Walter Carey

The Rt Revd Walter Julius Carey (12 July 1875 – 17 February 1955) was an English rugby union forward, Anglican chaplain, theological author and Bishop of Bloemfontein. Carey played club rugby for Oxford University and Blackheath and played international rugby for the British Isles XV in their 1896 tour of South Africa. He saw service as a Military Chaplain in the First World War and was the Bishop of Bloemfontein, 1921–1935.

Carey was born in Billesdon, Leicestershire in 1875 to Alfred Henry, who was an Oxford educated priest, and was educated at Bedford School before gaining entry to Hertford College, Oxford in 1894 He received his BA in 1896 and by 1899 he was the curate at the Church of the Ascension in Lavender Hill, London, a post he held until 1908. In 1908 Casey became the Librarian for Pusey House, a college of Oxford; and remained there until 1914.

During the War, Carey served as a Chaplain to the Royal Navy and was present at the Battle of Jutland, on board the battleship HMS Warspite. Carey married during wartime, to Fanny Emma Parfitt in 1917. They had one child, Wilfred Herbert.

After the end of the war he was granted the post of Warden of the Bishop's Hostel, Lincoln Theological College, remaining at the college only until 1921. He then emigrated to South Africa, becoming the Bishop of Bloemfontein, remaining there until 1934, returning to Britain due to ill-health. Back in England, Carey accepted the post of Chief Messenger of Society for the Propagation of the Gospel, but resigned from the role the next year. In 1936 he was appointed Chaplain of Eastbourne College holding the office until 1940 and again after the war from 1945–48.

Carey was a keen sportsman, and while at Cambridge as a student, he was captain of the College Boat and won four sporting 'Blues' in The Varsity Match between 1894–1897. In 1894 Carey was selected to represent invitational touring rugby team, the Barbarians, and became forever linked to the team when he instituted the club motto:

Although Carey never played international rugby for England, he was selected in 1896 to represent the British Isles in their tour of South Africa, after being nominated by his university along with Cuth Mullins. Carey played in all four Tests against the South Africans, and scored a try in the opening Test at Port Elizabeth.

Carey wrote several theological works, often in relation to his experiences abroad. Although many of his writings were entries within large collected journals, he penned two main works, Good-bye to my Generation, an autobiography, published London & Oxford: A. R. Mowbray, 1951, and Crisis in Kenya: Christian common sense on Mau Mau and the colour bar, published in 1953.