Denis Bryant
Early life
He was born on 31 January 1918, and educated at Cardiff University.Who was Who 1897-1990 London, A & C Black, 1991 {{ISBN|0-7136-3457-X}} His father Tom was a well-known harpist and kept the Carpenters' Arms public house in Efail Isaf.
Air Force
Bryant served in the RAF both during the War and afterwards. In 1942 he was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross.{{Cite web|url=https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/35709/supplement/4061|title= Second Supplement to the London Gazette of 15 Sept 1942, of 18 September 1942, p 4061|access-date=13 December 2020}} He was appointed Pilot Officer in 1943,{{Cite web|url=https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/35868/page/387|title=Second Supplement to the London Gazette of 15 January 1943, of 19 January 1943, p 387|access-date=13 December 2020}} Flying Officer in 1946{{Cite web|url=https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/37691/supplement/4167|title= Supplement to the London Gazette of 16 August 1946, of 20 August 1946, p 4167|access-date=13 December 2020}} and Flight Lieutenant in 1948.{{Cite web|url= https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/38490/supplement/6728|title=Supplement to the London Gazette, 31 December 1948, p 6728|access-date=13 December 2020}} He had a conversion experience whilst flying a plane, and proceeded to ordination.{{Cite web|url=https://www.churchtimes.co.uk/articles/2005/16-september/gazette/the-rt-revd-denis-bryant|title=Church Times, Obituary: Denis Bryant, 16 September 2005|access-date=13 December 2020}}
Church
After training for ordination at Queen’s College, Birmingham, Bryant was ordained in the Diocese of Guildford, as deacon in 1958 and priest in 1959.Crockford's Clerical Directory, 1973-74, 85th edition, p 128. He served curacies at St Thomas-on-the-Bourne, Farnham, (1958-1960) and St Mary the Virgin, Cuddington, Worcester Park (1960-1961).{{Cite web|url=https://www.churchtimes.co.uk/articles/2005/16-september/gazette/the-rt-revd-denis-bryant|title=Church Times, Obituary: Denis Bryant, 16 September 2005|access-date=13 December 2020}}
Having seen an advertisement in the church press for priests to serve in the remote and sparsely-populated Australian Diocese of Kalgoorlie he became Rector of St Andrew's, Esperance (1961-1967). His new parish extended 200 miles north to south, and 65 east to west.{{Cite web|url=https://www.churchtimes.co.uk/articles/2005/16-september/gazette/the-rt-revd-denis-bryant|title=Church Times, Obituary: Denis Bryant, 16 September 2005|access-date=13 December 2020}} During his incumbency, he replaced the galvanised iron church with a new building, which was opened in 1964.{{Cite web|url=https://esperance.perth.anglican.org/about/history.html|title=St Andrew's Esperance: History|access-date=14 December 2020}} In 1966 he was additionally appointed as Archdeacon of the Goldfields.
He was consecrated a bishop on 30 November 1967 at St George's Cathedral, Perth, to become the 4th Bishop of Kalgoorlie.[http://www.anglicanarchives.org.au/HDMS-HTML/SPSES257.htm Consecration details] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130410114708/http://anglicanarchives.org.au/HDMS-HTML/SPSES257.htm |date=10 April 2013 }} With closure of the goldfields, however, he realised that his diocese was no longer viable as a separate entity, and asked the Archbishop of Perth to reabsorb it, which occurred in 1973.{{Church Times | title = Proposed merger of two Australian dioceses | archive = 1972_11_10_024 | issue = 5726 | date = 10 November 1972 | page = 24 | accessed = 29 August 2019 }}{{Cite web|url=https://www.churchtimes.co.uk/articles/2005/16-september/gazette/the-rt-revd-denis-bryant|title=Church Times, Obituary: Denis Bryant, 16 September 2005|access-date=13 December 2020}}{{cite web |title=Anglican Diocese of Kalgoorlie (1914 - 1973) |url=https://www.findandconnect.gov.au/ref/wa/biogs/WE01483b.htm |website=Find & Connect |access-date=8 April 2021}}
After merger, he then served in parish ministry in Perth as Rector of St John the Evangelist, Northam (1973–1975) and St Lawrence's, Dalkeith (1975–1985),{{Cite web|url=https://inherit.stateheritage.wa.gov.au/Public/Inventory/PrintSingleRecord/6f1a0fd8-f061-4172-9f72-d73ddb774efd|title= WA Heritage Council: St Lawrence’s, Dalkeith|access-date=14 December 2020}} as well as being an Assistant Bishop of Perth.{{Church Times | title = obituaries: Denis Bryant | archive = 2005_09_16_028 | issue = 7436 | date = 16 September 2005 | page = 28 | accessed = 29 August 2019 }}{{Church Times | title = deaths: Bryant | archive = 2005_08_12_024 | issue = 7431 | date = 12 August 2005 | page = 24 | accessed = 29 August 2019 }}
Personal life
He was married to Linda, and had a daughter. They both predeceased him. He died in 2005, aged 87.{{Cite web|url=https://www.churchtimes.co.uk/articles/2005/16-september/gazette/the-rt-revd-denis-bryant|title=Church Times, Obituary: Denis Bryant, 16 September 2005|access-date=13 December 2020}}
References
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{{S-rel|ac}}
{{S-bef|before=Cecil Muschamp}}
{{S-ttl|title=Bishop of Kalgoorlie|years=1967– 1972}}
{{S-non|reason=See dissolved}}
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{{Bishops of Kalgoorlie}}
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Bryant, Denis William}}
Category:Alumni of Cardiff University
Category:Royal Air Force officers
Category:Anglican archdeacons in Australia
Category:20th-century Anglican bishops in Australia
Category:Anglican bishops of Kalgoorlie