REV. FIELDEN TAYLOR

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 80, Issue 127, 31 May 1937, Page 8

REV. FIELDEN TAYLOR

DEATH OF CITY MISSIONER [ Per fres* J WELLINGTON, May 29. The death occurred at tour o'clock this morning ot Rev. Fielden Taylor, who was well-known throughout the Dominion as Wellington City Missioner. Mr Fielden Taylor, who bore a long illness with wonderiul cheerfulness, was a conspicuous figure in Church and social welfare work in Wellington. His connection with St. Peter s Mission dates from nearly 20 years ago. Before coming to New Zealand he was a lawyer's clerk in London, and, feeling the call for mission work, he entered the London Missionary Society’s college with a view to studying for worK overseas, but was rejected as unfit. Coming to New Zealand, he worked as a layman in the Nelson diocese. He was ordained by Bishop Mules, whose daughter he married, and subsequently he became Canon ot Nelson Cathedral. He went to Egypt in 1914 as a chaplain and was severely wounded on Gallipoli. He saw further service in France and on his return to New Zealand he underwent treatment at Rotorua, the war having left him suffering from severe physical disabilities. He was appointed missioner to St. Peter's, Taranaki Street, in 1919. To his activities among the young and unfortunate there was no end and as a religious leader he had a great following. No more self-denying man, whose one thought was lor others could well be conceived, and the great work he accomplished was all done despite himself being a constant physical sufferer. He used his own estate for the relief of others and was the means of raising something like 1100,000 for charitable purposes since coming to Wellington.