A.W. Brough
A.W. Brough (Anthony Watson Brough) (1861-1936) from the London Missionary Society in England, worked as a missionary and teacher in Erode, Tamil Nādu, India.
Birth, Education
Anthony Watson Brough was born in the year 1861 in the town of Leytonstone, Essex, Australia to parents Anthony Brough, and Emma La.
Personal Life
A.W. Brough married Rosetta Jane Jolly from Sydney, Australia. They had three children, Emma Mary Brough, Charles Anthony Brough and Herbert Anthony Brough (Herbert died in France during the First World War). He later married Jessie Winifred Inglis in the year 1935, after the death of Rosetta.
Public Life
After coming to India in the year 1894, he worked as a Missionary and coordinator for the London Mission Society, first in Coimbatore (1894 – 1897) and later in Erode (1897 – 1933). Along with Missionary H.A. Popley, he opened 94 schools in Erode district. He was also the President of Erode City Council for the year 1904.
During the Plague pandemic in 1909, he brought Ms. Rees Myfanwy Dyfed, a Doctor from Vellore to Erode to provide medical services to the needful. Ms. Hilda Polart further continued these medical services which eventually became Gosh C.S.I Hospital in Brough Road. The foundation stone for the hospital was laid by Mr. Hemmingway, District Collector. The hospital became operational in the year 1917. A Maternity Specialty was established by W.T. M Clewes in the year 1923, and in 1933 a Nurses training institution was established. The hospital got electricity in the year 1937.
Between 1927 and 1933, he constructed a church that is now known as The Brough Church. While the construction was underway, Brough’s wife Rosetta met tragically fell from the under construction building and passed away. She was buried in the C.S.I Brough cemetery and her remains are preserved till date. After completion, the pulpit of the church was built with her name “Rosetta Jane Jolly” embossed in it. Brough also established a hospital in the town of Chennimalai in memory of his son Herbert who died during the First World War.
Brough was an avid art enthusiast and he collected numerous artifacts. 33 rare art pieces from his collection were donated to the Indian government in the year 2000 and was brought back to India. They are currently placed in the Egmore Museum, Chennai. Brough retired from public service in 1934, as W.T. M Clewes took up Brough’s responsibilities.
Death
A.W. Brough died in the year 1936 in Norton, Somerset, England. He was buried in the Canford Cemetery in Canford, Westbury, England.
Links
https://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/tp-tamilnadu/Erode-museum-to-host-exhibition-on-A.W.-Brough/article16478510.ece https://sites.google.com/view/brough-family-organization/india https://www.worshipmeta.com/IN/Perundurai/269715239898869/Csi-Good-Samartian-Church-Pungambadi
