Isabelle Elizabeth Merry was born in Scarsdale or Coburg, Victoria, on 20 or 22 February 1907.

[1][2] Her parents were Elizabeth (née Wrigley) and engineer Charles William Merry.

[4] Feeling called to the ministry, she made the decision to leave her job and pursue ordination.

[3] Merry earned a BA at the University of Melbourne while completing her studies in theology at Congregational College.

[5] Because she was a woman, Merry was not eligible to receive the bursary which was given to male students to support them while they studied.

[7][8] Merry was the first woman of any denomination to be ordained to Christian ministry in the state of Victoria.

[9] During the war years and afterwards, there was increased demand for qualified social workers in Australia, particularly in hospitals.

[10] In 1945, Merry left her pastorate, and returned to the University of Melbourne to study social work.

She went as a delegate for the Congregational Union of Australia, becoming the first woman to represent an Australian denomination at a WCC assembly.

[11] Merry was appointed as a full-time chaplain, and she was paid by the hospital, an arrangement that was ground-breaking at the time.

At the time of her appointment, chaplaincy in Australian hospitals was conducted by visiting clergy from local churches.