Polding, John (1794-1877), became the first bishop of the Roman Catholic Church in Australia in 1836. He was named archbishop of Sydney and metropolitan (chief bishop) of Australia in 1842. Polding solidified the church’s position in Australia. He established a Catholic education system, founded new dioceses and parishes, and added clergy from other countries.
John Bede Polding was born on Nov. 18, 1794, in Liverpool, England, and became a Benedictine monk in 1811. He was ordained a priest in 1819. Polding arrived in Sydney in September 1835, accompanied by six other clergymen and some students. Polding was consecrated as a bishop and appointed as first vicar apostolic (missionary bishop) to New Holland and Van Diemen’s Land (now Tasmania) in 1836. Polding persuaded Governor Richard Bourke to allow Catholic convicts to attend church services. He founded St. John’s College within the University of Sydney and was a member of the university senate. He also established the Sister of the Good Samaritan, the first religious institute to be founded in Australia.
Polding was nursed in his final illness by a Sister of Charity from St. Vincent’s Hospital, Darlinghurst, which he was also responsible for opening. Polding died in Darlinghurst, New South Wales, Australia, on March 16, 1877.
