PROMINENT CHURCHMAN.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIV, Issue 19827, 23 December 1927, Page 12

PROMINENT CHURCHMAN.

ARCHDEACON G. MacMURRAY. ORDINATION JUBILEE YEAR. The celebration of the jubilee- of Canon J. Haselden's ordination coincides with the attainment of a noteworthy milestone in the service of the Church of England by Archdeacon George Mac Murray, Archdeacon of Auckland, who yesterday entered upon his fiftieth year in the Church.

Archdeacon Mac Murray is a well-known figure in local ecclesiastical circles. He is a native of County Donegal, Ireland, where he was born in 1855. He was educated at Trinity College, Dublin, where he took his M.A. degree He was ordained deacon for the curacy of Aughrim-cum-Killukin, in 1878, and was admitted t,o the priesthood tha following year. In 1385 he left Ireland and proceded to Australia, beginning colonial work at Ararat in the clioccso of Ballarat. .In 1887 he was appointed vicar of St. Paul's, Ballarat, and was elected canon of the cathedral. He held this position until 1892, when ho came to Auckland as vicar of St. Mary's Cathedral, a position which lie retained until 1918, a period, of 26 years. .. . During his ministry at St. Marys. Archdeacon Mac Murray was instrumental in carrying out a number of important works in the parish, including completion of the cathedral building, erection of the parish hall, and paying off the original church debt. One of the most notable activities of Archdeacon Mac Murray during the past o3 years has been his close association in the administration of the Dilwortb Estate. He is one of the original trustees and was a personal friend of the , founder. The work of the trust has occupied his close attention since 1918. and he has been chairman of the board for the past six years. His efforts have been untiring in building up the trust, and he has plaved a prominent part in its extensive work.