Thomas Armstrong, Anglican Bishop of Wangaratta, was a conservative man with imperialist sympathies.
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In Alexandra within his Diocese, the minister was a strident Laborite.
Edwin Scott arrived in Alexandra in July 1901.
Within a short time, he had become immensely popular with his congregation.
His views, widely publicised in inflammatory sermons, grated on Armstrong.
Armstrong’s first move was to demand more money from Scott’s congregation.
Scott grumbled but complied.
When gossip about Scott reached the Bishop, Armstrong saw his chance.
The next Sunday, he arrived unannounced in Alexandra to inspect Scott’s parish.
No-one had any complaint against Scott.
Armstrong announced that he would take reports in private.
We do not know what reports were received.
However, in February 1908, Armstrong dismissed Scott.
No misconduct was alleged.
The Bishop used his unlimited powers of dismissal under the Wangaratta Synod Act of 1907.
Edwin Scott refused to go.
He continued services in the church.
He continued to live in the vicarage.
After threatening eviction for several weeks, the Bishop sent Archdeacon Potter and Reverend Law to Alexandra.
Scott closed the church doors on them.
The two were reluctant to use force.
Instead, they conducted a competing service in the shire hall.
Each service was aimed at the other.
Those in the shire hall heard a sermon by Law, on the text ‘‘Lord, to whom shall we go?’’
Those in the church sang the hymn Hold the Fort for I am coming.
The newspapers, even illustrated magazines, poked fun at all parties.
After a month, the Bishop tried persuasion.
Neither resolutions by nearby congregations nor visits by interstate ministers moved Scott.
His sermons grew more pointed.
By then, most of his congregation had migrated to the shire hall.
His former parishioners claimed they were incurring expense in hiring the hall; Scott retorted that he was owed $20.
His former parishioners arranged a concert to pay the debt.
A week later, his congregation fell to one adult.
Between March and August 1908, Scott visited Melbourne.
When he returned, the church had fallen to the Bishop’s men.
Scott began court action.
The resulting publicity was so damaging to the Bishop that Armstrong gave orders not to disturb Scott who remained in the vicarage.
In February 1909, Armstrong lost patience.
He ordered Peck and Reverend Lamble and six carpenters to demolish the vicarage.
They had removed the roof when Scott arrived back in Alexandra with an injunction ordering demolition to cease.
Scott lived in a shed he built on the site.
He acquired two savage dogs and frightened away the bailiff who attempted repossession in his absences.
His case was futile.
The final court order was that Scott lost all rights, when he next left the vicarage.
In March 1909, he left.
The Bishop’s men demolished everything, thus destroying the second-oldest building in Alexandra.
Scott remained in Alexandra, a burr to Bishop Armstrong until 1924.
Scott died in June 1934.
Armstrong predeceased him, dying in March 1930.
— John Barry, Coo-ee