OBITUARY

Wairarapa Times-Age, 2 April 1943, Page 2

OBITUARY

REV. CANON J. H. SVKES FIRST VICAR OF TINUI. SERVICES IN THE WAIRARAPA AND ELSEWHERE. The Rev. Canon J. H. Sykes, who died at his home in Upper Hutt yesterday, began and ended his ministerial life in New Zealand in the Wairarapa. Born in Leeds, England, in 1863, he early went to Canada, where he was educated at St. John’s College, Winnipeg. Here, besides a successful scholastic career he excelled at cricket and tennis. For ten years he engaged in pioneer missionary work and, following his ordination in 1893, he worked for six years on the prairie. In 1899 he arrived in New Zealand, preaching his first sermon in this country in the old St. Matthew’s Church, Masterton. He then became the first Vicar of Tinui and for ten years he laboured in that area, winning the affection of all the settlers. His horses were known on every farm and his services are still remembered after forty years. He was Vicar of Upper Hutt 1909-1915, Kilbirnie 1915-1935, Manaia 1935-37, and Greytown 1937-41. He was appointed Canon of Wellington in 1925 and Canon Emeritus in 1942. On his retirement he settled in Upper Hutt. Canon Sykes was a keen Freemason and an enthusiastic amateur photographer, possessing a splendid collection of photographs of early days in Tinui. In 1911 he married the daughter of Mr W, H. F. Long and had one son and two daughters, who survive him. A memorial service to Canon Sykes will be held in St. Matthew’s Church on Sunday at 7 p.m.