Henry Jacobs

Who was Henry Jacobs?

Henry Jacobs was the first Dean of Christchurch, New Zealand.

He was born at Chale Abbey, Isle of Wight, the son of William Hearn Jacobs and Ann Tucker. The Jacobs were substantial landowners on the Isle of Wight and two of Henry's ancestors, the Reverends Matthew and John Heron, were Rectors of Chale in the Sixteenth and Seventeenth Centuries. Henry Jacobs was descended from many of the principal families on the Isle of Wight including the Oglanders, Worsleys, Urrys, Dingleys and Leighs. He was educated at Charterhouse School, where he was Captain of the school. From Charterhouse he gained a scholarship to Queen's College, Oxford. He was awarded M.A. in 1848, ordained deacon in 1847 and priest in 1848. He became a Michel Fellow of Queen's college.

From 1847 to 1848 he was curate of Bussage, Gloucestershire, from 1848 to 1849 headmaster of St. Nicholas' College, Shoreham, and from 1849 to 1850 curate of All Saints Church, Poplar, London. In 1850 he sailed to New Zealand on the Sir George Seymour to be classical professor of a proposed new college in Canterbury. On arrival he conducted the first Church of England service in Canterbury and from 1852 was headmaster of the Christ's College Grammar School.