Early Life and Education
Thomas Nettleship Staley was born on January 17, 1823, in Sheffield, England. His father, William Staley, was a minister.
Thomas went to Queens' College, Cambridge in 1840. He studied hard and earned his first degree in 1844. Later, in 1847, he became a Fellow at the college.
Teaching Career
Before becoming a bishop, Staley was a teacher. From 1844 to 1848, he was a tutor at St Mark's College, Chelsea. He then became the headmaster of St Mark's Practising School.
From 1850 to 1861, he was the principal of the Collegiate School in Wandsworth. In September 1850, he married Catherine Workman Shirley.
Journey to Hawaii
In 1861, Thomas Staley was chosen to be the first bishop of the Kingdom of Hawaii. This was suggested by Samuel Wilberforce and Queen Victoria. He was officially made a bishop on December 15, 1861.
He left England on August 17, 1862. He arrived in Honolulu, Hawaii, in October 1862. This was just a few weeks after the sad death of Prince Albert. Prince Albert was the only son of King Kamehameha IV and Queen Emma.
Challenges in Hawaii
Bishop Staley's arrival in Hawaii caused some disagreements. Some American missionaries did not like him. They saw him as a symbol of ritualism, which was a style of worship they did not agree with.
People who followed Calvinism also disliked him. They did not like the idea of a bishop or a religious hierarchy. Even the famous American writer Mark Twain criticized Staley.
Political Involvement
Staley said his actions were not political. However, many saw him as part of a struggle for influence in Hawaii. He was appointed to the King's Privy Council from 1863 to 1864. He also joined the Board of Education in 1865.
He always denied giving political advice or being involved in plots for Britain to take over the islands. In December 1863, he led the memorial service for King Kamehameha IV. Later, he dedicated the Royal Mausoleum. This is where the Hawaiian royal family was reburied.
The next king, Kamehameha V, continued to support Staley. In March 1867, the first stone was laid for the Cathedral Church of Saint Andrew.
Building Schools and Community
Bishop Staley helped start two important schools in Honolulu. These were Saint Andrew's Priory School for Girls and ʻIolani School. ʻIolani School was originally named for Saint Alban.
He was also appointed as the Chaplain for Hawaii's Royal Order of Kamehameha I. This shows his close connection to the Hawaiian royal family and community.
He even wrote letters to the famous scientist Charles Darwin. They discussed the decrease in the population of the native Hawaiians.
Later Life and Retirement
Bishop Staley became tired of the political struggles in Hawaii. He wanted to resign from his position. He hoped an American bishop would replace him, but no one could be found.
He eventually retired in 1870. Alfred Willis took over as bishop. Staley then moved back to England. He lived in Croxall and passed away on November 1, 1898, in Bournemouth.
