Robert M. Andrews a SPANISH BISHOP in COLONIAL WESTERN

A SPANISH BISHOP IN COLONIAL WESTERN AUSTRALIA Odhran O'Brien, Martin Griver Unearthed: The Life of a Spanish missionary priest who became a bishop in colonial Western Australia, 1814-1886, Strathfield: St Paul's, 2014. 284pp. $35.95pb. $39.95hb. Reflections by Robert M. Andrews Whether the head of a 'sectarian snake' or the Remarkably, there is yet to be a definitive insignificant contributor to the rise and history of New Norcia, Australia's only development of an unspiritual 'sunburnt monastic town, but other areas of Western country', the positive aspects and significant Australia's unique Catholic history, contributions of religion on Australian history dominated as it was by Spanish Catholicism, remain misunderstood and neglected within have begun to be uncovered. Such is the case mainstream Australian historiography. Despite with Odhran O'Brien's new study of the life the work of historians such as Stuart Piggin and times of the Spanish missionary bishop, and, more recently, Michael Gladwin, it remains Martin Griver, a prelate who governed the a continual battle for the sacred elements of Perth diocese from 1862 until his death in 1886 Australian colonial history to become more a and who, until recently, had been largely part of the largely secular narratives associated forgotten to historical memory. with the rise of Australian nationhood. Indeed, Intentionally obvious, 'unearthed' is an apt there still exist remarkable—but mostly verb for O'Brien's study of Griver's life, for in unknown—tales of the way faith played a 2007 Griver's remains (along with those of his dominant role in nineteenth-century successor, Bishop Matthew Gibney) were Australian society. rediscovered during a major archaeological dig In regards to Catholicism, the sectarian prior to major renovations to St Mary's elements of Irish Catholic life understandably Cathedral, eventually to be placed in a new dominate narratives. It is, however, easy to cathedral crypt where Perth's Catholic forget that other nationalities and cultures archbishops now lie. As the author documents have played important roles in Australian his own role in these excavations, the Catholic history. The religious history of discovery of Griver's remains are a remarkable- Australia's Western colony, Western and tangible-insight into the life of this most Australia, is an example of this surprising interesting and important colonial figure. There diversity. There—an outgrowth of a is even evidence that points to one of those worldwide missionary movement among all to rare examples in Church history: namely, Catholics in the nineteenth-century—a of an ecclesiastical administrator who Spanish, Benedictine style of Catholicism combined diocesan governance with genuine planted an unusual continental element into sanctity. West Australian Catholicism. More Born in Granollers, Catalonia, on 11 successful than the English Benedictine November 1814, Martin Giver came from a mission in Sydney led by Joseph Bede modest family who earned their living in Polding, the monastery of New Norcia- agricultural work associated with the local established in 1847 became a domineering winemaking industry. Excelling as a seminarian force in nineteenth-century West Australian in Barcelona during the 1830s, Griver Catholicism and, by default, a major influence nonetheless struggled to find an ordaining on colonial West Australian society. bishop amid a politically volatile anti-clerical 39 COMPASS Spanish climate, where it was government welfare of Aborigines (whom he referred to as policy to restrict the number of ordinations. 'Australians' [p.74]), Griver, along with Serra Waiting in uncertainty, Griver furthered his and Salvado, planted a distinctly Spanish- education by obtaining degrees in philosophy Benedictine style of Catholic piety in the West. and medicine-the latter proving invaluable for Among a small and mostly Irish-Catholic milieu, his future missionary vocation. Finally it was an odd combinations of traditions. But ordained on 18 December 1847, Griver— Griver, despite being Spanish, seems to have influenced by the witness of two travelling shown a cultural perspicuity that was well Spanish Benedictine prelates from the new and suited to the native and planted cultures he fledgling West Australian colony, José María moved within; indeed, was more suited than Benito Serra and Rosendo Salvado, who were his own diocesan superior, Serra, whose in Spain to recruit missionaries—decided in preoccupation with planting a Spanish- 1849 to dedicate his priesthood to the ecclesial Benedictine vision in Western Australia at needs of the colony of Western Australia, times neglected the pressing pastoral needs rather than his homeland. Feeling he had been of his community. Griver's development