See Thomas Biddulph Hutton Rev

Evening Post 5 November 1930
CHURCH JUBILEE
ST. JAMES”, LOWER HUTT
INTERESTING HISTORY
OLD-TIME CHARM
A church building should, by its general atmosphere, impart to the worshippers a feeling of calm restfulness and engender an attitude of mind which relegates material things to a secondary position. St. James” Anglican Church, Lower Hutt, fulfils that ideal, and follows the best traditions of the parish church of the Old Land. It would be hard to imagine Gray writing his elegy in the churchyard of a modern institutional church — it has indeed no yard at all, only a site generally covered with ugly buildings — but St James”, with its old-world setting, would gladden the heart of the poet.
Set well back from Woburn road, away from the rush of the hurrying motor traffic, embowered in stately trees, above which its spire points heavenward, surrounded by grassy lawns in which are to be seen the hallowed graves of those far-sighted pioneers who chose the site with such wisdom, stands the building which, for fifty years, has been the spiritual home of the members of the Church of England in Lower Hutt.
The jubilee services are to be conducted next Sunday by Canon Watson.
It should be noted, however, that the services commemorate merely the jubilee of the present building. The history of the Church of England in Lower Hutt is really the history of the British community in the district, for the first church came into being over ninety years ago. The exact site of this building, the name of its builder, and the name of the first person to preach the Gospel within its walls, are not on record. The site is now probably under water somewhere near the main bridge over the Hutt River. At this time the Hutt River could be crossed by a polejumper, and it is questionable if a bridge existed, for it is probable that the church was an earlier erection than even the quaint “willow pattern” footbridge which spanned the stream at this place. All that is known is that the church stood on the western bank near the site of the inn variously, known as “Burchams,” “The Aglionby Arms,” and “Valentines.” The erection of the building was probably a community effort, as its architecture and its materials were of the simplest, being after the style of a Maori whare and built of raupo. Its first minister was almost certain to have been the Rev. J. F. Churton, who, it is recorded, was in 1840 holding services in his own whare on the Pito-o-one beach. It is on record that a Rev. Mr. Butler was buried in the churchyard of this building, but what, his connection with the church was is not known.
Another name connected with the ministry in this building is that of the Rev. Robert Coles, who had charge of St. Paul”s in Wellington and ministered here on occasions.
In the old register of St. Paul”s may be seen the names of those baptised by the Rev. Mr. Coles in Aglionby-on-the-Hutt the name by which Lower Hutt was then known. Mr. Coles probably officiated after the departure of Mr. Churton, who stayed in the district for a short time only.
FIRST CHURCH WASHED AWAY.
This first church, with the bodies of those buried in its churchyard, was washed away by one of those tragic floods to which the Hutt River was subject, after it had served the community for a few years. Whether it survived the erection of its successor, which was really the first fully-organised Church of England in Lower Hutt, is not clear, but probably it had disappeared before the erection of the first traffic bridge in 1846-47. Some of the timber, the whole of the porch, and the windows of the second church are still in service, for the building was dismantled and re-erected in 1880, and now serves as the Sunday School.
The original building was erected by Messrs. J. H. Percy and Son in 1848, the date being fixed by the marriage certificate of Mr. Joseph Percy — the son in the firm of Percy and Son — who was married to Miss Anne Maria Welch on the church on 23rd October, 1848, while the shavings were still on the floor of the building.
Mr. Joseph Percy”s sons still occupy the same property — the old mill site ��������� in Petone, while two other of the five families which then constituted Petone”s population are identified with the church.
Mr. Thomas Riddler claims to have been the first child baptised in this church. He is still living on his father”s property, and is hale and hearty at the age of 82.
The other family is the Collett family, of whom the late Mr. H. Collett and his son, the late Mr. Edward Collett, are both mentioned in the list of church officers.
