PRITT, LONSDALE (1822-85) was born in Lancashire, and educated at the Charterhouse and at Trinity College, Cambridge, graduating B.A. in 1844. He was ordained deacon (1845), and at the suggestion of Selwyn took up teaching as a preparation for missionary work in New Zealand. In 1855 he came to Nelson as chaplain to Bishop Hobhouse, and in 1858 was attached to the headquarters of the Melanesian mission, then established at Kohimarama. There he organised the central school as a model training institution, and was for eight years right-hand man to Bishop Patteson. In 1866 he was stationed at Hopuhopu (Waikato), where he shared in the hardships of missionary life and home mission work. He was collated archdeacon of Waikato (1871). In 1873 he was appointed vicar of St Mark's, Remuera, where he remained until 1885. He was a governor of St John's College.

Pritt married first (1863) Mary, daughter of C. Otterson (Nelson), and second (1876) the youngest daughter of G. Williams (Auckland). He died on 31 Oct 1885.

C. M. Yonge, Life of John Coleridge Patteson (1874); Cycl. NZ, ii; NZ Herald, 2 Nov 1885.

Reference: Volume 2, page 95

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