THATCHER, FREDERICK, who was born about 1820, was trained as an architect. He came to Auckland in the forties and became interested in mission work. He entered St John's College in 1848 and was a student there to 1853. He was ordained deacon (1848) and priest (1853), and was the first vicar of St Matthew's, Auckland (1853-59). He was curate of Winwick, Northamptonshire (1859-61), and was incumbent of St Paul's, Wellington (1861-64). Thereafter he acted for some time as private secretary to the Governor (Sir George Grey). Returning to England about 1867, Thatcher was secretary to Bishop Selwyn at Lichfield (1868-82), and thereafter resided at Tamworth, England, where his son, Ernest Grey Thatcher appears to have been vicar. He died about 1890. Thatcher designed St Matthew's Church (Auckland), St Mary's (New Plymouth), St Paul's (Nelson), the old vicarage at Te Henui, New Plymouth (1845), and the colonial hospital in that town (1848).

Information from Canon Coats and Archdeacon Lush; Crockford; G. V. Kendrick, Parochial District of Upper Hutt, 1935; J. K. Davis; Nelson Examiner, 29 Jun 1850.

Reference: Volume 2, page 192

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