After Mr. Churton”s departure the services were kept going by lay readers — notably by Mr. E. Davy. In 1848, the Rev. T. B. Hutton was appointed to the parish extending from Pencarrow Heads to Wairarapa. After ten years he was succeeded by the Rev. G. H. Johnstone, who was followed by the Rev. J. F. Herring.
In 1870 the Rev. Thomas Fancourt (afterwards Archdeacon of Wellington) was appointed, and it was during his ministry that the present church was built. The following account of its consecration is from the “Evening Post”:— St. James” Church.—” This church was consecrated by Bishop Hadfield on Sunday, 21st March, 1880. The weather was most inauspicious for the ceremony, the recent heavy rains having flooded the roads leading to the edifice. In spite of this drawback, a fairly large congregation attended to witness the consecration, which was carried out with the usual formalities. His Lordship was received at the main entrance by the minister and office-bearers, who presented a petition requesting the Bishop to open the church. A procession was then formed and proceeded up the middle aisle, the choir singing the 24th Psalm. On arriving at the Communion table the Bishop delivered an appropriate address, which was followed by prayer and the consecration sentences. The hymn, ”Holy, Holy, Holy,” was then sung, followed by the usual morning service. The sermon was preached by the Bishop from 1st Corinthians I., 25. The offertories were devoted to the building fund. The new church is an exceedingly pretty and commodious building, and presents a great contrast to the old church, which stands beside it.”
This building was erected by Mr. H. T. Beck, of Bridge street, Lower Hutt, who will be present at the jubilee services on Sunday. The contract price was £1400, and was, unfortunately, not a payable proposition. Originally there were four men interested in the contract, but before the work was completed the other three had dropped out and Mr. Beck was left to carry on. The timber, which was almost all totara, was all hand-dressed, and the gotliic window frames were cut out of solid timber. The architect was Mr. Thos. Turnbull, then Wellington”s leading architect. Tenders were called .in “The Evening Post,” and it was from this advertisement that Mr. Beck tendered.
Mr. Beck recalls that times were exceedingly bad at this period, and owing to competition a very low price was put in. Carpenters” wages then were 10s and labourers” 6s per day. Mr. Beck, who is now 77 years of ago, came to New Zealand 55 years ago under special engagement to assist in the erection of the big wooden Government Buildings in Wellington.
The names of the wardens and vestry in 1880 were, as follows: — Mr. W. A. Fitzherbert (vicar”s warden), Mr. J. R. Ransom (parishioners”), Captain Hewitt, Messrs. Cleland, Edward Collett, ���. Williams, J. Wilkins, H. S. Fitzherbert, H. Collett, C. E. Barraud, and Captain Johnston. The descendants of many of these are well known, including the present Acting-Prime Minister.
In 1884 Mr. Fancourt, in order to devote more of his energies to the work of diocesan secretary, resigned, and was followed, for a very brief period, by the Rev. E. S. Cross, during whose ministry the present vicarage was built. Mr. Cross was succeeded by the Rev. Joshua Jones, well known to all old Hutt residents. During his term Petone — in 1895 — and later Eastbourne and the Eastern Bays separated from the Hutt church.
GREAT CHANGES.
After twenty-nine years of patient ministry Mr. Jones resigned, and soon afterwards passed to his rest. His successor, the present vicar, the Ven. A. L. Hansell (Archdeacon of Wairarapa), has seen great changes. The district has grown from a purely residential suburb, surrounded by farms, to a town of some 13,000 people. The church has been enlarged, and even now it is too small. A fine schoolroom has been put up and is in constant use. The policy of the vestry has been to take the Church to the people. In 1920 the Church of the Good Shepherd was opened at Epuni, where ground has been purchased for a future vicarage; in 1928 another churchroom (which at the present time is being enlarged) was opened at Waiwetu and dedicated to St. Paul. At both these new churchrooms, at the Parish Church, at Christ Church, Taita, and at Belmont, regular services are held by the archdeacon, his colleague, and a fine band of lay readers.
Though the present building is in a fair state of repair, it is recognised that its period of useful service is drawing to a close, and a fund has been inaugurated for a new building. Already a generous response has been made, and it is hoped that a very substantial sum will be forthcoming at the thanksgiving services on Sunday.

