FENTON, JOHN ALBERT (1821-98) was educated at the Sheffield Grammar School and Christ Church College, Cambridge, where he graduated (B.A. 1843; M.A. 1846). Ordained priest in 1845, he was curate of Norton, Derby, until 1851 when he came to Lyttelton as chaplain of the Bangalore. He was the first licensed clergyman of the Church of England in Otago and remained in Dunedin till 1859, when he became curate of Goodwood and Waikouaiti and rural dean of Otago and Southland. In 1863 he returned to England as commissary of the Bishop of Christchurch and remained there till 1881, when he was appointed archdeacon of Oamaru. He retired in 1896, and died on 28 Jun 1898. Fenton was a scholar and a poet. He composed several hymns which have been embodied in hymnals.

Otago Daily Times, 5 Jul 1898.

Reference: Volume 1, page 139

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