Was Bishop George Augustus Selwyn ever the bishop of Sydney? It is a well-known fact that Bishop George Augustus Selwyn, Bishop of New Zealand initially declined the Bishopric of Lichfield, England, but it is little known that he had previously declined appointment as Metropolitan of the Australian Church. The… Read More »Selwyn as Bishop of Sydney
A Controversial Churchman edited by Allan K Davidson was launched at St John’s Theological College New Zealand’s first Anglican bishop, George Selwyn, was a towering figure in the young colony. Denounced as a ‘turbulent priest’ for speaking out against Crown practices that dispossessed Māori, he brought a vigorous approach to… Read More »Book Launch: A Controversial Churchman by Allan K Davidson
Several of the books in the Rare Books collection have the bookplate of CJ Dyson, including the earliest book held, an incunabule – a work of St Ambrose printed in 1874. Until recently nothing was known about Dyson, but a recently discovered entry in John Henry Newman’s published correspondence 31… Read More »Charles Dyson as a donor of books to St John’s College
Spotted in New York recently by the eagle eye of library team member Jenny Harper, was this impressive Selwyn plaque. The plaque, located in the Cathedral Church of St. John the Divine in Amsterdam Avenue (reputedly the fourth largest Christian church in the world) survived a major fire in 2001,… Read More »Selwyn in New York
Bishop Selwyn’s seal came up for auction in Auckland The brass seal of Bishop George Augustus Selwyn came up for auction in Auckland. This is the same (or an identical) seal that was used by the bishop on official documents, and many wax impressions of the seal are still attached… Read More »Bishop George Augustus Selwyn’s Seal
Discovered: a sketch of St John’s College Purewa This sketch is of the St John’s College settlement at Purewa 1844-1845 at the time when Bishop GA Selwyn moved the College from Te Waimate to Auckland. Most College members ‘camped’ on the bank of the Purewa Creek (at the point at… Read More »St John’s College Purewa, c.1845 – an intriguing sketch
Rota Waitoa was the first Māori ordained Minister in New Zealand The John Kinder Library is fortunate to hold letters written by Rota Waitoa the first Māori ordained minister spanning the whole of his Christian life from 1845 – 1866. Waitoa received his initial Christian education from Octavius Hadfield at… Read More »Letters By and About Rota Waitoa, the first Māori ordained minister
