Rev. Charles Norris Gray

Charles Norris Gray (1840-1913), Clergyman and author.

Charles was the son of Robert Gray, Bishop of Cape Town. He was the vicar at Helmsley, in North Yorkshire for some 43 years. During his time, Charles managed to get every hamlet church in the surrounding area rebuilt. One of the churches, St Aiden's was built by the 'late Gothic Revival architect Temple Lushington Moore.' Interestingly, Charles' mother, Sophy (Sophia) Wharton Gray, was a prolific church architect with many churches in South Africa to her name.

Biography

Found this fabulous biography of Charles - there's a gorgeous photo in his later years.
Also more info on this website - Temple Moore Trail

Another interesting fact about Charles is his middle name - Norris. He is undoubtedly named after John William Norris, at Hughenden. Charles' father, Robert was the 12th child, son of Rt. Rev. Dr. Robert Gray, Bishop of Bristol. Robert's older brother Charles (b. in 1799 - 10 years older) married Agnes Gray, daughter of John Norris. Norris had seven daughters that survived to adulthood, no boys. Both Gray brothers had a son named Charles (see Charles Gray) in 1840 - but this Charles, unrelated to the Norris family, was given the middle the name Norris. It appears that John Norris thought very highly of Robert Gray, and wanted him to take a position at Hughenden. After much deliberation Robert decided not to take the post, and his career took him to Cape Town. Charles writes in his biography of his father, that the Norris and Gray families were "great friends". I'll find the exact quote for you at a later date.

Charles put together two volumes of letters and journals which give a great deal of detail about Bishop Gray's life. The first volume of Robert Gray's biography is available here:

Charles N. Gray: Life of Robert Gray : Bishop of Cape Town and Metropolitan of Africa. Full copy of text.

I haven't found a copy of the second volume yet. The first volume makes fascinating reading, as Bishop Gray and his wife, Sophy were early settlers in the region and travelled widely, spreading their ministry.

I haven't found (so far) any record of a wife or any children. If Charles didn't marry - that would be very unusual during the times. Write to me if you know more, or add it to this page - Jenna Gray. Apart from the various biographies of his life as a colourful vicar at Helmsley and his influence on local church architecture, there have been no results through the prolific ancestry sites of any descendants.

Photo - National Portrait Gallery
Made by photographer's studio, by Camille Silvy, 2 October 1861 38 Porchester Terrace, Bayswater, London © National Portrait Gallery, London

"Few effects were quite as dramatic as that at All Saints, Helmsley, in North Yorkshire. Charles Norris Gray, vicar between 1870 and 1913, built two chapels - one dedicated to St Aelred, in memory of his father - and covered the church in murals, in the Medieval revivalist style popular with the Arts and Crafts' reverence of the craft age...."
Rev Charles Gray - influence of Arts and Crafts Movement

Helmsley Archives

Records of the church and community - there's a picture of Charles in Egypt. Vicar CN Gray in Egypt - Pyramid and Sphinx, 1897 and a photo of his funeral procession: HA01267 Vicar Gray's funeral procession, 1913 Charles Norris Gray died on 14th February, 1913; he was vicar of Helmsley from 1870. His father was the first Bishop of Cape Town.

All Saints church at Hemsley

Books

Published volume:
Confession, as taught by the Church of England.
Gray, C. N. (Charles Norris), Anglican Vicar of Helmsley, Yorkshire, b. 1840.
Published by Manchester: [1873?], John Heywood (1873)
copy of book

Results of book search

Hathi Trust - Digital Library

St Aidan's

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