CHURTON, JOHN FREDERICK (1797-1853) was born in London and educated there for the bar, taking his degree of LL.B. He afterwards read for holy orders, was ordained, and in 1840 was appointed by the Church of England Society as chaplain at Wellington. He arrived in the Bolton (Apr 1840), and a few months later was appointed by the Bishop of Sydney to the church at Russell, Bay of Islands. Hobson gazetted him colonial chaplain, and in that capacity he read the prayers at the opening session of the Legislative Council in 1846. Soon afterwards he was also appointed vicar of St Paul's, Auckland. Churton ministered to the troops serving in New Zealand during Heke's war. He died on 26 Jan 1853.

Buick, First War; Buller; Ward; New Zealander 26 Jan, 2 Feb, 19 Mar 1853; N.Z. Herald, 27 Mar 1879.

Reference: Volume 1, page 95

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