50. PERCY WILLIAM WISE

Percy William Charlton Wise (1870-1950), Anglican priest, was born in England in 1870. In 1900 he took charge of St George’s,a small church with few worshippers. His preaching and practice won many to worship at St George's and he soon became the acknowledged leader of the Anglo-Catholic movement in South Australia. From 1905 there was ecclesiastical concern about some of Wise’s teaching and during the 1920’s Wise withdrew from Diocesan affairs and devoted himself to his work as a parish priest, gaining a high reputation among Anglo-Catholics as a spiritual adviser. With a lively sense of humour and a command of repartee, Wise had great charm of manner. His writing, like his preaching, was graceful, persuasive and memorable. [Photo Credit: 1938 slsa B48746]