Rev William Cormack
Title:
Rev
First Name:
William
Middle Names:
Preferred Name:
Surname:
Cormack
Order:
Date of Birth:
Place of Birth:
Aberdeen
Country of Birth:
Scotland
Date of Ordination:
Place of Ordination:
Adelaide SA
Country of Ordination:
Australia
Ordination Diocese:
Adelaide
Seminary:
Date of Death:
Place of Death:
North Adelaide SA
Country of Death:
Australia
Date of Burial:
Place of Burial:
West Terrace, Adelaide SA
Country of Burial:
Australia
Find A Grave URL:
Appointments Table
Diocese | Place | Role | Start Day | Start Month | Start Year | End Day | End Month | End Year | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Adelaide | West Terrace | Dec | 1877 | Feb | 1878 | Linane Vol 2 | |||
| Adelaide | North Adelaide | Feb | 1878 | Nov | 1880 | Linane Vol 2 |
Biographical Notes
The Rev. Father Cormack, Evening Journal, Adelaide, 12 November 1880, p 2, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article197747520:
We regret to announce that the Rev. William Cormack, Roman Catholic clergyman, died at Archdeacon Russell's residence, North Adelaide, on Thursday morning, November 11. The deceased gentleman was twenty-six years of age, and was born at Aberdeen, in Scotland. He was educated at Blair's College, and was afterwards sent to Valladolid, Spain, where he finished his education. It was intended that he should officiate in the western district of Scotland, but finding that his health was failing from consumption, he came out to South Australia to try whether a drier climate would prolong his life. He arrived here in August, 1877, and since then, and with a short interval till the time of his death, has assisted Archdeacon Russell at St. Laurence's Church, North Adelaide. Father Cormack was a very popular clergyman among all classes, and he will be very greatly missed by his congregation as well as by his fellow-clergymen. The cause of death was consumption.
---
South Australia, Ovens and Murray Advertiser, Beechworth, 13 November 1880, p 4, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article201539791:
Adelaide. Friday.
The Rev. Father McCormick (R.C.) was interred to-day. 800 school children attended, with numbers of the leading citizens.[...]
---
Gravestone: "A.M.D.G. Of your charity pray for the repose of the soul of the Revd William Cormack, whose priestly labours during the three years of his missionary career were devotedly given for the spiritual welfare of his people in the district of North Adelaide. He died on the feast of St Martin of Tours, Novr 11, 1880, aged 26 years."
---
Fr T.J. Linane, From Abel to Zundolovich, Vol. 2: Biographies of Priests on the Australian Scene up to 1900, 1980, p 87:
Cormack, William, Scotch
From Aberdeen to Adelaide
William was born in Aberdeen on 6 July 1854. Education was received at Gordon's School, Aberdeen. To study for the priesthood he went to St. Mary's College, Blairs, Kincardinshire, but was compelled to leave on account of ill-health. He tried sunny Spain and was enrolled at Scotch College, Valladolid, but again there was a breakdown due no doubt to a chest condition, and so left there on 27 March 1876. How he came to be attached to Adelaide is not clear, but he arrived on 1 September 1877. Bishop Reynolds gave him minor orders on 7 October, the diaconate on 21 November, followed by the priesthood on 3 December. He showed his zeal in duty at West Terrace for three months, and for the next few years was assistant to Archdeacon Russell at North Adelaide. 11 November 1880 saw the end of a promising career at the age of 26; and isn't it remarkable how often we have to record the cause of death to young priests in the last century in the phrase: he died of tuberculosis. His remains lie in the West Terrace cemetery.
(Footprints, Vol. 2, Nos. 11 and 12)
Ref.: MDHC File, Torquay, per Sr. M. Attracta OP, Adelaide, and Fr. Bernard Canning, Greenock, Scotland, and from Mgr. Maurice Taylor's 'The Scotch College in Spain'.