Hello. so I volunteer with the salvation army here in Christchurch, New Zealand. I came across an old Greek testament that looks very old, and in the front cover is a note written in 1867, I'm trying to figure out what it says so I can try to better understand the origin / journey of this book. I'm not sure if this is the right place to post this, if it's not I apologize and would appreciate being pointed in the right direction :).
I can make out quite a bit of it but I'm struggling to put it all together.
From what I can gather the book was gifted to St Paul's Church in Wellington, the reason I think this is because the Church was completed only one year before this was written, I could be wrong, however.
The name up the top, "James Something William", I can't figure out the middle bit. I also can't find anything on a C.J. Wellington.
This book was found in Christchurch but seems to have been in Wellington, New Zealand in 1867.
What I've taken from it.
** = unsure of the word
"James ** William. On the occasion this being admitted with? The holy order of? Beacon in the catholic church st? Paul's, Wellington. On ** 22 dec 1867.
C.J. Wellington"
Edit: I forgot links.. The Written Note
The book is written in Greek, any help identifying any history to this book would be fantastic!
many thanks, Chris
I read it as
James [Mc?]William. On the occasion this being admitted into the Holy Order of Deacon in the Cathedral Church of St. Paul's, Wellington. On Sunday 22 dec 1867. C.J. Wellington
The name is the one uncertainty for me, but it doesn't look like any given name abbreviation I know. There is at least one James McWilliam recorded having a child in New Zealand in 1869, for what that's worth, and if you dislike my reading at least two candidates for a James William. Any additional information in those records is behind a paywall, though. St. Paul's in Wellington was indeed the Anglican cathedral for the diocese. In the Anglican Church a deacon is an ordained member of the clergy, typically with a particular focus on marginalized members of the community (e.g., the homeless or imprisioned). It can be used as a transitional position on the way to priesthood.
No idea what his middle name is. It would need a better (higher resolution) picture.
"...on the occasion of his being admitted into the Holy Order of a Deacon in the Cathedral Church of St. Paul's, Wellington, on ..."
22 Dec 1867 was a Sunday. It's possible that says "Sunday" before the date, and that would make sense, but I'm not 100% sure.
The book is probably a Greek New Testament. If you get a picture of title page of the book, that'd probably help a lot in identifying it. I can't even read the spine in the picture you included.
