Series 44 - James Butter Knill Kelly correspondence

Coadjutor Bishop of Newfoundland; Third Bishop of Newfoundland (with Bermuda); Coadjutor Bishop of Moray, Ross & Caithness; Bishop of Moray, Ross & Caithness; Primus of Scotland.

James Butter Knill Kelly was born in Standish, Lancashire in 1832. He obtained a B.A. from Cambridge University in 1854, and an M.A. in 1858. In 1855, he was ordained deacon, then priest in 1856. He was curate of Abington, England from 1855 to 1856, then became Domestic Chaplain to the Bishop of Sodor and Man until 1864. He was the Registrar of the Diocese, as well as Vicar of Kirkmichael, Isle of Man, from 1860 to 1864. He then moved to Newfoundland and became Incumbent of St. John's, until he was consecrated Coadjutor Bishop in 1867. He travelled throughout the diocese with the Bishop of Newfoundland, Edward Feild, including Bermuda, which was part of it at the time. He found travel difficult, and resolved that when he succeeded Bishop Feild, he would also have a Coadjutor to help him with his duties. Unfortunately, when he did become Bishop in 1876, he was unable to find anyone to fill the role, and resigned a year later. He moved back to England and became Vicar of St. Chad's in Kirkby, until 1880. From 1879 to 1884, he was Commissary for the Bishop of Chester, and in 1880, became the Archdeacon of Macclesfield, England. In 1884, he became the Commissary for the Bishop of Salisbury, until he was elected Coadjutor Bishop of Moray, Ross, and Caithness in 1885. He also held the position of Provost at St. Andrew's Cathedral in Inverness, and he succeeded to the See of Moray, Ross, and Caithness in 1886. In 1901, he became the Primus of Scotland. He resigned in 1904, and lived in retirement until 1907, when he passed away in Inverness.