The Very Reverend
Jack Somerville
ONZ CMG MC ChStJ
Somerville in 1948
Moderator of the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church of New Zealand
In office
8 November 1960 – 7 November 1961
Preceded byArthur Dowdall Horwell
Succeeded byStuart Cyril Francis
13th Chancellor of the University of Otago
In office
1976–1982
Preceded byStuart Sidey
Succeeded byJim Valentine
Personal details
Born(1910-07-07)7 July 1910
Andersons Bay, Dunedin, New Zealand
Died5 October 1999(1999-10-05) (aged 89)
Dunedin, New Zealand

John Spenser Somerville ONZ CMG MC ChStJ (7 July 1910 – 5 October 1999) was a New Zealand Presbyterian leader.

Biography

Somerville was born in the Dunedin suburb of Andersons Bay in 1910,[1] the son of Grace Isabella (née Isherwood) and James Cleland Hall Somerville. He attended the University of Otago, graduating with a Master of Arts degree with second class honours in 1935.[2] From 1935 to 1937 he trained at the Theological Hall of the Presbyterian Church of New Zealand at Knox College, at the end of which time he received his certificate of license. He then travelled to the United Kingdom, where he studied at Westminster College, Cambridge and the University of St Andrews. He returned to New Zealand in 1938 to become the minister at Tapanui.[1]

During World War II, Somerville served as a chaplain with the New Zealand forces from 1942 to 1945, first in Egypt and then in Italy.[1] In 1945, he was awarded the Military Cross.[3] After the war, he returned to Tapanui, and then moved to the Wellington parish of St Andrew's-on-the-Terrace, where he served from 1947 to 1963. Somerville was Moderator of the General Assembly of New Zealand in 1960–61.

Returning to his home town of Dunedin, Somerville was Master of Knox College from 1964 to 1978.[1] He was first elected to the University of Otago Council in 1969[1] and from 1976 to 1982 he served as chancellor of the university.[4]

He died in Dunedin on 5 October 1999[5] and his ashes were buried in Andersons Bay Cemetery with those of his parents.[6]

Honours

In 1955 Somerville was appointed a Serving Brother of the Venerable Order of Saint John[7] and in 1958 he was promoted to Chaplain of that order.[8] In the 1978 New Year Honours, Somerville was appointed a Companion of the Order of St Michael and St George, for services to the Presbyterian Church and the University of Otago.[9] In the 1991 Queen's Birthday Honours, he was appointed a Member of the Order of New Zealand.[10][11]

References

  1. ^ a b c d e "J.S. Somerville". LibraryThing. Retrieved 4 June 2014.
  2. ^ "New Zealand university graduates 1870–1961: Sl–Sz". Retrieved 4 June 2014.
  3. ^ "Bravery awards". New Zealand Herald. 12 November 1945. p. 4. Retrieved 4 June 2014.
  4. ^ "Role of chancellor". University of Otago. Retrieved 4 June 2014.
  5. ^ "Lives of note". Evening Post. 7 October 1999. p. 5.
  6. ^ "Cemeteries search". Dunedin City Council. Retrieved 4 June 2014.
  7. ^ "No. 40378". The London Gazette (Supplement). 7 January 1955. p. 160.
  8. ^ "No. 41437". The London Gazette. 4 July 1958. p. 4210.
  9. ^ "No. 47420". The London Gazette (3rd supplement). 31 December 1977. p. 41.
  10. ^ "ONZ biographical notes". Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet. Retrieved 4 June 2014.
  11. ^ "No. 52564". The London Gazette (2nd supplement). 15 June 1991. p. 29.
Academic offices Preceded byStuart Sidey Chancellor of the University of Otago 1976–1982 Succeeded byJames Archibald Valentine
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