James Ranelagh Ponsonby Parsons (c. 1839 – 9 August 1905) was a South Australian educator.
He was an active churchman and for many years a lay reader, conducting services at St Jude's, Brighton when it was without a permanent minister.
His brother, Samuel Parsons, was incumbent of All Saints' and Canon of St David's, Hobart.
[3] Parsons married Sarah Cole Wells (died 1 October 1913).
Their children include Parsons died at the age of 66 years at his residence in Glenelg, after a long illness, leaving a widow and a grown-up family.