John Clark Collection
James Green (1821-1906) He was the Anglican dean of Pietermaritzburg. Invited to South Africa by Bishop Robert Gray, he arrived at Port Natal in February 1849 as a colonial chaplain. Although he quarreled with Bishop Colenso, Green stayed on and became the first dean of the new cathedral St Peter's. In 1858 he accused Colenso of heresy. In 1863 Colenso was tried in the church court for heresy but by a Privy Councilverdict in 1865. Gray was found not to have the power to depose Colenso. So a split took place by which the Church of the Province adhered to Dean Green. The church property went to Colenso and Green had to leave his home and the church. With the appointment of Bishop Macrorie in 1869 as Bishop of Maritzburg, Green became dean of the new church St Saviour's built-in 1876. The schism was not resolved until the end of the century.