Reverend William Clarke Hose

  General Notes:

Vicar of Corowa, NSW


Rev. William Clarke Hose who came to Corowa from Melbourne was appointed Rector at St. John's Corowa in 1886

Rev. Hose involved himself in many community organisations. His parishioners thought do highly of him that in his first year in the parish they presented him with a new buggy. He retired in 1906 beacause of illness, after serving the parish for 21 years.

In January 1901 the editor of the Corowa Free Press reported as to how disappointed he was that the town did not celebrate the birth of a new nation, that is with exception of Rev. Hose who showed federal spirit by having the vicarage lit with lanterns and fairy lights and at the front gate he hung a Union Jack. Albury on the other hand celebrated in a grand style - a procession from the post office led by the band, the volunteer cadets, fire brigade and lancers joined by two thousand men, women and children marched to the middle of the Union bridge where the civic leaders of Albury and Wodonga made speeches

Report from the Corowa Federation League
The Venerable William Clarke Hose (1886-1906)

The Venerable Hose "came to Corowa in 1886 from Melbourne, exchanging Parishes with the Rev. F Davies and who remained in the Diocese to become Archdeacon under Bishop Anderson" and was the "first Archdeacon at this (the Corowa) end of the Diocese. He was much loved and respected and served the Parish and Diocese for nearly 21 years…"1
It was during the Venerable Hose's incumbency that gas lighting was installed " at St John's Church
…in June 1886." 2..

The population during Venerable Hose's incumbency was 1,171 according to the 1891 census reported in Flow Gently Past (p.38), and by 1901 it was 2 046.
As well as St John's at Corowa, the Parish included St Andrew's (1864) at Mulwala, ( where "the Church of St Andrew was consecrated on 5 December, 1897 by Bishop Anderson, during the Incumbency of the Rev'd W.Clarke Hose,") St Thomas' (1866) at Howlong, St Mark's (1870) at Bungowannah, All Saints (1880) at Buraja and St Mary's (1866) at Moowatha. (Dates given in A Strange Land p.54)
Consequently, because of the distances and churches in the Parish, Bishop Lincoln tried "to find a curate for the Parish of Corowa." Unfortunately, "no suitable men were forthcoming" 1.
This led at that time a drive for "a native born ministry." 2.
So, the Venerable Rev. Hose had to continue his ministry unaided for 21 years, after which he retired "because of eye trouble which eventually caused blindness." 3.
The Venerable Rev. Hose died in Corowa and was buried in the Corowa Old Cemetery.

William married Harriett Boxall, daughter of William Boxall and Mary Rowles, on 1 Jan 1857 in Carisbrook Victoria Australia. (Harriett Boxall was born on 5 Dec 1836 in Southwark, London, England, christened on 23 Jun 1837 in St George the Martr, Southwark and died on 18 Jul 1924 in 245 Hampton street, North Brighton, Victoria, Australia.)