Maxwell Homfray MAXWELL-GUMBLETON

He was ordained a minister in the Church of England, 20 Dec 1896, by the Bishop of Gloucester and Bristol.

On 21 Apr 1897 he married Ella Maria GILLUM, the daughter of the Revd. Sidney George GILLUM and Julia Augusta nee Edersheim. They were married in Pucklechurch, Gloucestershire, where Sidney Gillum was the vicar.

On 16 Aug 1898, he was made Vicar of the parish of Colerne, Wiltshire.

On 23 Jan 1905 he was made vicar of Chippenham, Wiltshire, and on 30 Jun 1908 he was additionally made Rector of the parish of Hardenhuish, with the permission of the Archbishop of Canterbury. On 29 Dec 1910 he was made an Honorary Canon of Bristol.

On 23 Jun 1916 he changed his name by Deed Poll from Smith to Maxwell-Gumbleton.

In 1916, as a Bishop designate (of Ballarat), he was awarded the degree of Doctor of Divinity honoris causa (ie an honorary degree) by Cambridge University.

He was consecrated as Bishop- of Ballarat, Victoria, Australia on 1 Jan 1917 and remained in that post until 1927. Whilst in Australia, he gave power of attorney for his financial affairs to his solicitors, Christopher and North. The solicitors also undertook to disentail his inheritance under the will of Richard John Maxwell Gumbleton.

Lord Bishop Suffragan of Dunwich from 1934, Assist. Bishop Diocese of St. Edmundsbury and Ipswich 1931-34, Bishop of Ballarat 1917-27, Archdeacon of Sudbury 1932, Hon Canon of Bristol 1910-16, Vicar of Chippenham 1904-16.He assumed by royal licence, 1916, the name and arms of Maxwell-Gumbleton, and succeeded his great aunt, Mrs. Isabella Matilda Gumbleton 1917 He married, 21 April 1897, Ella Maria, JP co. Gloucs. dau. of late Rev. Sidney George Gillum, MA, of Vernham Dean, Exmouth, Devon.