Frederick Thatcher

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title: "Frederick Thatcher" type: doc version: 1 created: 2026-02-28 author: "Wikipedia contributors" status: active scope: public tags: ["1814-births", "1890-deaths", "new-zealand-architects", "gothic-revival-architects", "19th-century-new-zealand-anglican-priests", "frederick-thatcher-buildings", "english-ecclesiastical-architects", "new-zealand-ecclesiastical-architects", "19th-century-english-architects", "english-emigrants-to-new-zealand", "architects-from-sussex"] description: "English architect and clergyman (1814-1890)" topic_path: "people/1810s" source: "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Frederick_Thatcher" license: "CC BY-SA 4.0" wikipedia_page_id: 0 wikipedia_revision_id: 0

::summary English architect and clergyman (1814-1890) ::

::data[format=table title="Infobox clergy"]

Field	Value
honorific_prefix	Reverend
image	V1-FL73776328.jpg
image_size
birth_name
birth_date
birth_place	Hastings, Sussex, England
death_date
death_place	Bakewell, Derbyshire, England
resting_place	Lichfield Cathedral
nationality
occupation	Architect, vicar, secretary
religion	Anglican
::

| honorific_prefix = Reverend | name = | honorific_suffix = | native_name = | native_name_lang = | image = V1-FL73776328.jpg | image_size = | alt = | caption = | birth_name = | birth_date =
| birth_place = Hastings, Sussex, England | death_date = | death_place = Bakewell, Derbyshire, England | death_cause = | resting_place = Lichfield Cathedral | citizenship = | nationality = | other_names = | occupation = Architect, vicar, secretary | years_active = | alma_mater = | spouse = | partner = | children = | parents = | religion = Anglican ::figure[src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/6/62/Memorial_to_Frederick_Thatcher_in_Lichfield_Cathedral.jpg" caption="Memorial to Frederick Thatcher in [[Lichfield Cathedral"] ::

The Reverend Frederick Thatcher (5 September 1814 – 19 October 1890) was an English and New Zealand architect and clergyman.

Early life

Frederick Thatcher was born in Hastings, Sussex, England, 5 September 1814. Thatcher's mother was landed, his father was a riding officer. At 16 years old Thatcher articled to a London architect, Alfred Bartholomew. Six years later Thatcher established his own architectural and surveying practice. In 1836 Thatcher became an associate member of the Institute of British Architects of London.

Thatcher married Elizabeth Watt on 30 June 1840 but she and an infant son died in 1842. After the deaths of his wife and son, Thatcher purchased rural land near New Plymouth from the New Zealand Company. With his brother-in-law Isaac Newton Watt, he left England in 1843 aboard the barque Himalaya and arrived in New Plymouth on 23 December 1843.

Life in New Zealand

In New Plymouth Thatcher became associated with George Selwyn, the Bishop of New Zealand, and engaged in architectural work. In 1845 Thatcher left for Auckland where he became superintendent of public works and a lieutenant in the Auckland Militia. He served as Sir George Grey's secretary from 1846 until 1848 when he enrolled in St John's College, Auckland. On 6 November 1849, at St Mary's, Taranaki, he married Caroline Wright. Thatcher remained at St John's College until 1853 when he was ordained as a priest. Thatcher was appointed vicar of St Matthew's parish in Auckland and retired from the position in 1856 on account of ailing health and returned to England with his family.

Return to New Zealand

In England Thatcher was working as a curate in Northamptonshire. On 14 August 1861 Thatcher had returned to New Zealand with his family. Bishop Selwyn appointed him vicar of St Paul's Church, Thorndon. As vicar he was the architect for the design of St Paul's Cathedral. Thatcher resigned from the parish due to poor health and on 25 October 1864 went to Auckland to work as Governor George Grey's secretary again. When Grey's term as governor ended in 1868 Thatcher returned to England to be with his wife and son.

Return to England and retirement

After Thatcher's return to England he worked as secretary to the Bishop of Lichfield, which at the time was held by Selwyn. Following Selwyn's death Thatcher assisted Charles Abraham with founding Selwyn College, Cambridge. Afterwards, from 1883, he was prebendary of Lichfield Cathedral.

Thatcher died on 19 October 1890 at Bakewell, Derbyshire. Thatcher was buried at Lichfield Cathedral near Selwyn's grave.

