William Bernard Kelly

On 21 March 1898 he was appointed the first Bishop of Geraldton, which had been established on 30 January 1898. At the time it was believed to be the largest Diocese in the world.^[6] He became the first West Australian born priest in the country. He was consecrated at St Francis Xavier's Cathedral, Adelaide on 14 August 1898 by Bishop James Francis Corbett.^[7]

He became a prolific builder of the Diocese, constructing 20 churches and 15 schools during his episcopate.^[8] He also initiated the construction of the St Francis Xavier Cathedral, Geraldton, which he would also open and be buried in.^[9][10]

Kelly died on 26 December 1921 at St John of God Subiaco Hospital after being in poor health for some years. He was buried in St Francis Xavier Cathedral, Geraldton. ^[11]

The exact location of Kelly's final resting place was unknown for almost a century. He had been buried beneath St Francis Xavier Cathedral in Geraldton while it was still under construction and while his final resting place was vaguely described as "behind the throne", no-one recorded where the throne was when it was later removed.^[12] The remains were discovered in July 2017 and confirmed to be Kelly's. He was reburied in the Cathedral following renovations, with his grave now properly marked.^[13]