Ernest Henry Burgmann (9 May 1885 – 14 March 1967) was an Australian Anglican

bishop A bishop is an ordained clergy member who is entrusted with a position of authority and oversight in a religious institution. In Christianity, bishops are normally responsible for the governance of dioceses. The role or office of bishop is ...

and social activist. In 1918 Burgmann was appointed Warden of St John's College, Armidale. In 1926 he moved the college to Morpeth, where it remained until its closure in 2006. Burgmann was elected as Bishop of

Goulburn Goulburn ( ) is a regional city in the Southern Tablelands of the Australian state of New South Wales, approximately south-west of Sydney, and north-east of Canberra. It was proclaimed as Australia's first inland city through letters pate ...

on 2 February, consecrated to the

episcopate A bishop is an ordained clergy member who is entrusted with a position of Episcopal polity, authority and oversight in a religious institution. In Christianity, bishops are normally responsible for the governance of dioceses. The role or offic ...

on 1 May and installed on 4 May 1934. He served until his retirement on 31 December 1960, although his diocese and position changed to Canberra and Goulburn in 1950. In 1957 Burgmann also established St Mark's Library in Canberra, which became St Mark's National Theological Centre. Although he never joined a political party, Burgmann was active in Australian politics and maintained a strong interest in working-class issues. H. V. Evatt appointed him to the Australian delegation at the 1948

United Nations The United Nations (UN) is an intergovernmental organization whose stated purposes are to maintain international peace and security, develop friendly relations among nations, achieve international cooperation, and be a centre for harmonizi ...

Assembly in

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. Burgmann opposed the attempted banning of the

Communist Party of Australia The Communist Party of Australia (CPA), known as the Australian Communist Party (ACP) from 1944 to 1951, was an Australian political party founded in 1920. The party existed until roughly 1991, with its membership and influence having been ...

in 1951 and was described by the Prime Minister of Australia,

Robert Menzies The name Robert is an ancient Germanic given name, from Proto-Germanic "fame" and "bright" (''Hrōþiberhtaz''). Compare Old Dutch ''Robrecht'' and Old High German ''Hrodebert'' (a compound of '' Hruod'' ( non, Hróðr) "fame, glory, honou ...

, in Parliament as a "most meddlesome priest".''The Meddlesome Priest – A life of Ernest Burgmann''
Retrieved 27 January 2017. Burgmann wrote prolifically throughout his life, mainly essays and booklets on social justice and reform, together with interpretations of

biblical The Bible (from Koine Greek , , 'the books') is a collection of religious texts or scriptures that are held to be sacred in Christianity, Judaism, Samaritanism, and many other religions. The Bible is an anthologya compilation of texts of a ...

scripture. Burgmann College, established in 1971 and affiliated with the

Australian National University The Australian National University (ANU) is a public research university located in Canberra, the capital of Australia. Its main campus in Acton encompasses seven teaching and research colleges, in addition to several national academies and ...

, and

Burgmann Anglican School Burgmann Anglican School is an independent school in Canberra, Australia Australia, officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a Sovereign state, sovereign country comprising the mainland of the Australia (continent), Australian conti ...

in Canberra are named after him. He was the grandfather of

Australian Labor Party The Australian Labor Party (ALP), also simply known as Labor, is the major centre-left political party in Australia, one of two major parties in Australian politics, along with the centre-right Liberal Party of Australia. The party forms ...

politician

Meredith Burgmann Meredith Anne Burgmann (born 26 July 1947) is an Australian politician and Labor Party member and a former President of the New South Wales Legislative Council. Early years Burgmann was born in July 1947 at Beecroft, New South Wales to par ...

and academic Verity Burgmann and great-grandfather of comedian Charles Firth and politician Verity Firth.

References

1885 births 1967 deaths Anglican bishops of Canberra and Goulburn Anglican bishops of Goulburn Anglican socialists Australian Christian socialists Australian people of German descent {{Australia-Anglican-bishop-stub