Christopher Blencowe Dunn

At St Andrew's Church Cemetery in Mangonui is this unusual shaped headstone with the words on it "Sacred to the memory of Christopher Blencowe Dunn, who departed this life December29th 1882 aged 84 and his wife Eliza who entered into her rest April 30th 1885 aged 80." with the inscription below saying "Come unto me all ye who labour and are heavy laden and I will give you rest" - Matt 11v28.

Mr Dunne was born on September 4th 1798 at Howden, Yorkshire, England and lived at Sylan Acres, Oruru. He emigrated aged about 60 with his wife where they settled and founded a school as well as working with the local Maori.

While in the UK he served in the Royal Navy then trained at St Bee's Theological College where he was ordained as a deacon in 1822 then a priest in 1824. He married Eliza Noble on January 20th 1834 and they went on to have 4 children.  Reverend Dunn was the author of several books and poetry while also writing music for the organ. In 1859 they came to Aotearoa (New Zealand) landing in Tamaki Makaurau (Auckland) aboard the ship "Whirlwind".

The family's grand piano now on display in Kaitaia's Regional Te Ahu Museum was accidentally dropped into the water at Taipa and was sent to Sydney for repairs, it has since been restored. The family farmed at Peria, opposite St Barnabas Church and cemetery. Reverend Dunn started teaching several pupils in 1866 privately in a room in his house situated across the creek from where present Peria School sits which he is credited with starting. 

The family lived at Oruru for 12 years of which Reverend Dunn was of huge assistance to Reverend Joseph Matthews and Reverend Renata Tangata in their work among the Maori of the district. They also lived in Kaitaia for 6 years then Mangonui where he retired to live with his daughter Lavinia Campbell (she married Samuel Campbell who was Northland's first surveyor). 

From NZ Herald Volume XX, Issue 6831, 9 October 1883

After his passing in 1882 and Eliza's in 1885, the Church Gazette quoted from Howdenshire history that he had given 60 years to the ministry serving 40 of those in England as a Curate where he gave from his private means rather than receiving. Sounds like a remarkable man!

More information here. 

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