The Right Reverend Charles Richard Alford
柯爾福會督
(1816–1898)
The Second Bishop of Victoria and warden of St. Paul’s College
維多利亞敎區第二任會督及聖保羅書院監院
Charles Alford was the second Bishop of Victoria (1867–72) and warden of St. Paul’s College ex officio.
Alford’s tenure was characterised by the bishopric’s growing pains. Like Bishop Smith, Alford sailed across China and Japan, fulfilling duties for the episcopal see. However, unlike Smith’s time, the mission’s scope was expanding. The Church of England was mired in debates on what role an overseas bishop should take; this was compounded by proposals to partition the diocese. These disagreements played a significant part in Alford’s resignation, only five years after his consecration.
St. Paul’s College, too, was going through growing pains as funding from the British and Hong Kong governments dried up. This was worsened by the panic of 1866, resulting in the College losing its savings and closing temporarily in 1867. From 1868, Alford kept the College afloat partly with his private purse, yet this was not enough to avoid its temporary closure from 1870 onwards.
After resigning, Alford continued his parish duties across England until his death.