GOE, Field Flowers (1832-1910)

anglican bishop of Melbourne

son of Field Flowers Goe, solicitor, was born in 1832 at Louth, Lincolnshire, England. He was educated at the grammar school at Louth and Hertford College, Oxford, where he graduated B.A. in 1857 and M.A. in 1860. He was ordained deacon and priest in 1858, and in the same year was appointed curate at Kingston-on-Hull. He was rector of Sunderland from 1873 to 1877 and St George's, Bloomsbury, London, from 1877 to 1887. He had shown ability as a parish worker, preacher, and organizer, and in 1886 was appointed bishop of Melbourne in succession to Moorhouse (q.v.). Though strongly evangelical he was not bigoted, and had signed the memorial protesting against the persecution of the ritualists. He was installed at the cathedral church of St James, Melbourne, on 14 April 1887. Goe was aware of many problems in his church which needed attention, but resolved that until the cathedral could be finished and paid for, these must stand aside. St Paul's cathedral, Melbourne, was completed, except for its spires, and consecrated on 22 January 1891. By that time the land boom had burst and for the next 10 years Melbourne suffered from a severe depression. The financial question in fact caused so many difficulties that it was almost impossible to do more than mark time. The forming of new dioceses had several times been discussed and on 3 October 1901 an act was passed in the church assembly which gave to the state of Victoria three additional bishoprics, Bendigo, Wangaratta, and Gippsland. Goe resigned on 1 November but acted as administrator until his departure for England on 7 April 1902. He lived in retirement at Wimbledon, near London. until his death on 25 June 1910. He married in 1861 Emma, daughter of William Hurst, who died in 1901. They had no children.

Goe was a big man, full of kindliness. He was neither a great scholar nor a great thinker, but he was a man of shrewd sense who preached peace on earth and goodwill to all men, and kept his diocese going through a difficult period.

The Times, 29 June 1910; The Argus, 30 June 1910; Crockfords Clerical Directory, 1910; Year Books of the Diocese of Melbourne, 1899-1902.