Adrian Owen Charles (31 July 1926 – 10 April 2013) was an Australian

Anglican bishop The Anglican ministry is both the leadership and agency of Christian service in the Anglican Communion. ''Ministry'' commonly refers to the office of ordained clergy: the ''threefold order'' of bishops, priests and deacons. Anglican ministry incl ...

, who served as

Assistant bishop An assistant bishop in the Anglican Communion is a bishop appointed to assist a diocesan bishop. Church of England In the established Church of England, assistant bishops are usually retired (diocesan or suffragan bishop, suffragan) bishops – in ...

for the Western Region in the

Anglican Diocese of Brisbane The Anglican Diocese of Brisbane, also known as Anglican Church Southern Queensland, is based in Brisbane, Queensland, Australia. The diocesan bishop's seat is at St John's Cathedral, Brisbane. The diocese stretches from the south-eastern coastl ...

from 1983 to 1992, and as Bishop to the Australian Defence Force from 1989 to 1994. Charles was born in

Warwick, Queensland Warwick ( ) is a rural town and Suburbs and localities (Australia), locality in southeast Queensland, Australia, lying south-west of Brisbane. It is the administrative centre of the Southern Downs Region Local government in Australia, local go ...

on 31 July 1926. He attended St Catherine's School and Slade School in Warwick, and later studied at St Francis' Theological College and the

University of Queensland The University of Queensland is a Public university, public research university located primarily in Brisbane, the capital city of the Australian state of Queensland. Founded in 1909 by the Queensland parliament, UQ is one of the six sandstone ...

. He was ordained deacon in 1950 and priest in 1952. In his parish ministry, Charles served in a variety of roles, including as chaplain to the Southport School, as Vicar at Wondai,

St Lucia Saint Lucia is an island country of the West Indies in the eastern Caribbean. Part of the Windward Islands of the Lesser Antilles, it is located north/northeast of the island of Saint Vincent (Saint Vincent and the Grenadines), Saint Vincent ...

, Chelmer and

Ipswich Ipswich () is a port town and Borough status in the United Kingdom, borough in Suffolk, England. It is the county town, and largest in Suffolk, followed by Lowestoft and Bury St Edmunds, and the third-largest population centre in East Anglia, ...

, and as Senior Anglican Chaplain to the Northern Command from 1963 to 1966. Charles was appointed

Archdeacon An archdeacon is a senior clergy position in the Church of the East, Chaldean Catholic Church, Syriac Orthodox Church, Anglican Communion, St Thomas Christians, Eastern Orthodox Church, Eastern Orthodox churches and some other Christian denomina ...

of Moreton from 1968 to 1970, became Dean of

St James' Cathedral, Townsville St James' Cathedral is a heritage-listed cathedral of the Anglican Diocese of North Queensland at 36 Cleveland Terrace, Townsville, Queensland, Townsville, City of Townsville, Queensland, Australia. It was designed by Arthur Blacket and was buil ...

in the

Diocese of North Queensland The Diocese of North Queensland is a diocese of the Anglican Church of Australia, founded in 1879. It is situated in the northern part of the state of Queensland, Australia. As part of the Province of Queensland, it covers the Torres Strait Isl ...

from 1972 to 1977, and returned to a military role from 1978 to 1983 as Senior Anglican Chaplain to the 1st Military District. Charles was consecrated as bishop, and appointed Assistant Bishop for the Western Region, on 1 March 1983 by Archbishop of Brisbane Sir John Grindrod. He later served as the third Anglican Bishop to the Australian Defence Force, replacing Ken Short, from 1989 to 1994. Charles was appointed as a

Member of the Order of Australia The Order of Australia is an Australian honours and awards system, Australian honour that recognises Australian citizens and other persons for outstanding achievement and service. It was established on 14 February 1975 by Elizabeth II, Monarch ...

in the 1994 Queen's Birthday Honours for "service to the community through the Anglican Church of Australia". Charles was married to Leonie and was survived by children and grandchildren. Charles died on 10 April 2013 in Sinnamon Park, Queensland.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Charles, Adrian Owen 1926 births 2013 deaths 20th-century Anglican bishops in Australia Anglican bishops to the Australian Defence Force Anglican Church of Australia deans Assistant bishops in the Anglican Diocese of Brisbane Australian Army officers Members of the Order of Australia People from Warwick, Queensland