He was born in Hull in October 1770 and after Cambridge and ordination he became Vicar of Holy Trinity in Hull in 1797. As early as 1792 he was involved in the cultural life of Hull, as a founder member of an early Hull literary society, a "Society for the purpose of Literary Information", which had its first meeting on 19 June 1792. Other founder members included Dr. Alderson. In 1806 he married Jane Amis in London. One of their sons, Charles, became Bishop of Tasmania. Bromby gave lectures to the newly-formed Mechanics' Institute; three of them were published in a pamphlet in 1833, on “Time and its Uses” and “The Terraqueous Globe”. They were more moral than scientific. Bromby's career in the Church seems to have been limited by his politics, and one of his sermons provoked the displeasure of the Archbishop of York for its liberal views. According to his obituary: "In politics he was an advanced Reformer, at a time when the Liberal cause was an unpopular one, and during the first thirty years of the present century he was rarely absent from any meeting held to discuss public affairs, and usually spoke with vigour on behalf of his cause.” As well as his published sermons he also wrote an English translation of Plutarch's Treatise on Music, which was not published until after his death.
The portrait of Bromby (above) was painted by Hull artist Thomas Brooks in 1843. The Hull Packet of 15 September described the likeness as "absolutely startling". A limited number of engravings were made from it, one of which is in the National Portrait Gallery's collection. The painting was bought by the Charterhouse in the 1980s and now hangs in the Master's house.
In 1849 Bromby's parishioners at Holy Trinity presented him with this silver inkstand (recently gifted to the Charterhouse) to commemorate his 50 years of incumbency. It can just be seen in the portrait of him, on the right. It has an inscription which notes their "unfeigned esteem" for him and that "a purse of 300 guineas" accompanied it. It reads very much like a retirement present. But Bromby had no intention of retiring; he stayed on as Vicar of Holy Trinity until 1867.
Perhaps it was the politics which were the problem when the Mastership of the Charterhouse became vacant in 1847. Days after the death of Thomas Dikes an anonymous letter was circulated to the Council advocating Bromby for the job. In his favour was supposedly the fact that he was “venerable” i.e. elderly, and deserved a less onerous job. He had also, the letter said, suffered financially because of his politics, which were now back in vogue. Perhaps the problem was Bromby's age - he was 78. A month later the Council had two candidates to consider; Bromby, and George Moore Carrick. They chose Carrick.
Carrick died two years later. Bromby was quick to offer himself for the job. Even before Carrick was buried he wrote to the Mayor saying that he would be honoured to be appointed (and that his financial position was not as bad as had been said two years earlier). The Mayor, Thomas Palmer, passed the letter to the Hull Packet newspaper with a covering note to the effect that Bromby was announcing his candidacy. The editor was not enthusiastic about the prospect, saying, in effect, that Bromby was too old for a job which involved “active duties”. Bromby was not the only man to throw his hat in the ring with such speed. Six others declared themselves candidates, including John Scott, Vicar of St. Mary's, Hull. There was a remarkable amount of public interest in the contest, for reasons which seem to have been political. The Council meeting at which the election was to take place had a full attendance, and the public gallery was crowded. The voting was by a system common at the time; after each round the person with the fewest votes was eliminated, until finally Bromby beat Scott by 4 votes. Bromby was 80 at the time.
Although he already held three livings, Bromby seems to have taken his role as Master seriously. When inmates were fined for damaging water closets, the Master personally cancelled the order. He produced a set of rules for the inmates, copies of which survive. They seem rather tyrannical today, but were reasonable enough at the time.
In May 1866 Bromby wrote to the Advisers pointing out that there were currently 70 rooms in the Charterhouse, with the inmates receiving 6s. a week, coal, turves, water and medical assistance, and there was not enough
revenue to pay these allowances to an increased number of inmates. He proposed that part of the land at Hessle be developed as “villa residences”, leased out at £20 per acre per annum. To the annoyance of the advisors, who felt he was overstepping his authority, Bromby already had the plans drawn and lessees signed up. One of the leases was to go to Mr. Francis Reckitt, “biscuit manufacturer”, another next door to Mr. James Reckitt, “starch and biscuit manufacturer”. The increased income paid for 12 new rooms to be built.
