Obituary ARCHDEACON F. N. TAYLOR

Press, Volume XCIX, Issue 29324, 1 October 1960, Page 14

Obituary ARCHDEACON F. N. TAYLOR

The Ven. Archdeacon F. N. Taylor, for 23 years vicar of St. Luke’s Church, Manchester street, died yesterday. He was 89. Born in London, Archdeacon Taylor graduated bachelor of arts in classics from Jesus College. Oxford, in 1894. Two years later he was ordained in the diocese of Worcester. In 1897 he was ordained priest, and from 1896 to 1903 served as curate in the Church of All Saints, Smallheath, Birmingham. It was there that he met and married his wife. From 1903 to 1909 Archdeacon Taylor was organising secretary for the Society for the Propaga-

tion of Christian Knowledge, and then was appointed curate of Stratfield Mortimer, Berkshire, living in the village from which Bishop Harper had left in 1856 to become the first Bishop of Christchurch.

In 1913, Archdeacon Taylor came to New Zealand to begin his work at St. Luke’s Church, where he was vicar till 1936. He served as Archdeacon of Akaroa from 1932* to 1934. When he left St Luke’s he went to Amberley, where he was vicar till 1939. With the shortage of ministers during the war years he was recalled to the Christchurch diocese in 1939. and for the last three years of the war he was priest in charge of St. Michael’s Church. In 1942 he was appointed an archdeacon emeritus.

Archdeacon Taylor celebrated his sixtieth year in the priesthood in December. 1957. For the last few years he served as honorary assistant priest at St Michael’s.

Throughout his career, Archdeacon Taylor was an admirer of ■ the leaders of the Oxford Move- ' men! Music was his greatest in- , terest outside the Church, and i for more than 30 years he sang i for the Christchurch Male Voice . Choir. In 1948 be visited England for a Church congress. ‘ Archdeacon Taylor is survived by his wife, five daughters, and three sons.