Frederick Thatcher trained as an architect in England before
immigrating to New Zealand, arriving in December of 1843.
His original intention was to farm land bought through the
New Zealand Company in New Plymouth. This venture was
not very successful and Thatcher soon found himself in demand,
as architectural skills were in short supply in the young
colony. A move to Auckland brought closer contact with
Bishop G.A. Selwyn, the first bishop of New Zealand.
Thatcher worked for Selwyn on many of the churches and other
buildings in the Auckland area, and in particular on the buildings
for St John’s College.
Despite his skills, architecture was not Frederick Thatcher’s
main employment. He was for some years, in two separate
periods, a private secretary to Governor Grey and was closely
involved with Auckland's early development. He travelled
widely with Grey and this account of Thatcher's life gives
the reader many interesting glimpses of the episodes in which
he was involved as well as the buildings for which he was
responsible, many of which still stand.
The title of this biography arises from Bishop Selwyn’s
assessment of Thatcher who became a candidate for ordination
and trained at St John’s College in the late 1840s.
After ordination he was the first minister of St Matthew's
in Hobson Street. Health problems led to a spell in
England from where he was once again recruited, this time
by the first bishop of Wellington, C.J. Abraham. Perhaps
Thatcher's crowning memorial is Old St Paul’s church
in Wellington. It stands as a witness to a great architect
and devoted pastor.
Margaret Alington has given us a very full account of Thatcher
the architect, priest and private secretary. This book
is thoroughly researched, well documented and interestingly
written and will stand as an important contribution to early
New Zealand history.
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Contents
Introduction, 6
Acknowledgements, 9
Abbreviations, 11
References, 12
Chapter 1 - Thatcher’s World: the 19th
century background, 13
Chapter 2 - Preparing to be an architect, 29
Chapter 3 - Aspiring farmer in Taranaki, 45
Chapter 4 - Working for Two Governors, 65
Chapter 5 - Architect of the Bishop of New Zealand: St John’s
College, 88
Chapter 6 - Architect of the Bishop of New Zealand: The Outlying
Churches, 126
Chapter 7 - New Commitments, 138
Chapter 8 - Founding an Auckland Parish, 164
Chapter 9 - Episcopal and other buildings in Parnell, 177
Chapter 10 - A Cathedral for Wellington, 200
Chapter 11 - Private Secretary and a residence for Governor
Grey, 225
Chapter 12 - Episcopal Secretary and a fulsome retirement
in Lichfield, 246
Appendix 1 - Chronological list of buildings
attributed to Thatcher, 262
Appendix 2 - Letters, 264
Appendix 3 - Glossary, 266
Appendix 4 - Table of Conversions, 267
Bibliography, 268
Index, 285
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Other published works by Margaret H. Alington
Frederick Thatcher and St Paul’s;
an ecclesiological study, Wellington,
New Zealand Historic Places Trust, 1965.
Unquiet earth; a history of the Bolton
Street Cemetery, Wellington, Wellington City Council/Ministry
of Works and Development, 1978.
Goodly stones and timbers; a history of
St Mary’s Church, New Plymouth, St Mary’s
Church, 1988.
‘Life after death; an old cemetery becomes
a memorial park’, in Hamer D. and Nicholls R., eds,
The making of Wellington, 1800-1914, Victoria University
Press, 1990.
High point: St Mary’s Church, Karori,
Wellington, 1866-1991, St Mary’s Church/Karori
Historical Society, 1998.
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