HOVELL, DE BERDT (1850-1905) was the son of Dr C. H. J. Hovell, of the 3rd Waikato Regiment, and came of an old East Anglian family. Educated at King's School, Rochester, where he was a scholar on the foundation, he proceeded to Boniface College, Warminster (1868) and to St Augustine's College, Canterbury (1870). There he distinguished himself in mathematics and Greek, winning the Whytehead Greek Testament prize in 1870. He was captain of the eleven and the fifteen.

Hovell devoted himself to oriental languages, with a view to missionary work in India. He went there in 1872 under an appointment from the Society for the Propagation of the Gospel, and was ordained in Bombay (1873) and stationed at Kolapore. For health reasons he had to leave India in 1874, and he came to New Zealand in 1875. He served for three years in the diocese of Christchurch, at St Michael's, Christchurch, and in the parishes of Prebbleton, Templeton and Halswell. He married (1876) Emily, daughter of George Ffitch (Woodstock, Canterbury). Appointed vicar of St John's, Napier, in 1878 he displayed great energy in his parish and in furthering the building of the Cathedral. In 1889, on the formation of the Cathedral chapter, he was appointed dean. For some years he edited the Church Herald, and for 23 years took a Bible class in a district high school. Hovell was an able organiser, an eloquent preacher, and a man of considerable culture and literary taste. He was a prominent freemason and Rechabite and for 20 years was chaplain to the Napier garrison. He died on 4 Sep 1905.

Cycl. N.Z., vi (p); New Zealand Graphic, 19 Dec 1891 (p); Hawkes Bay Herald, 5 Sep 1905.

Reference: Volume 1, page 225

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