Kerr was born in
Clare, South Australia in 1859, a son of (William) Isaac Kerr (c. 1829 – 16 June 1859), of some local interest, historically. His mother Roberta Kerr (c. 1834 – 16 March 1861) also died young. An order was raised for the guardianship of his children. He was educated at
Stanley Grammar School in
Watervale He studied at the University of Adelaide, and was awarded his BA in 1883, one of its first graduates, and was ordained in the Church of England in Adelaide, December 1883 and posted to the south-eastern mission. He served as minister of St Paul's church,
Narracoorte, where he opened St Paul's Grammar School as headmaster in April 1884. He suffered a breakdown in his health in November 1884. Following the organisation of the Narracoorte,
Lucindale, and
Frances churches into an incumbency, a clergyman was appointed, who also took charge of the Grammar School and Kerr was made assistant master at the Mount Gambier High School. He was forced by ill-health to return to Adelaide in August 1887. He was appointed a tutor at
Prince Alfred College in 1888, later second master, but resigned in 1891 on account of ill-health, and left for London by the ship
Torrens for a "sea cure". He returned in 1892 as a married man, and resumed his duties at Prince Alfred's. In 1898 he replaced Rev.
W. H. Howard as headmaster of
Pulteney Street School. He resigned in November 1900 due to ill-health, and was replaced by Rev. J. Benbow. It was during his time as headmaster, in 1899, that he succeeded
Canon Pollitt as Inspector of Church Schools in the Diocese of Adelaide. serving to 1914. He conducted
Glenelg Grammar School 1901–1905, when the school was taken over by Rev. W. A. Moore, son of Rev.
W. S. Moore.
As minister His service as an educator alternated with religious duties: he was ordained deacon in 1884 and served as assistant curate at various churches, such as Christ Church,
Strathalbyn, in 1886, then as curate at
Christ Church, North Adelaide, 1896-1898. He served as parish priest in various locations:
Mount Pleasant, in 1899,
St Paul's Church, Adelaide, in 1900, St Agnes' Church,
Grange, from 1906, and Christ Church,
Yankalilla 1907–1910, St Luke's,
Whitmore Square, in 1911 and
Kapunda 1911–1916, visiting England in 1914 for the sake of his health, which was deteriorating. He left Kapunda for a
Locum tenens position in Tasmania, but his health suffered and in 1918 he left for Brisbane, and received a
locum (for Rev. Walter Scott) at St Thomas's Church,
Toowong, where he died a year later, and where his funeral service was conducted by Bishop
Henry Le Fanu. ==Family==