John Dart (New Zealand priest)

John Raynor Dart (1855 – 27 May 1935) was an Anglican priest in the West Coast and Nelson districts of New Zealand in late-nineteenth to early-20th century.^[1]

Born in Melbourne, Dart was a goldminer's son, and came to New Zealand with his family in 1865.^[2] He initially worked with a legal firm and then the Blenheim Post Office. After working with the Church of Nativity, he became the lay secretary for Nelson diocese in 1889, a connection he maintained for the next 50 years. In 1890 he began to study for the ministry at .^[2] Dart was ordained deacon by Bishop Mules on 28 December 1894, as curate of Brunnerton and Grey Valley. He became a priest and clerical secretary of the synod in 1895, and held incumbencies at Reefton, Westport (1901), and Wakefield (1915 or possibly 1913).^[2][3] He became the vicar of All Saints Parish, Nelson, in 1925, and Archdeacon of Waimea in 1926.^[2][4] Dart's ill-health forced his retirement in 1931, after which he became director of the Nelson YMCA.^[2] He died on 27 May 1935 in his Brougham Street home,^[3] and was buried at Wakapuaka Cemetery.^[5]

Dart had two sons, B.W.R. Dart and the educator and playwright G.F.J. Dart.^[3]

References[]

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