[Source: P.F. Moran A History of the Catholic Church in Australasia, pp. 516-519]

Another writer who had a thorough knowledge of the zeal and devotedness of the departed Bishop writing in Melbourne in June 1858, remarked of him:- "Those alone who were intimately acquainted with him can fully appreciate the saintly virtues of him whose every action breathed an apostolic simplicity, and whose whole being was one living illustration of the beauty of holiness."

The present (January 1893) Archbishop of Adelaide, Most Rev. Dr. Reynolds, has vividly sketched the Bishop's career in a few sentences:- "His episcopate was an arduous one; his congregation was struggling. He had no help from the State, no church, no school, no home. An old cottage that was used as a public-house became his episcopal residence. An old store was hired and fitted up as his Cathedral, and here he commenced his self-denying labours as Bishop of Adelaide. The ignorance of the Doctrines of the Church was so great that when he commenced a course of catechetical instructions, the Press of the colony looked upon him as a reformer whose clear mind was disabused with the errors of Romanism; that his doctrine was so founded on the Bible that they were certain a union would soon be effected between Romanists and the English branch of the Catholic Church. He published several parts of Gothar's Papists Misrepresented and Represented; for this, he was looked upon as a reformer, and such ignorance of our holy religion existed that our most holy and cherished dogmas were looked upon as quite new discoveries.

The exodus consequent on the opening of the gold-fields nearly depopulated South Australia; he was almost without a congregation; he was actually without means of subsistence. It would appear a romance were I to narrate his sufferings for many months, until the late Vicar-General, Father Michael Ryan, followed the flock to the gold-field, and begged from tent to tent for the mission in Adelaide. In this trying period another and wealthy Diocese was offered to him. His reply was characteristic of him: 'No! I refuse not the labour, I will die at my post.'

God accepted his sacrifice. Happier days dawned on his Diocese, but he was broken down by the anguish and toil of that trying period. During a visit in the interest of religion to Tasmania, in the midst of winter, he caught a severe cold which soon developed into rapid consumption. He returned at once to his See, and I will never forget his words to me as I congratulated him on his return: 'Yes, my son, I come home to die. Welcome be the holy will of God.' After a few months of intense suffering he sank to his rest surrounded by his clergy, who almost worshipped him. With his last prayer 'Oh! my sweet Jesus, I cast myself into the arms of Thy mercy; I am heartily sorry for all the times I have offended Thy Divine Majesty,' the pure soul of Francis Murphy, first Bishop of Adelaide, winged its flight to Him who created it. His remains await the resurrection within the sanctuary of the Cathedral of Adelaide.

Only one other tribute to the memory of the first Bishop of Adelaide need be cited. It was written in 1872 by one who had known Dr Murphy well and was fully conversant with the details of Adelaide life in those early times:

"Adelaide was a straggling, unfinished, untidy looking city in those days. The best building on North Terrace was Trinity Church, half its present size. Chalmers Church existed, but without its steeple, and the intervals of vacant acres on all the terraces were large and frequent. There was a windmill near St. Patrick's, which was otherwise surrounded by very small and poor buildings. The park lands were not enclosed, the streets were not made, and were full of holes. I remember the story of Bishop Murphy and Dr. Backhaus coming from Government House, then tenanted by Sir Henry Young, and being lost in Wakefield-street. They were both very near-sighted, and the weather being stormy, with a great deal of mud upon the ground, they had to coo-ee for assistance ere they could get back to West Terrace. If the reader could see the holes in some of the streets he would not wonder at this.

"Dr. Backhaus was our great musician in those days. He had been in India, but came down to assist Dr. Murphy, as his health was delicate. I cannot say how long he remained with us, but as a priest he was very much liked. He is now the Dean of Sandhurst. Dr. Murphy, the first Bishop of Adelaide, came to this Diocese in 1844. He was always distinguished as a most eloquent preacher. It would be difficult to say how dear he was to the hearts of the people in Sydney. He was literally idolised.

