Australian Dictionary of Biography entry:
John Kenny (1816–1886)
by John Barrett

This article was published in the Australian Dictionary of Biography, Volume 2, 1967, online in 2006.

John Kenny (1816-1886), Catholic priest and historian, was born in Fife, Scotland, and educated by Benedictines. He was preparing for the priesthood when he came to Australia with Bishop John Bede Polding in 1835. In August the bishop's party reached Hobart Town where Kenny was left as catechist to organize and teach in a Catholic school for which Lieutenant-Governor (Sir) George Arthur approved annual payment by the government of £35 rent and £50 salary, though the approval was more readily forthcoming than the salary. In March 1836 Kenny went to Sydney where he was prominent among the religious instructors of Catholic convicts, whom Polding gained permission to have taught between their arrival in Sydney and their dispersion throughout the colony.

Ordained priest in 1843 Kenny became assistant-priest at Queanbeyan. Except for two years in England (1861-63), he spent the rest of his life in Australia mostly in parish work: at Penrith (1844-45), McDonald River (1845-47), Geelong (1847-48), East Maitland (1848-67) and St Leonard's, North Sydney (1867-78). He was responsible for building the first stone Catholic Church at North Sydney, St Mary's, which was opened in June 1868. He also bequeathed to the church several allotments of land and three houses. Of these houses, the first, in Mount Street, went to the Sisters of St Joseph to be used as a home for aged women, the second was directed to be sold and the proceeds invested on behalf of either certain Irish colleges or St John's College, University of Sydney, and the third, his own, was left for the use of elderly priests.

Kenny won his parishioners' respect rather than their affection, for, although described as having led a 'blameless, exemplary and edifying life', he was dour and strict. As a priest he was faithful and reliable, and well regarded by his fellows. Polding always spoke highly of him, honouring him with the title of dean in 1872, and Archbishop Roger Bede Vaughan made him a member of the committee which reported on the Marist brothers in 1874. Next year Kenny had brief interim charge of the diocese of Armidale, and was said to have later declined an offer of the bishopric.

Dean Kenny is remembered mainly for his A History of the Commencement and Progress of Catholicity in Australia, Up to the Year 1840 (Sydney, 1886), which was the first extended treatment of the subject to be published. It was a creditable and useful achievement, although rather dull and partisan, and now superseded. Kenny intended to take his history further, but was prevented by severe rheumatism. After a brief illness he died on 16 September 1886 and was buried at Gore Hill cemetery.

Select Bibliography

J. H. Cullen, The Catholic Church in Tasmania (Launceston, 1949) H. A. Johnston, A Seed that Grew: A Hundred Years of Catholic Life on the North Shore (Syd, 1956) Freeman's Journal (Sydney), 4 July 1874, 18 Sept, 2 Oct 1886 Sydney Morning Herald, 18 Sept 1886 CSO 1/817/17458 (Archives Office of Tasmania).

Citation details John Barrett, 'Kenny, John (1816–1886)', Australian Dictionary of Biography, National Centre of Biography, Australian National University, https://adb.anu.edu.au/biography/kenny-john-2298/text2969, published first in hardcopy 1967, accessed online 3 July 2025.

This article was published in hardcopy in Australian Dictionary of Biography, Volume 2, (Melbourne University Press), 1967.

Reproduced by permission of Australian Dictionary of Biography. Original biography: https://adb.anu.edu.au/biography/kenny-john-2298.

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The Ordination, Australasian Chronicle, Sydney, 23 August 1843, p 2, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article31740880:

On last Sunday the sacred rites and ceremonies prescribed in the "Pontifical" for the ordination of Priests were impressively performed in St. Mary's Cathedral, when the following deacons--John Grant, James Dunphy, Patrick Maginnis, John Kenny, and Patrick Hallanan--were duly invested with the holy and indelible "character" of the Christian Priesthood. The Archbishop used for the first time in his Metropolitan Church the PALLIUM; this is the especial mark of affection and confidence conferred by the Chief Christian Bishop on earth on other Prelates, who hold the most responsible position in the Church next to the Sovereign Pontiff himself. The "PALLIUM" is only worn in conferring Holy Orders, and on a few solemn Festivals of Religion. The Vestments or Robes used by Bishops and Archbishops when officiating in "Pontificals," include the respective vestures of the several orders from "Acolyte to Priest," together with those belonging to the "Episcopal" order, to represent that the Prelate possesses the plenitude of each of these orders, with the "Power" to confer them. To a superficial observer this multiplicity of vestments worn at one time would appear quite superfluous, and savouring of worldly pomp; but there is nothing--not the slightest ceremony in Religion, without its moral or mystical meaning; these are the silent and impressive symbols that speak to the eye and to the mind, and not unfrequently convey more lasting impressions to the soul than the most fervid eloquence.

The Vicar General preached a very instructive Sermon, pointing out the solemn ceremonies instituted by the Almighty of old for the consecration of Aaron and the Levitical Priesthood, which was only a shadow and a figure of the higher and more holy "Priesthood" of the New Law, and showing the propriety and consistency of using sacred rites and ceremonies in the ordination of the Priests, who are to serve under the Perfect Covenant of Grace. He gave a graphic description of the duties and responsibility of a Christian Priest; of his voluntary separation from the spirit of the world; of his tearing asunder all the ties of flesh and blood, that he may devote himself entirely to the dispensation of the "Mysteries of Christ," and to the sanctification of his own soul and of those committed to his care. He then pourtrayed the duties of the flock towards its pastor, in hearing his voice and following his instructions, and that they should look rather to his sacred character than endeavour to decry those minor faults which are inseparable from man in "this vale of tears;" and concluded by a moving appeal to the five deacons who were then going to undertake a spiritual burden to be dreaded even by Angels. This is a mere outline of the discourse. We have heard several express a wish to see the whole in print, though the Preacher himself appears quite averse to the proposal. The Church was crowded by an attentive audience during the whole service, which lasted more than three hours.

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The Church at Port Phillip, Sydney Chronicle, 7 April 1847, p 2, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article31751466:

The Catholics of Port Phillip will hail with pleasure the return of the Rev. Mr. Geoghegan to that district, where he has already so long and zealously performed the duties of his sacred calling. [...] The Rev. Mr. Geoghegan, who will resume his office of Vicar Foran, will be stationed at Melbourne, and the Rev. Dean Coffey will also remain at that town. The Rev. Mr. Kenny, who had laboured zealously and successfully on the banks of the Hawkesbury, has proceeded to Geelong for the purpose of relieving the Rev. Mr. Walsh. This latter station is, we believe, a promising one, a Church having been nearly completed by the exertions of the faithful during the ministry of their late pastor.

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T.W. Campbell, The Priests of the Diocese of Armidale: A Necrology, Braddon ACT, 2005:
Kenny, John

Listed by Doody in a section 'supplementary list of priests who have also worked in the diocese', with no details other than period in the diocese, shown as 1875. He may have visited Armidale at some time. A native of Scotland he came to Sydney with Bishop J B Polding in April 1835 and was ordained in Sydney by him in 1840, exact date unknown (another source suggests August or October 1843). He wrote a book entitled A History of the Commencement and Progress of Catholicity in Australia. He left a property in North Sydney to the Sisters of St Joseph. He was said to have declined an appointment as Bishop of Armidale.
(Sources: FJ 25 Sep 1886 pp 9, 14, 15, 23 Mar 1916 p 28, Advocate 19 Apr 1873 p 1, 14 Aug 1886 p 7, 2 Oct 1886 p 15, MDHC A-Z K63).

(Reproduced by permission of Tom Campbell.)