Robert Alexander Crookston Laidlaw

Robert Laidlaw (CBE) founded the Farmers Trading Company, one of the largest department store chains in New Zealand. He was also a noted preacher, writer, and philanthropist. 8 September 1885

Hannah Alexandra Dawson (Mother Hannah)

Hannah Dawson was born in Dunedin to English immigrants from Buckinghamshire. The eighth of 12 children, four of her siblings died during a measles epidemic in 1874. In 1896 she helped found the Anglican Mission to the Streets and Lanes in Greys Avenue, Auckland.

Thomas Brutton Kenderdine

Thomas Kenderdine arrived in Auckland in 1855 having completed his medical training in England. For many years he was in charge of the free Auckland Dispensary to support the sick and poor.

Arthur Guyon Purchas

Arthur Purchas was a British qualified medical doctor. He volunteered as a medical missionary after hearing of Bishop Selwyn’s Australasian work for the Church. He was initially medical officer at St Johns theological college, becoming a priest following his ordination in 1853.

Sir King Ihaka

Kingi Ihaka was a distinguished clergyman who attained senior leadership positions within the Anglican Church while still remaining true to his Maori identity and culture. He grew up at a time when such was not encouraged and many believed that to become a brown European (pakeha) was the future for Maori.

Ernest Chitty

Ernest Chitty was the first blind New Zealand University. He subsequently had a distinguished and remarkable career in both the academic and theological world. He was never ordained as a priest, possibly due to Archbishop Averill views although there was no canon law or precedent obstacle to his ordination. Chitty entered the Methodist Prince Albert College in February 1900, passing his matriculation exam after two years. He attended Auckland University College, graduating BA in 1906 – the first blind graduate in New Zealand.

Jessie Alexander

Jessie Alexander was active in mission work amongst Maori in the Bay of Plenty and Waikaremoana. Independent in nature, she remained unmarried and devoted her life to various church related works.

Archbishop Alfred Walter Averill

The Most Rev. A. W. Averill was Bishop of New Zealand from 1925 until 1940. His tenure spanned a tumultuous time for New Zealand during which the apparent orthodoxy of the earlier Liberal Governments was replaced firstly by conservative, right wing leadership and eventually by Michael Savage’s ground breaking, social reforming Labour Government.

Reverend John Robert Burgin

John Burgin was born in England and arrived in New Zealand in 1909 to be Vicar at St Stephens Anglican Church in Ashburton. In 1915 he was appointed Anglican Chaplain-Captain to the 3rd and 4th battalions of the New Zealand Rifle Brigade.

Rev. William Fancourt

William Fancourt was born in Lower Hutt Wellington in 1879 and came from a long line of Anglican clergy. William took his BA and MA degrees at Cambridge University in England after schooling at Whanganui Collegiate.