MULES, CHARLES OLIVER (1837-1927) was the eldest son of the Rev. S. H. Mules, and was born at Ilminster, Somerset. Educated at the Grammar School and Cheltenham College, he proceeded to Trinity College, Cambridge, where he graduated senior optime in 1860. He was assistant to the Rev. W. Tuckwell at Oxford and was for three years mathematical master at New College School, Oxford. He was admitted M.A. there after taking out his degree at Cambridge. Relinquishing his post to take holy orders, Mules was ordained deacon (1864) and priest (1865). His first curacy was at Whorlton, and in 1865 he became curate to the Rev. J. C. Ryle, afterwards Bishop of Liverpool. Ill-health called for a change of climate and Mules joined the party of clergy to accompany Bishop Suter to New Zealand in the Cissy. After a few weeks at Spring Grove, he was appointed vicar of Brightwater (1868). In 1880 he was collated to the archdeaconry of Waimea and on 24 Feb 1892 he was consecrated Bishop of Nelson. It was a difficult time in the history of the diocese. The various trusts and other funds, never adequate, suffered from the fall in the rate of interest, and in addition to this the subdivision of large estates in the south-eastern portion of the diocese by the Seddon Government threw upon the Church new demands for expansion which could not be ignored. In due time he revived the archdeaconries of Waimea (1896) and Mawhera (1908).

During Mules's episcopate 23 new churches were erected. He was most businesslike in his methods and precise in his documents. In 1903 he established the Nelson diocesan trust board, which in time took over all the local trusts. With the Rev. J. R. Dart, he attended the Pan-Anglican Congress in 1908; and three years later Nelson played an important part in the general mission. The following year Mules intimated his desire to retire. Having had to rely for some years on private means to supplement his stipend, he set about the establishment of an endowment for this purpose. He actually retired on 20 Jun 1912, and lived quietly in Nelson until his death (9 Oct 1927). Bishop Mules married (1870) Laura (d. 1927), daughter of Captain Blundell. He was many years president of the Suter Art Gallery, the Harmonic Society, the New Zealand Church Society and St Andrew's orphanage.

Jacobs; Cycl. N.Z., v; Nelson Diocesan Gazette, Oct 1923; Nelson Evening Mail, 10 Oct 1927 (p).

Reference: Volume 2, page 57

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