John Healey Bromby's longevity created some startling records. On 28 November 1862 the bells of Holy Trinity Church “rang a merry peal” because he had “completed the 65th year of his office as Vicar of Holy Trinity parish.” Two years later the paper reported another “merry peal” as the “Venerable Vicar” embarked on his 68th year in the job. However, he resigned as Vicar in 1867 and bowed out of public affairs - but remained Master of the Charterhouse, becoming in 1868 the oldest clergyman in the Church of England. He died of bronchitis on 25 March 1868. His obituary says, “All who had the pleasure of his acquaintance to the end of his life will acknowledge that the cheerfulness and affability which were ever salient points in his character never deserted him.” He was buried in North Ferriby, after a funeral procession which started at the Charterhouse. The newspaper reported that although no special announcement was made, “the inhabitants [spontaneously] left their places of business at the busiest time of the day, and lined the route of the cortege.”
Perhaps it was the politics which were the problem when the Mastership of the Charterhouse became vacant in 1847. Days after the death of Thomas Dikes an anonymous letter was circulated to the Council advocating Bromby for the job. In his favour was supposedly the fact that he was “venerable” i.e. elderly, and deserved a less onerous job. He had also, the letter said, suffered financially because of his politics, which were now back in vogue. Perhaps the problem was Bromby's age - he was 78. A month later the Council had two candidates to consider; Bromby, and George Moore Carrick. They chose Carrick.
Carrick died two years later. Bromby was quick to offer himself for the job. Even before Carrick was buried he wrote to the Mayor saying that he would be honoured to be appointed (and that his financial position was not as bad as had been said two years earlier). The Mayor, Thomas Palmer, passed the letter to the Hull Packet newspaper with a covering note to the effect that Bromby was announcing his candidacy. The editor was not enthusiastic about the prospect, saying, in effect, that Bromby was too old for a job which involved “active duties”. Bromby was not the only man to throw his hat in the ring with such speed. Six others declared themselves candidates, including John Scott, Vicar of St. Mary's, Hull. There was a remarkable amount of public interest in the contest, for reasons which seem to have been political. The Council meeting at which the election was to take place had a full attendance, and the public gallery was crowded. The voting was by a system common at the time; after each round the person with the fewest votes was eliminated, until finally Bromby beat Scott by 4 votes. Bromby was 80 at the time.
Although he already held three livings, Bromby seems to have taken his role as Master seriously. When inmates were fined for damaging water closets, the Master personally cancelled the order. He produced a set of rules for the inmates, copies of which survive. They seem rather tyrannical today, but were reasonable enough at the time.
In May 1866 Bromby wrote to the Advisers pointing out that there were currently 70 rooms in the Charterhouse, with the inmates receiving 6s. a week, coal, turves, water and medical assistance, and there was not enough
revenue to pay these allowances to an increased number of inmates. He proposed that part of the land at Hessle be developed as “villa residences”, leased out at £20 per acre per annum. To the annoyance of the advisors, who felt he was overstepping his authority, Bromby already had the plans drawn and lessees signed up. One of the leases was to go to Mr. Francis Reckitt, “biscuit manufacturer”, another next door to Mr. James Reckitt, “starch and biscuit manufacturer”. The increased income paid for 12 new rooms to be built.
John Healey Bromby's longevity created some startling records. On 28 November 1862 the bells of Holy Trinity Church “rang a merry peal” because he had “completed the 65th year of his office as Vicar of Holy Trinity parish.” Two years later the paper reported another “merry peal” as the “Venerable Vicar” embarked on his 68th year in the job. However, he resigned as Vicar in 1867 and bowed out of public affairs - but remained Master of the Charterhouse, becoming in 1868 the oldest clergyman in the Church of England. He died of bronchitis on 25 March 1868. His obituary says, “All who had the pleasure of his acquaintance to the end of his life will acknowledge that the cheerfulness and affability which were ever salient points in his character never deserted him.” He was buried in North Ferriby, after a funeral procession which started at the Charterhouse. The newspaper reported that although no special announcement was made, “the inhabitants [spontaneously] left their places of business at the busiest time of the day, and lined the route of the cortege.”
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