A long service to Church
A man whose involvement in the Anglican Church in Canterbury, spanning most of the twentieth century, Canon Alban Charles Theodore Purchas, died in Christchurch on Tuesday. He was 86. Canon Purchas was bom in Christchurch and educated at Christ’s College. He attended university in Canterbury, graduating M.A. in 1913. He became a deacon in 1914, a priest in 1915, and received his licentiate in theology in 1916.
From 1914 to 1915 Canon Purchas was curate at Geraldine, and chaplain to Christ’s College from 1917 to 1919. In 1919 he was curate of Hokitika, later vicar of Hokitika and Kumara. He was vicar .of Akaroa from 1924 to 1923 and vicar of Lyttelton and Port Levy from 1928 to ?932.
Canon Purchas was rural dean of North Canterbury from 1932 to 1939 and during the same period vicar of Rangiora. From 1933 to 1947 he was an examiner for the Board of Theological Studies. He was examining chaplain to the Bishop of Christchurch from 1933 to 1951, involving the selection of theological students. From 1934 to 1944, he was archdeacon of Rangiora and Westland and from 1939 to 1945, vicar of the Cashmere Hills and chaplain to the Cashmere Sanatorium. From 1944 to 1949 he was archdeacon of the Anglican parish of Christchurch and from 1945 to 1947 a diocesan missioner and youth organiser. He was vicar of Fendalton from 1947. jo 1951 and an
honorary canon of Christchurch Cathedral from 1947 until 1958. He was vicar of Methven from 1951 to 1955.
During his retirement, from 1955 to 1964, Canon Purchas became an officiating minister of the Anglican diocese of Christchurch. In 1956 he was priest-in-charge of the Anglican parish of Merivale and took on a part-time job as chaplain to St George’s Hospital from 1958 to 1960. Canon Purchas was officiating minister in Christchurch again in 1964 and during that year was priest-in-charge of the Merivale parish. After this considerable career he retired. His interests included climbing, walking, gardening, reading, and photography. He is survived by three daughter* and two sons.
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Press, 16 August 1976, Page 5
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347A long service to Church Press, 16 August 1976, Page 5
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