Aubrey Spencer

Aubrey George Spencer (8 February 1795 – 24 February 1872) was the first bishop of the Anglican Diocese of Newfoundland and Bermuda (1839–1843). He was also bishop of Jamaica. His brother George Spencer became Bishop of Madras. He is from the Spencer family. Life Aubrey George Spencer was born in London, England on 8 February 1795. He was the son of William Spencer (1769–1834), younger son of Lord Charles Spencer, and a great-grandson of Charles Spencer, 3rd Duke of Marlborough; his German mother Susan being a Countess of the Holy Roman Empire. Among his cousins were the Bavarian diplomat, Count Franz Oliver von Jenison-Walworth (son of his uncle, Count Franz von Jenison-Walworth).. Spencer was educated at St Albans School, and privately in Greenwich prior to joining the navy. His health failed him and he was discharged and decided to become a priest. Spencer went to study at Magdalen Hall, Oxford and was made deacon in 1818. He was ordained a priest in 1819 by the Bishop of Norwich. Spencer's first assignment was officiating as a curate at Prittlewell, Essex, before becoming a Society for the Propagation of the Gospel missionary to Newfoundland. There he served at Ferryland and Trinity Bay before the cold undermined his health and he moved to Bermuda. Having been appointed Archdeacon and Rector of Paget and Warwick, he published a collection of his sermons, acquired a Lambeth D.D. and turned down in 1829 the offer of the Archdeaconry of Newfoundland. In 1839, he readily accepted when, perhaps helped by his aristocratic and Whig connections, he was offered the bishopric of Newfoundland. He was consecrated Bishop of Newfoundland and Bermuda, alongside John Strachan, who was the first Bishop of Toronto. Their consecration took place at the chapel in Lambeth Palace of 4 August 1839. William Howley, being archbishop of Canterbury, with Bishops Charles James Blomfield of London, William Otter of Chichester, and John Inglis of Nova Scotia participated in Spencer's consecration.