Harrington Lees

Lees was born in Ashton-under-Lyne, Lancashire, United Kingdom, the eldest son of William Lees, a cotton farmer and Justice of the Peace,[2] and his wife, Emma (daughter of William Clare). Lees married twice, firstly to Winifred May, daughter of the Revd J. M. Cranswick, and secondly to Joanna Mary, daughter of Herbert Linnell. He had no children.[1]

Lees was educated at The Leys School (a Methodist school) and St John's College, Cambridge, where he graduated BA with a second class in the theological tripos in 1892, and MA in 1896.[3]

Lees was made deacon on Trinity Sunday (28 May) 1893[4] and ordained priest the following Trinity Sunday (20 May 1894) — both times by William Stubbs, Bishop of Oxford, at St Mary Magdalen's Church, Oxford.[5] He was a curate at Reading, Berkshire, chaplain at Turin and curate at Childwall, until in 1900 he became vicar of St John's Kenilworth.[1] In 1907 Lees became vicar of Christ Church, Beckenham, and in 1919 vicar of Swansea. In this year he was offered the bishopric of Bendigo, Victoria, Australia, but refused it. In August 1921 he was appointed Archbishop of Melbourne; was consecrated a bishop on All Saints' Day (1 November) by Randall Davidson, Archbishop of Canterbury, at St Paul's Cathedral, London;[6] and enthroned at St Paul's Cathedral, Melbourne, on 15 February 1922.[1]

Lees soon showed himself to be a vigorous worker and a good preacher. He was at Melbourne for less than seven years before he died, but his episcopate was marked by the undertaking of the completion of St Paul's Cathedral and by a great increase in the social work of the church; more especially in connexion with the various homes conducted by the mission of St James and St John and the Church of England free kindergartens. He visited England in 1928 and died suddenly at Bishopscourt, East Melbourne, on 10 January 1929.[1]

Lees' portrait by John Longstaff is in the chapter house at Melbourne.

Lees never spared himself and overwork was a contributing cause of his comparatively early death from coronary vascular disease.[1] He had bright personality and was much like by everyone, whether in an industrial parish like Swansea or as archbishop of Melbourne. At synod he was an excellent chairman, speaking little himself, but giving his rulings with decision. In the evangelistic tradition of the diocese, he belonged to no party and his ability, humanity and broad outlook, made him an excellent leader of his church.[1]

Lees' published works include:

Lees was also a contributor to Hastings' A Dictionary of Christ and the Gospels.[2]

• Works by or about Harrington Lees at Internet Archive