New Zealand Spectator and Cook”s Strait Guardian 20 April 1850
On the 18th instant, at St. James” Parsonage, River Hutt, the wife of the Rev. T. Biddulph Hutton, of a daughter

New Zealand Spectator and Cook”s Strait Guardian 5 February 1853
To Builders and Carpenters.
PROPOSED CHURCH, TAITAI (sic), RIVER HUTT.
TENDERS are required for the erection of this Church. The Drawings and Specifications may be seen at the house of O. L. W. Bonsfield, Esq., Sydney Street, Wellington, before 10 o”clock, a.m., from the 7th to the 12th inst., and from the 14th to the 19th inst., at the residence of the Rev. T. B. Hutton, River Hutt.
Sealed Tenders are to be sent in, addressed to the Rev. T. B. Hutton, marked “Tenders for Church at the Tatai (sic),” on or before the first day of March next.
The Committee do not bind themselves to accept the lowest tender.
Wellington, February 5, 1853.

Wellington Independent 23 February 1853
…
ORDINATION AND CONFIRMATION.- On Sunday morning last an Ordination was held by the Lord Bishop of New Zealand in St. Paul”s Church, Throndon, when the Rev. T. B. Hutton, officiating, Minister at the Hutt and the Rev. J. Williams, officiating Minister at Otaki, were admitted to Priests” orders.
In the afternoon of the same day his Lordship, assisted by the Rev. Archdeacon Hadfield, R. Cole, Colonial Chaplain, and T. B. Hutton, held a confirmation at the Hutt, at which 5 persons, consisting of 2 adults and 3 children, were confirmed by his Lordship.

Daily Southern Cross 25 August 1854
BIRTH
At Pakaraka, Bay of Islands, on the 10th of August, wife of the Rev. T. B. HUTTON, of the Hutt, Wellington, of a son

New Zealand and Cook”s Strait Guardian 22 November 1854
Notice
Mr. BUCK, Member of the Royal College of Surgeons of England, and Licentiate of the Society of Apothecaries, begs to announce that he has removed to the late residence of the Rev. T. B. Hutton.
November 22, 1854

Hawke”s Bay Herald 2 January 1858
MARRIED
On the 29th inst., at St. James,” River Hutt, by the Rev. T. B. Hutton, ALEXANDER, third son of the late Rev Alexander Kennedy, Minister of Jura and Colonsay, Argyleshire, Scotland, to MARTHA RIDGWAY, second daughter of Charles Brown, Esq., of Wellington, New Zealand

Hawke”s Bay Herald 24 April 1858
MARRIED
On Thursday, 25th March, at St, James” Church, Hutt, by the Rev. T. Biddulph Hutton, GEORGE SISSON COOPER Esq., J.P., of Napier, Ahuriri, Commissioner for the purchase of Native Lands, for the Hawke”s Bay District, to ELLEN CHAFFERS, eldest daughter of DANIEL RIDDIFORD Esq., of Woburn, the Hutt

