He was the subject of controversy for introducing Catholic rites and observances into the Church of St George the Martyr, Goodwood, where he officiated for 40 years.
[3] In 1895 he accepted the offer of a curacy at Christ Church, North Adelaide, married Carrie Lyon, sister of his friend the architect, and boarded a ship bound for South Australia.
[7] He spent three months working with a Corpus Christi College charity in South London and the remainder in Asia and North America essentially as a tourist.
[13] A year later he left Adelaide for ten months' holiday in Britain and the "Holy Land"; an elaborate farewell, rivalling that of accorded to church dignitaries on their retirement (including the traditional "purse of sovereigns") was given him by Bishop Harmer and a large assembly.
On 1 June 1907 the foundation stone was laid for a new rectory, designed by Lyon in the style of an old English cottage (after Voysey ?
Bishop Harmer, Canon Poole and archdeacons Hornabrook and Bussell have also been named as sympathetic to what is often referred to as "High Church" or "Ritualism".
[31] Wise resigned his charge due to ill-health on 1 April 1940,[32] to take effect on 7 October[33] having served as rector of St George's for 40 years.
His remains were cremated and sent to England, where they were interred with those of his wife in the churchyard in Ilsington,[1] Frequently misunderstood, the Canon had zealously continued his beneficent work despite prejudice and opposition.
Apart from profound spiritual attainments, their eyes were met on every hand with evidence of work well done:— A beautiful church with rare and appropriate embellishments.
a lovely garden and rectory, the finest Soldiers' Memorial in the State, the only church free-school in South Australia — all entirely free of debt.
They contributed £3,000 (many millions of dollars in today's currency) towards St George's building fund,[10] and generous sums towards other of Wise's endeavours.
While on a visit to Italy they purchased as a gift to St George's Church, a 500-year old bell which had originally hung in a convent in Perugia.
The bell was inscribed with the Catholic rendition of Luke i 28: Ave Maria gratia plena Dominus tecum (Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with you)[36] Priscilla Bickford also donated generously to the day school fund.
A series of fourteen relief images cast in Roman cement, depicting the Stations of the Cross, was dedicated to her memory.
[38] Wilfred George Scholefield (1886–1969) was one of several acolytes training for the priesthood under Wise whose entry to St Barnabas' College were refused by Bishop Thomas, effectively blocking their careers.
Scholefield was able, by studying at St Chad's Theological College, Lichfield, England, to qualify for the priesthood, and was ordained deacon in 1914.
In another barely restrained newspaper joust, Wise protested, while admitting it was within the bishop's prerogative, providing it was not part of a personal vendetta.
[40] Scholefield then left for Tasmania where he tried to form a religious "Order of the Holy Family",[41] later became priest in charge of St Paul's Church, Risdon Park, Port Pirie.
A stained glass window in the Church of the Epiphany, Crafers, depicting angels of the Ascension and Resurrection, was dedicated to her memory.