as a called by God to leave his native Catalonia, pastorally dedicated priest, in addition to being Griver sailed for Western Australia with a group a reliable and careful diocesan administrator of thirty-nine missionaries recruited by Serra (maintaining diocesan records and acting as and Salvado. They arrived in Fremantle on 29 diocesan treasurer) was rewarded in the 1850s December 1849. by increasing levels of trust and authority Obrien's book demonstrates that religious being delegated to him. By late 1859, following history is frequently about more than simply a breakdown in diocesan administration by the history of a denomination. Thus his Serra, whose authoritarian nature had alienated narrative is scattered with detailed references both the Irish Sisters of Mercy and Salvado to the multiple political and social contexts (who had successfully petitioned Rome to affecting Catholics both in Spain, Europe and, separate New Norcia from Perth's jurisdiction), by default, the British colonies in Australia. Griver had become not only Vicar-General, but Thus Griver emerged from a Spain divided by acting administrator of the diocese following traditionalists and anti-clerical radicals to a Serra's departure to Rome to contest the colony, though technically a product of a post- separation of New Norcia. He would, however, reform Britain that in theory gave preference never return, leaving Griver initially as interim to no single Church, remained imbued with a administrator, by 1862 apostolic administrator social structure that at times gave unofficial and finally, eight years later, as bishop. partiality to the Church of England over Roman Though as a bishop Griver would govern Catholicism. Moreover, when Griver arrived in Perth for sixteen years, his tenure was, in effect, Western Australia, he found himself immersed of more than two decades duration. Though in a complicated dispute between the Bishop not initially Rome's choice for the see of Perth, of Perth, John Brady, and Serra over issues he was eventually consecrated in Rome on 12 related to personality, pecuniary concerns and June 1870, holding back—if only for a time— administrative differences. Griver, supportive the rising Irish dominance of the wider of Serra—who was, in turn, supported by Australian episcopate. Nonetheless, despite Rome in the dispute with Brady—became the interim nature of his ministry, for the first known for his competence and loyalty amid eight years of his leadership Griver proved the chaos—both as a priest, doctor, and as a himself to be a competent and stable leader of reliable diocesan administrator; skills that made Perth's Catholics-the ultimate reason for him ideally suited to missionary work and as a Rome's choice of him as Perth's bishop. A possible future bishop. Supportive of the savvy yet realistic individual when it came to 40 A SPANISH BISHOP IN COLONIAL WESTERN AUSTRALIA relationships with spiritual and secular Irish Fenianism. Always the head of a authorities, especially those with difficult missionary diocese, Griver had to continually personalities, O'Brien's biography consistently seek out additional priests and religious to notes the qualities Griver brought to the office serve the vast territory of his diocese, in that had been lacking in his predecessors. A addition to find the funds to construct new prominent one was a pragmatism that placed churches, orphanages and schools. For almost the needs of Perth's Catholics first, despite a year and a half during 1882 to 1883, Griver being frequently constrained by a lack of spent time in Rome and Europe, especially his funds. For example, he quickly realised that native Spain, where he spent several months. the somewhat utopian vision of a Benedictine Returning to Perth in 1883, Griver, an elderly hegemony in Western Australia was unsuited man, suffered a serious fall at his episcopal to the needs of a secular diocese, as it had palace on 19 April 1885. Weakened by serious been for Polding in New South Wales. injuries, he nonetheless attended the Plenary Moreover, the reality of Benedictine life, which Council of Australasian bishops later in the was frequently contemplative, conflicted with year. Indeed, old age and declining health the need for secular clergy who did not have never deterred Griver from undertaking as to balance the life of the cloister with that of many episcopal duties as he could until his the outside world. Thus the monastery in dying days. Though assisted by Fr Matthew Subiaco quickly became unworkable, even if Gibney, who in 1886 had been appointed priests from New Norcia continued to coadjutor bishop with right of succession, successfully serve the diocese in various Griver succumbed to his declining health on 1 capacities from their rural

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