Wellington Independent 20 October 1858
DEPARTURE OF THE REV. T.B. HUTTON.
It is with feelings of mingled pleasure and regret that we publish, below, the copy of an address, presented yesterday, to the Rev; Mr.Hutton, Incumbent of the Hutt. The harmony and good will that have mutually existed between Mr. Hutton and his parishioners; must be a source of the most pleasurable satisfaction to all who in any way appreciate the advantages of the Christian Ministry; while the circumstances under which the reverend gentleman is obliged to resign the charge he has held for the last eleven years, must occasion the deepest regret to every one. The Hutt inhabitants and their minister have so well expressed the feelings of Christian sympathy existing between them, that we need add no comment of our own, further than to express our desire, that in the milder region of the North, Mr. Hutton may regain his failing health, and be enabled to act out, in some congregation there, these warm feelings of his heart, which has prompted him, heretofore, to spend and be spent in the high service to which he has been called.
The presentation of the adddress was accompanied by a purse containing 130 pounds an amount as highly creditable to the liberality of the people of the Hutt – remembering the many floods to which they have lately been subjected – as the address is to the honesty of their hearts. This exemplification of their faith by their works, must have been as welcome to Mr. Hutton as was the offering of the affectionate Phillians to the great Missionary Apostle, “not because he desired a gift, but that fruit might abound to their account,” and may, we sincerely trust, prove like it, “an odour of a sweet smell, a sacifice acceptable, well pleasing to God.”
THE ADDRESS.
TO THE REVEREND t BIDDULPH HUTTON, B.A.,
INCUMBENT OF THE HUTT.
The inhavitants of the Hutt, and other settlers in the Province, join the Members of your Congregation of Saint James and Christ Church at the Hutt, in desire, before you take a final leave of them, to record their estimation of your pastoral services.
Your removal from this sphere of ministerial labour woyld have occassioned us regret under any circumstances, but the protracted illness which now deprives us of your presence and services, materially increase that regret, and we beg to assure you that our sympathies are therefore peculiarly engaged on your behalf.
We cannot forget that you were the first clergyman of the Episcopal Church who came to reside in the Valley amoungst us, and establish in the Valley regular morning and evening services in lieu of the occasional ministrations on which we previously had to depend.
This work of conscreation of a new settlement, if we may be premitted so to express ourselves, necesaarily partakes of a missionary charcter, and the energy and devotedness you have brought to this work is sufficiently attested by the enlarged building of Saint James”s, and the entirle new structure of Christ Church, for which increased church accommodation we are mainly indebted to your exertions.
The elevn years which you have thus spent amongst us, as an active resident pastor, has been marked by many visitations of Providence, under which we have all, more or less, been sensible of your warm Christian sympathy.
And we are sure that the Europeans will not be the only inhaitations who will regret your departure, for your ready aid to the Native settlers has been on all occassions remarkable.
We assure you that you take with you our earnest wishes for your restoration to health, and for the welfare of Mrs. Hutton and your children, and we add our ferent hope that you may be long spared to preach to other congregations the Gospel of Christ.
R. Barton
Mrs. Barton
A. Ludlam
Captain Carlyon
Mrs. Carlyon
P. Lainge
J. Jackson
W. Fitzherbert
Mrs. Fitzherbert
J. Roy
H. Death
T. Frethy
W. Bowler
Mrs. Bowler
R. Jillet
T. Burt
R. Burt
J. Cudny
R. Buckeridge
Dr. Buck
L. Potts
T. McKay
W. Taylor
T. Gilbert
W. Knight
W. Willcock
M. Cook
D. Cook
W. Phillips
W. Craighead
J. Percy, jun.
H. Collett
W. Ridler
J. sellar
T. William
P. Cheyne
T. Mullins
H. Cleland
J. Hooper
G. Swainson
D. McKenzie
F. Bolton
W. Earp
J. Fry
T. Mills
Mrs. Mills
W. Welch, sen.
W. R. Welch
R. Mcculloch
S. Hirst
W. Dew
A. Yule
C. Denton
A. Renall
J. Raynor
W. Roe
W. Barnett
J. Cole
G. Copeland
T. Acourt
D. Riddford
Mrs. Riddiford
J. Medlyn
H. Lynch
S. Weston
D. Peck
T. Poad
H. Welch
J. Dodds
T. Wilson
W. Williams
R. McAlloy
J. White
C. White
W. Corbett
Mrs. Swainson
Mrs. Avery
W. Beetham
J. Wilkie
P. Wilkie
Joseph White
Mrs. Arrowsmith
Miss Arrowsmith
J. Russell
H. Russell
J. Percy, sen.
Mrs. Whiteman
Mrs. Leverton
Mrs. C. White
W. Hughie (sic)
D. Hughie (sic)
Rev. W. Minchin
W. Whitewood
Mrs. Keys
W. Spearing
H. Stilling
Mrs Stilling
E. Elliot
Dr. Taylor
Mrs. Taylor
N. Levin
Mrs. Levin
H. St. Hill
Mrs. St. Hill
W. Humphries
J. Manning
W. Trotter
T. Mason
R. Wyeth
–
THE RELPY.
My Dear Friends,
At a time like the present, when the true affections of the heart are brought into action, you must pardon me, if on reply to your most kind expression of regard, I lay aside the conventionalisms of common life, and speak as I truly feel. It is a cause of deep sorrow to me that it has pleased God to remove me from amongst you.
From you all I have ever exprerienced kindly aid and co-operation in carrying out any plans for the advancement of religion in this valley. We together have seen the growth of the settlement We have together passed through the trials of the earthquake and the flood in joy and in sorrow we have been united. This would have been sufficient in itself to have caused me to regard with sorrow the prospect of being removed from you; and when you think that in addition to these, there are also other easons for such a feeling, reasons which can be understoon by none so well as by the Christian Pastor, who is the different ministrations of his office becomes united to all in the most intimate relations of life, in the Baptism of your Babes, in the marriage of your young men and maidens, and in the burial of your dead; you may better imagine what my feeling must be in parting from those do dear and kind to me and mine. It was a fond hope that as I had lived, so that I might have died amongst you and have been buried under the shadow of one of these churches in which I have ministered, But God has willed it otherwise. With regards to my work amongst you – what was well done, was done by God”s help; to Him therefore be the praise, I thank you most sincerley for your kind wishes for my dear wife and
– could not see rest of the reply?

Nelson Examiner and New Zealand Chronicel 30 October 1858
…
The Reverend T. B. Hutton, B.A., on the occasion of his leaving the Hutt district (through ill health), had been presented with a farewell address signed by 111 inhabitants of the valley of the Hutt. The address was accompanied by “a purse of one hundred and thirty sovereigns, subscribed by the signers of the address, including persons of all religious denominations, as a testimony of their sincere regard for Mr. Hutton, and respect for his character, and their appreciation of his zealous labours and usefulness during his eleven years residence among them.”
…

Daily Southern Cross 5 November 1858
Shipping Intelligence
Port of Auckland
Entered Inwards
…
November 2 – Lord Worsley s.s., 290 tons, Johnson, from Wellington and Napier
…
Passengers – Rev. Mr. Hutton, Mrs Hutton and 4 children
…

Daily Southern Cross 24 February 1860
BIRTHS
At Paihia, Bay of Islands, on the 18th instant, the wife of the Rev. T. B. HUTTON, of a daughter