OBITUARY

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 110, 3 February 1919, Page 4

OBITUARY

* — ARCHDEACON FANCOURT. The Ven. Archdeacon Thomas Fancourt, of Wellington, one of tho oldest and most widely respected clergymen in New Zculand, died at his residence in Coromandel Street at 1 a.m. on Saturday. The late Archdeacon was a man of broad views, o fine sturdy yet unobtrusive Christian, tolerant, just, nnd lovable, who has dono veoman service for tho Church of England in a quiet way for nearly half a century. His son, the Eev. William Fancourt, vicar of St. Thomas's, is following ' in his venerable father's footsteps. The late Archdeacon was' born at Malvern, Worcestershire, on January 22, 1310, and was educated at Lancing College, Sussex. He camo to New Zealand from Cawnpore, where, after seeing servico as a 'missionary, his health broke down, and ho had to {five up the work for which he had studied at the famous St. Augustine's College, Canterbury. When the Archdeacon arrived in Wellington it was a very small town compared with what it is to-day. "If our life then," said the deceased in a recent interview, "was simple, we wore a very happy family in those days. We had no strikes, no divisions. We lived frugally; we never locked our doors; and always felt in perfect safety. I suppose wo were as simple and happy a community a 6 you might wish to find in those days. "The churclimansliip anion}.' the laity was of an old-fashioned typo. The people brought out their old ideas and associations with them from England and these ideas remained unchanged; these associa-. tions were revered long after they had i undergone changes in England. What is known as tho Tractarian movement, or Catholic revival, did not reach the shores of New Zealand until some years later. "The synodical system was already in voguo in Now Zealand when I came.', Although there were different schools of thought followed by the clergy, yet dnriup the whole of my ministerial career there has been no party strife whatever in this diocese, and almost uniformity of ritual, and that by no means extreme. Personally, I think it preferable to have uniformity of ritual, for, although you may not get exactly what you like, I think uniformity is better than violent contrasts." Thoro were some twelve or thirteen clergymen in Bishop Abraham's diocese when Archdeacon Fancourt arrived. Although the episcopal See did not i]ichide South Tarannki it then took in Hawko's Buy. It was a wide district, and in many parts a lonely one. "Apart from tho surveyors," said Archdeacon Fanconrt, "I think I know more about tho country than any other man at that time. Travelling was loug and arduous, and places were hidden away in the bush that had to be reached." Archdeacon Fancourt was in ohnrgvj of Kurort and Porirua \ip till IS7O, when ho was appointed to tho charge of St. James's, Lower Hutt. where he remained for fourteen years, when he was appoints! diocesan secretary, « post ho retained until his death. In tSJS he was appointed Archdeacon. He was ordained priest (the tirstl in St, Pant's ProCathedral in 1887. He was examining ohapluiu and Bishop's commissary to Hishops .TTadtield and Wnllk and also to Bishop Spwtt. He had had a large experience of parochial work, Kith at the Ttwtt and Porirua districts, but the chief work of his ministry during the past thirty years was devoted to orgaittVlug the country districts, and this it was that had given him such an extensive geographical acquaintance with the Wellington provincial district. A direct cash bonus of 4s. iu oaoh 2fe. Ie offered by Davis and Clnter at their Sale, which commences to-day and will run for fourteen days. This substantial cash bonus is given on every line they sell. Davis and Clater, Ladies' and Gentlemen's Outfitters, 216 Lambton Quay, Wellington.—Advt. Tho children will thrive if fed on Doctors' Cream O'Groats. Pare, nutritious, and appetising. AH Grocers—Advt, If you cannot come in to ceo us, drop b postcard for our freo booklet, "Advice to Inventors." It contains an abundance of valuable information coneerniig patenting. Study it at home. Call if you can. Henry Hughes, Ltd., 157 Featherston Street, Wellington, and elsewhere.—Advt. Good vaiue in strong working shirts for men, ss. lid., 6s. 6d., Gs. lid., 7s. Gd.; Sox, from is. 3d. "up, at Geo. Fowlds, Ltd., Manners Street.—Advt.