FRASER, CHARLES, the first Presbyterian minister in Canterbury, was a man of considerable scientific attainments. He had been trained at Marischal College, Aberdeen, and graduated. Fraser arrived in Canterbury by the Oriental in Apr 1856 and preached forthwith to a large congregation in Lyttelton and on the following Sunday in Christchurch. In Feb 1857 he opened St Andrew's church, Christchurch, his parish extending to Kaiapoi on one side and Banks Peninsula on the other. Taking advantage of the provincial education ordinance, Fraser and his friends established a number of schools with subsidies granted by the provincial funds and brought teachers out from Scotland. He was personally interested in higher education and to save the funds he himself taught the higher classes at one of these schools in Christchurch till 1874 when the experiment had to be abandoned. The school developed into the Christchurch Boys' High School. Fraser visited Hokitika, preached in French to the settlers at Akaroa; twice enlarged St Andrew's church, and created two new parishes out of his own. In 1866 he established on his own responsibility the first church periodical, the New Zealand Presbyterian. Fraser was a member of the Canterbury Collegiate Union from 1871 and lectured on English language and literature before the College was established. His ministry ceased in 1883 and he died in 1886.

Dickson; Hight and Candy.

Reference: Volume 1, page 157

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