COUGHLAN, WILLIAM GEORGE (1902-1979), Anglican clergyman and social reformer, was born on 27 December 1902 at Armidale, New South Wales, son of native-born parents Benjamin Singleton Coughlan, draper, and his wife Minnie Maria, née Chapman. George was educated at Sydney Boys' High School and the University of Sydney (B.A., 1923) where he graduated with first-class honours in German. Although he intended to study law, he turned to the ministry while teaching at Trinity Grammar School, Summer Hill.

In 1926 Coughlan was made deacon and appointed curate at Dulwich Hill; next year he took first-class honours in the licentiate of theology and was ordained priest on 16 December. At St Matthew's Anglican Church, Bondi, on 11 February 1928 he married Norma Olive Bishop; they were to remain childless. In 1928-32 he ministered in turn at Bondi, Manly and Marrickville, and in 1934-43 at Holy Trinity, South Kensington (Kingsford from ...

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Source:

Australian Dictionary of Biography