Obituaries Australia

Canon E. J. Withycombe, of Church House, Newcomen street, died in Royal Newcastle Hospital yesterday, aged 72.

Canon Withycombe, made a canon of Christ Church Cathedral, Newcastle, in 1928, graduated from Sydney University in 1899 and became curate of St. Thomas's Church, Essendon, Victoria, in 1905.

He came to New South Wales in 1909 when appointed Rector at Merriwa. After a term in Melbourne, when he was Organising Secretary of the Associated Missionary Service, he returned to Merriwa in 1919. He came to the Northern district in 1922 when he became Rector of St. Paul's, West Maitland.

He was successively Rector of churches at Morpeth and Mayfield. He became Rural Dean of Newcastle in 1939.

The Bishop of Newcastle (Rt. Rev. F. de Witt Batty) said yesterday he felt the loss of Canon Withycombe both "because he had lost a dear friend, and also one who was the best parish priest in the diocese of Newcastle.

"My own friendship with Canon Withycombe dates back to before my coming to Newcastle as Bishop. I got to know him when I took a retreat in 1920. The high opinion I then formed of him has been deepened since I came to Newcastle."

The funeral of Canon Withycombe will be held to day. A service will be held at Christ Church Cathedral at 2 p.m. Bishop Batty will preach the occasional sermon. The Dean of Newcastle (Very Rev.. W. A. Hardie) will conduct the service. The funeral will then proceed to Beresfield Crematorium.