The Dictionary of Australasian Biography/Barry, Right Rev. Alfred
Barry, Right Rev. Alfred, D.D., D.C.L., formerly Bishop of Sydney, Metropolitan of New South Wales, and Primate of Australia, is the son of Sir Charles Barry, B.A., the celebrated architect, by his marriage with Sarah, daughter of Samuel Bowsell. He was born in London on Jan. 15th, 1826, and educated at King's College, London, and at Trinity College, Cambridge, where he graduated B.A. as 4th Wrangler, 2nd Smith prizeman, and seventh in 1st class of Classical Tripos in 1848, M.A. in 1851, B.D. in 1858, and D.D. in 1865. He was elected a fellow of Trinity College in 1849, ordained deacon in 1850, and priest in 1851. From 1850 to 1854 he was sub-warden of Trinity College, Glenalmond; from 1854 to 1862 head master of Leeds Grammar School; from 1862 to 1868 principal of Cheltenham College; and from 1868 to 1883 principal of King's College, London. In the latter year he was appointed Bishop of Sydney, in succession to Dr. Barker. In the meantime he was Canon Residentiary of Worcester from 1871 to 1881; Chaplain to the Queen from 1879 to 1883; and Canon of Westminster from 1881 to 1883. Bishop Barry was consecrated on Jan. 1st, and installed in April 1884, revisited England in 1887, and again returned to Sydney, but resigned his see, for urgent family reasons, in May 1889, when he became Assistant Bishop to Bishop Thorold of Rochester. In 1890 this appointment having lapsed, on the translation of Bishop Thorold to the see of Winchester, he became Canon of Windsor. Bishop Barry, as well as being an eloquent preacher and admirable lecturer, is a well-known author, and has published, inter alia, the following works:—"Introduction to the Old Testament" and "Notes on the Gospels," "Cheltenham College Sermons," "Notes on the Catechism," "Life of Sir Charles Barry, R.A.," "University Sermons," "First Words in Australia" (1884), "The Teacher's Prayer Book," "The Parables of the Old Testament," and "Christianity and Socialism" (1891), as well as various volumes of Sermons, including the Boyle Lectures for 1876 and for 1877-8.