John Carpenter | ANZ Clergy


About Help Contact login Rev John Carpenter SJ Title: Rev First Name: Ridvers Middle Names: John Preferred Name: John Surname: Carpenter Order: SJ Date of Birth: 28-Feb-1901 Place of Birth: Bath Country of Birth: England Date of Ordination: Place of Ordination: Country of Ordination: Ordination Diocese: Seminary: Date of Death: 01-Aug-1976 Place of Death: Melbourne VIC Country of Death: Australia Date of Burial: 1976 Place of Burial: Boroondara, Kew VIC Country of Burial: Australia Find A Grave URL: https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/199185970 FindaGrave - Person Photo FindaGrave - Grave Photo Biographical Notes Fr David Strong SJ, The Australian dictionary of Jesuit biography 1848-2015, Second Edition, 2017: Carpenter, John Teacher; born England, 28 February 1901; died Melbourne, 1 August 1976, aged 75. When the Australian superior of the mission, William Lockington, visited the late vocation seminary in England, Lester House, Osterley, he impressed three seminarians, John Carpenter, Laurence Hessian and Hugo Quigley. All three joined the Australian province. Carpenter spent his formative years in Ireland, Jersey and Wales, and regency was at Riverview. After that time he spent most of his time in the schools: Xavier College, Burke Hall, St Patrick's College, and St Aloysius' College, teaching mainly English, Latin and French. His very English accent, coupled with a certain daintiness of gesture, walk and taste made him an obvious butt for ragging by students, but he was generally liked. It was at St Patrick's College that Carpenter did most of his teaching. Upon the death of the rector, Thomas O'Dwyer, Carpenter's administrative skills were observed, and in many places he served the community in the capacity of minister. The community bedrooms at St Patrick's were very simple and primitive, and by moving Carpenter from one room to another, with the help of generous benefactors, the community bedrooms were systematically renovated with little expense to the community. He had an eye for a higher standard of living. When he became minister, he invited the archbishop to dinner, and soon the renovation of the college began. St Patrick's was always a house of the warmest hospitality. Carpenter was the loving host and enjoyed the company of his guests. He had a flair for begging, without much subtlety. He approached wealthy people and they responded generously to his requests. Above all he was kind and thoughtful to the sick and ministered well to their needs. His spirituality was simple; perhaps precious, but sufficient to strengthen him against the trials and humiliations which his own peculiar temperament invited. His retreats relied considerably on French spirituality. A car accident that involved members of the St Patrick's College community, including Carpenter, deeply affected those involved except Carpenter, who showed great resilience in the crisis. A wealthy friend of his had lent the car involved to the community. John Carpenter was a light that once encountered would never be forgotten. (Reproduced by permission of Fr David Strong SJ.)

Title:

Rev

First Name:

Ridvers

Middle Names:

John

Preferred Name:

John

Surname:

Carpenter

Order:

Date of Birth:

28-Feb-1901

Place of Birth:

Bath

Country of Birth:

England

Date of Ordination:

Place of Ordination:

Country of Ordination:

Ordination Diocese:

Seminary:

Date of Death:

01-Aug-1976

Place of Death:

Melbourne VIC

Country of Death:

Australia

Date of Burial:

1976

Place of Burial:

Boroondara, Kew VIC

Country of Burial:

Australia

Find A Grave URL:

https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/199185970

FindaGrave - Person Photo

FindaGrave - Grave Photo

Fr David Strong SJ, The Australian dictionary of Jesuit biography 1848-2015, Second Edition, 2017:
Carpenter, John

Teacher; born England, 28 February 1901; died Melbourne, 1 August 1976, aged 75.

When the Australian superior of the mission, William Lockington, visited the late vocation seminary in England, Lester House, Osterley, he impressed three seminarians, John Carpenter, Laurence Hessian and Hugo Quigley. All three joined the Australian province.

Carpenter spent his formative years in Ireland, Jersey and Wales, and regency was at Riverview. After that time he spent most of his time in the schools: Xavier College, Burke Hall, St Patrick's College, and St Aloysius' College, teaching mainly English, Latin and French. His very English accent, coupled with a certain daintiness of gesture, walk and taste made him an obvious butt for ragging by students, but he was generally liked.

It was at St Patrick's College that Carpenter did most of his teaching. Upon the death of the rector, Thomas O'Dwyer, Carpenter's administrative skills were observed, and in many places he served the community in the capacity of minister. The community bedrooms at St Patrick's were very simple and primitive, and by moving Carpenter from one room to another, with the help of generous benefactors, the community bedrooms were systematically renovated with little expense to the community. He had an eye for a higher standard of living. When he became minister, he invited the archbishop to dinner, and soon the renovation of the college began.

St Patrick's was always a house of the warmest hospitality. Carpenter was the loving host and enjoyed the company of his guests. He had a flair for begging, without much subtlety. He approached wealthy people and they responded generously to his requests. Above all he was kind and thoughtful to the sick and ministered well to their needs.

His spirituality was simple; perhaps precious, but sufficient to strengthen him against the trials and humiliations which his own peculiar temperament invited. His retreats relied considerably on French spirituality.

A car accident that involved members of the St Patrick's College community, including Carpenter, deeply affected those involved except Carpenter, who showed great resilience in the crisis. A wealthy friend of his had lent the car involved to the community. John Carpenter was a light that once encountered would never be forgotten.

(Reproduced by permission of Fr David Strong SJ.)

Rev John Carpenter SJ

Biographical Notes