Architectural career

Thatcher mostly designed churches, although he did work on Mansion House for George Grey. Thatcher's ecclesiastical designs were in the Gothic Revival style and he assisted Bishop Selwyn in designing the Selwyn churches. In addition to his work on St Paul's Cathedral Thatcher also designed St John's Church, Trentham as well as 6 other churches during his time as vicar of St Paul's. Other notable works from Thatcher include St. Mary's Church, New Plymouth, The Gables, Christ Church, Nelson, and St. Mary's Church, Parnell, Kinder House, and Selwyn Court.

List of buildings

::data[format=table]

Name	Date	Image	Note	Ref
Workhouse	1840	[[File:Workhouse, Battle Sussex.jpg	150px]]	The workhouse became a hospital in 1948, private residence since 1990. Located in Battle, East Sussex
Taranaki Cathedral	1846	[[File:NZ NP St Mary's Church (1).jpg	150px]]	Registered as a category 1 building with Heritage New Zealand
Auckland Colonial Hospital	1847	[[File:V1-FL73732547.jpg	150px]]	Demolished
The Gables Colonial Hospital	1848	[[File:NZ NP The Gables Colonial Hospital (3).jpg	150px]]	Registered as a category 1 building with Heritage New Zealand
Christ Church, Nelson	1851	[[File:Christ_Church,_Nelson.jpg	150px]]	Demolished
St Matthews Church	1853	[[File:Photos_310113_full.jpg	150px]]	Building on left. Demolished
Kinder House	1857	[[File:Kinder House 20240117 120925.jpg	150px]]	Registered as a category 1 building with Heritage New Zealand
St Stephen's Chapel, Auckland	1857	[[File:St Stephen's Chapel, Auckland, New Zealand.jpg	150px]]	Registered as a category 1 building with Heritage New Zealand
St Mary's Church, Parnell	1860		Demolished
Selwyn Library	1861	[[File:NZ AK Selwyn Library (2).jpg	150px]]	Registered as a category 1 building with Heritage New Zealand
Selwyn Court	1861–1865	[[File:NZ AK Selwyn Court (1).jpg	150px]]	Registered as a category 1 historic place with Heritage New Zealand
St John's Church, Trentham	1863	[[File:St Johns Trentham 11.JPG	150px]]	Registered as a category 2 building with Heritage New Zealand
St John's Church, Johnsonville	1864		Demolished
Old St Paul's, Wellington	1866	[[File:Old St Paul's church, Wellington, 2016-01-25-7.jpg	150px]]	Registered as a category 1 building with Heritage New Zealand
St Peter's Church, Tawa Flat	1866		Demolished	last1=Parsons
Bolton Street Cemetery mortuary chapel	1866	[[File:V1-FL73460773.jpg	150px]]	Demolished but a replica rebuilt in 1990
St Matthias' Church, Makara	1867		Demolished in 1920
Holy Trinity Church, Ohariu Valley	1870	[[File:Holy Trinity Church, Ohariu Valley - panoramio.jpg	150px]]	Registered as a category 2 building with Heritage New Zealand
Government House, Wellington	1865	[[File:Second Government House, Wellington.jpg	150px]]	Designed an addition for the building
Mansion House, Kawau Island	1865	[[File:Mansion House, Kawau Island.jpg	150px]]	Designed an addition for the building
St Mary's Church, Karori	1866	[[File:V1-FL73597729.jpg	150px]]	Credited to Thatcher by Heritage New Zealand and Margaret Alington but attributed to Nicholas Marchant by Geoffrey Mew and Adrian Humphris. Demolished in 1925
::

References

References

1. Mew, G.. (October 2014). "Raupo to Deco".
2. (1990). "Frederick Thatcher".
3. (1966). "Frederick Thatcher".
4. "Battle Workhouse".
5. {{NZHPT. 148. 148
6. (5 December 2002). "The Gables (Colonial Hospital)". Heritage New Zealand.
7. "St Matthews Church, Hobson Street".
8. {{NZHPT. 110. 110
9. {{NZHPT. 22. 22
10. {{NZHPT. 24. 24
11. {{NZHPT. 23. 23
12. (24 August 2001). "St John's Church (Anglican)". Heritage New Zealand.
13. (4 February 2001). "Old St Paul's Cathedral". Heritage New Zealand.
14. (1 December 2016). "150 years of formal Anglican worship in Tawa recognised with service". Stuff.
15. "Bolton Street Cemetery Chapel (Wellington, N.Z.)".
16. (8 March 2012). "St Matthias' Church (Anglican)". Heritage New Zealand.
17. (7 January 2013). "Holy Trinity Church (Anglican)". Heritage New Zealand.
18. (19 November 2012). "St Mary's Church (Anglican)". Heritage New Zealand.

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