GRIMES, JOHN JOSEPH (1842-1915) was born at Bromley by Bow, Kent, and educated at the Marist Brothers' school which was established at St Anne's, Spitalfields Road, in 1855. It was the influence of this institution that induced him to enter the Church. For this purpose he studied at Bar-le-Duc, France, and in Ireland (for theology).

In 1867 Grimes was professed in the Society of Mary. Ordained at the age of 23 in the University Church in Dublin, Grimes was appointed professor of literature and classics in St Mary's College, Dundalk. In 1874 he left for New Orleans to take up a similar post, and he spent seven years at Jefferson College, of which he became rector. Having recovered from a severe attack of yellow fever incurred in parish ministration, he returned to Ireland and was asked to take charge of the missionary training college at Paignton, Devon. The church of the Marist foundation, on St Mary's Hill, was the first Roman Catholic place of worship opened in this part of the west country since the Reformation.

In 1887 Grimes was designated bishop of the newly created diocese of Christchurch, which had been separated from the large diocese of Wellington. He was consecrated to the post at St Anne's Church, London, and was the first bishop to be consecrated by Cardinal Vaughan. Sir Charles Clifford and Martin Kennedy were amongst those present. Sailing in Dec 1887, Grimes reached his diocese early in 1888. He at once formed a new church (St Mary's, Manchester Street) independent of the Cathedral and entered upon a long programme of consolidation and expansion of the church's institutions. Opening a convent of the Good Shepherd at Mount Magdala, he introduced the Sisters of Nazareth to Christchurch and soon afterwards the Sisters of Mercy, who were mainly interested in education. His diocese included the Chatham Islands, portion of Nelson and the whole of Westland as far south as Jacksons Bay, which he visited with considerable peril in the Jane Douglas (1901). While in search of health in Europe in 1890, Grimes was present at the beatification of the first Marist Martyr of Oceania (Peter Chanel). Having conceived in 1897 the intention of building a cathedral, he received great encouragement from the Pope, and carried the project through. The edifice was dedicated on 12 Feb 1905. Grimes re-established the Society of St Vincent de Paul, and established the Sacred Heart Association, the Mount Magdala Home and St Bede's College. He brought to Christchurch a community of nursing sisters of the Little Company of Mary, who were responsible for the creation of the Lewisham Hospital. A firm believer in confraternities, he established the Apostleship of Prayer and the Arch-Confraternity of the Blessed Sacrament. On the occasion of his silver jubilee in 1912 he was enumerated amongst the domestic prelates of the Pope, proclaimed a noble, and joined with the number of those of whom both parents are of the order of count. He was made a knight commander of the Holy Sepulchre. He was a pleasant and vigorous preacher and a graceful writer. In secular life he was a governor of Canterbury College, a member of the Philosophical Institute and a vice-president of the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals. Grimes died on 15 Mar 1915.

Cycl. N.Z., iii (p); Lyttelton Times, The Press, 16 Mar 1915; N.Z. Tablet, 18 Mar 1915 (p).

Reference: Volume 1, page 183

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