Faith and Family

Rev John Alfred Sharrock

Rev John Alfred Sharrock, MA (1853-1932), youngest of three sons of Rev James Sharrock. Sedbergh School, Yorkshire. Rustat Scholar at Jesus College, Cambridge (Hon Maths Tripos) 1873-77. Idaiyangudi 1878-79, Ordained Deacon by Bishop Caldwell 1879. Sick leave following malaria 1879-80. Curate, North Ormsby, Yorkshire 1880-81. Principal SPG College, Sawyerpuram 1881-83. Principal Caldwell College, Tuticorin 1883-94 (his wife, Ida née Hay, and baby daughter, Gwendoline, died Tuticorin 1893). Cuddalore 1894. Tiruchirappalli ('Trichy') 1895-1909 (vice Joseph Wyatt): Sick leave 1899-1900 (while acting as curate to the vicar, his brother William, at Driffield, Yorkshire); Combined his post as superintending missionary at Trichy with Principal of the SPG College there (later 'Bishop Heber College') 1907-09. Home leave and retirement after 31 years in India 1909-10. Published: "South India Missions" (SPG) 1910, "Musings of a Missionary" (Roffey & Clarke) 1921. A clever, highly practical man (a mathematician) of great mental and physical energy, and capable of a huge work rate. Described as "a man after Dr Johnson's heart", he had immense courage, was never afraid to speak his mind, but was handicapped by a pugnacious temperament which caused him much trouble.

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