Dictionary of National Biography, 1912 supplement/Bardsley, John Wareing
BARDSLEY, JOHN WAREING (1835–1904), bishop of Carlisle, born at Keighley on 29 March 1835, was eldest son of James Bardsley, hon. canon of Manchester, and Sarah, daughter of John Wareing of Oldham. He had six brothers, all in holy orders. Educated at Burnley and afterwards at Manchester grammar school, he entered Trinity College, Dublin, where he graduated B.A. on 8 March 1859, proceeding M. A. in 1865, and receiving the Lambeth degree of D.D. in 1887. He was ordained deacon in 1859, becoming priest in 1860. Bardsley's sympathies were with the evangelical party, and he shared the views of the Islington Protestant Association, of which he was secretary (1861-4). He served curacies at Sale, Cheshire (1859-60), at St. Luke's, Liverpool (1860-4) and at St. John's, Bootle (186^-71). In 1871 he accepted the perpetual curacy of St. Saviour's, Liverpool, where he acquired the reputation of an industrious organiser and a fluent preacher. On the formation of the new see of Liverpool in 1880, bishop John Charles Ryle [q. v. Suppl. I] appointed Bardsley one of his chaplains and archdeacon of Warrington. In 1886 he was transferred to the arch-deaconry of Liverpool. Although a party man, Bardsley was no bigot. He performed his archidiaconal visitations with tact and vigour ; and in more than one instance he enforced clerical discipline by coercive measures.
In 1887 Bardsley was nominated by Lord Salisbury to the bishopric of Sodor and Man in succession to Dr. Rowley Hill [q. v.] and was consecrated in York Minster on 24 Aug. 1887. His evangelical views were in accordance with the traditions of the Manx church ; and the main feature of his episcopate was the development of the Bishop Wilson Theological College. On the death of Harvey Goodwin [q. v. Suppl. I] Bardsley was translated to the see of Carlisle, and at his enthronement on 22 April 1892 he publicly declared his intention of being the bishop not of a party, but of the whole church. He was helpful and sympathetic to all his clergy, who trusted him implicitly, and by prudent administration he left little scope for extreme propaganda on either side. He was especially active in supporting the Diocesan Society and in organising in his diocese a systematised clergy sustentation fund. He died at Rose Castle, Carlisle, on 14 Sept. 1904, and was buried at Raughton Head.
In 1862 he married Elizabeth, daughter of Rev. Benjamin Powell of Bellingham Lodge, Wigan, and sister of Sir Francis Sharp Powell, first baronet. He left two sons and three daughters.
Although no profound nor exact scholar, Bardsley was a thorough and capable administrator. He travelled much in the East, especially in Palestine.
Besides sermons Bardsley published: 1. 'Counsels to Candidates for Confirmation,' 1882. 2. 'Apostolic Succession,' 1883.
[The Times, 15 and 19 Sept. 1904; Guardian, 21 Sept. 1904; Dublin University Calendar, 1860; Crockford, Clerical Directory, 1902.]