Batty, Francis de Witt (1879 - 1961)

Francis de Witt Batty was born in England and studied at St Paul's school and later Balliol College, Oxford.

In 1903 Batty was made a deacon and served as assistant curate in the London suburb of Hornsey. Batty's vicar during this time was St Clair Donaldson who would become his friend and mentor. When Donaldson was appointed bishop of Brisbane in 1904, Batty accompanied him. Batty became heavily involved in the administration of the Diocese and he served as a Dean, a priest and a canon.

Batty was appointed Bishop of the Anglican Diocese on Newcastle in 1931. He was extremely pleased describing Newcastle as the "most enviable diocese in Australia." Confronted with the pressing problems of the Great Depression, Batty encouraged financial reform by the parishes, reducing their dependence on the endowments and improving their self reliance.

Batty eventually retired in 1958 and helped the Synod elect his successor James Housden. He retired to Double Bay Sydney where he died in 1961.

Related Religious Bodies

• Anglican Diocese of Newcastle (1847 - )
  Seventh Bishop of Newcastle [1931 - 1958]

• Cable, K.J., 'Batty, Francis de Witt (1879 - 1961)', in Australian Dictionary of Biography - Online Edition, Australian National University, 2006, http://www.adb.online.anu.edu.au/biogs/A070211b.htm. [ Details... ]