RIGHT REV. C. J. ABRAHAM, D.D

New Zealand Illustrated Magazine, Volume VII, Issue 6, 1 March 1903, Page 494

RIGHT REV. C. J. ABRAHAM, D.D

Many old residents in New Zealand will remember Bishop Abraham, of whose death at the advanced age of 88 we heard by cable

last month. His first connection with New Zealand was when Bishop Selwyn sent . for him to assist in taking charge of S. John's College, Tamaki. When in 1853 the main operations of the College were suspended for a time, he carried on an English Boy's School, a proceeding for which his distinguished scholastic career and twelve years' experience as assistant master at Eton College admirably fitted him. 5n 1853 he was appointed Archdeacon

of Waitemata, and also Bishop Selwyn's chaplain. It was with his able assistance that Bishop Selwyn first formed a Church Constitution for New Zealand. In 1858 he was consecrated Bishop of Wellington, and did excellent work in that diocese for some twelve years. On returning to England, he was connected with the Lichfield Cathedral as prebendary of Bobenhall, coadjutor bishop to Bishop Selwyn, and residentiary cannon and precentor, for different terms, holding the lat-

ter office to 1890. During his residence in New Zealand he took great interest in the Maori race, and championed their cause on several notable occasions. He was one of those unostentatious workers to whom the Church owes much.