Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900/Reynolds, Christopher Augustine
REYNOLDS, CHRISTOPHER AUGUSTINE (1834–1893), first Roman catholic archbishop of South Australia, was born in Dublin on 25 July 1834. He was sent to study under the Carmelite brothers at Clondalkin, and showed an early bent towards theology. In 1852 he was removed to the Benedictine monastery of Lublace, near Rome, to be trained for the priesthood. For the benefit of his health he emigrated, when his training was over, to Perth, West Australia, going out with Bishop Serra early in 1855. There he entered on a period of probation, especially devoting himself to mission work among the aborigines. On 1 March 1857 he was transferred to South Australia. He completed his probationary studies under the jesuit mission at Sevenhills, and was ordained in April 1860, when he was granted a benefice in the city of Adelaide. Subsequently transferred to Morphett Vale, he conducted from that place the mission at the copper mines of Yorke's peninsula, and built the church at Kadina. Thence he was transferred to less exacting duty at Gawler.
On 2 Nov. 1873 he was consecrated bishop of Adelaide. He faced and overcame difficulties created by dissensions in his diocese, and the debt with which it was burdened. Despite imperfect means of communication, he constantly visited its remoter parts. Hard work broke down a constitution which was not naturally robust, but when on the point of resigning his see he was called by the pope, on 23 April 1887, to fill the archbishopric to which the see was elevated at the time. On 11 Sept. he was invested by Cardinal Moran in the cathedral at Adelaide. He visited Rome in 1890, but otherwise devoted the last six years of his life to his extended duties. He died on 16 June 1893.
A long list of churches and other religious or educational buildings marks the expansion of his diocese in the twenty years during which he governed it.
Reynolds had broad sympathies, but his interest was chiefly given to the practical education of the young and to the advocacy of temperance. He has been called the ‘Father Mathew’ of South Australia. His tolerance was a marked characteristic, but he was strongly opposed to the secular education of the South Australian government schools. He was a good classical scholar and preacher. His genuine kindliness was partly concealed by a certain austerity of manner.
[Adelaide Observer, 17 June 1893; Times, 13 June 1893.]