"There are still a good number of people in Adelaide and Sydney who remember Dr. Murphy, but, I suppose, the majority of Catholics do not. Of his face and appearance I need not say much, because very faithful portraits are to be found throughout the colonies. He was a very fine man, about six feet high, of florid complexion, and a light auburn hair. He was well built, lithe and exceedingly quick in all his movements. His voice was full and pleasing, with scarcely any provincial accent. He was hasty in his manner, and somewhat quick in temper, but a more kind and gentle man could not be found. His genial and pleasing affability made him a favorite with all, while his courteous and gentlemanly demeanor made his company much sought after. Yet he did not go out much. He was too thoroughly a priest devoted to his duties to be much of a visitor. He was extremely simple in his manners and ideas, but especially in his habits. He was always a teetotaller until the last few years of his life. He was frugal in his household, yet not so as in any way to injure the most generous hospitality. His life was passed in activity, but when at home he was extremely retired. After dinner, when the weather was fine, he would ride out, for he was a good horseman, and in the evening he would sit and play the piano for an hour; but except at these times, he was never to be seen, and kept in his room until the morning.

In 1845 he went home, and was away for his Diocese for nearly two years, but a great part of this time was taken up in the voyage. He went straight to Rome, and saw Gregory XVI, who presented him with a chalice. He shed tears of devotion in speaking to the Holy Father, and told him in his simple way, with great glee, that he was the first Bishop consecrated at so a great a distance from the Holy See as Australia. His return was a great subject of rejoicing for his children, for is difficult to describe how much he was beloved. Perhaps this was because he so thoroughly gave himself to his Diocese. He was riding incessantly. When he went to the south-eastern district he went overland, and used to camp out in the desert, just like the hardiest bushman. More than once he slept on the ground at McGrath's flat, with his saddle under his head for a pillow. On Sundays he usually said or sang the last Mass, and preached also until 1853, when Father Smyth became the young curate of Adelaide. He had a good voice and used to intone the invitatory always before Mass. Then he would preach, and certainly a better preacher has never been heard in Australia. His voice, his commanding figure, his language, and his simple earnestness were of rare excellence.

There was no chancel then in St. Patrick's, and the communion rail went right across the church. The doors were at each side of the altar leading to two sacristies, one of which was the confessional of the Bishop, and the other his assistant's, whoever he might be. Confessions were heard every Saturday from 4 until 9 o'clock, and this was amply sufficient to hear all. Dr. Murphy sat every Saturday evening when not in visitation. We had no vespers then, but evening prayers and a meditation read from a book in the afternoon, with benediction. When Father Smyth became the curate he introduced preaching in the evening. The Bishop was not only liked by his own people, but he was very popular among the Protestants. This was in some measure owing to his unfailing charity. He used to go every week or so to the gaol, and once or twice a week used to visit every ward in the hospital, which then was a little brick building on the site of the present lunatic asylum. He used to attend to the sick calls himself in many cases, and was a most faithful friend of the poor. I think he knew every one of his parishioners, even by name, in Adelaide, and was always paying them timely visits. He it was that first threw up the State-aid to religion. In 1847 he was called to account for not having built a church in Willunga upon the ground granted for that purpose by the Government. He replied through his Vicar-General, and was very curtly informed that the Government did not acknowledge such an official. This led to a correspondence, and finally a public meeting of the Catholics called by Dr. Murphy in St. Patrick's Church. In this he announced to them his intention of renouncing the Government grant rather than submit to the dictation and humiliations which he expected to endure in return for such slender aid as the Government afforded him. State-aid was abolished soon after this. He made a most holy death after a painful illness of more then twelve months. Few will forget his funeral, at which, in spite of torrents of rain, all Adelaide seemed to turn out to do his remains honour. He died on April 28, 1858, and is buried in the Cathedral - the only person ever publicly buried in the city of Adelaide."