Community Contributed

Frederick de Jersey Clere - Architect

Frederick de Jersey Clere worked as an architect for 58 years in Feilding, Wanganui and Wellington. He designed many churches for which he is well known - several of these are located in the Horowhenua.

Date of birth	07/01/1856
Date of death	13/08/1952
Mothers name	Ellen Vaughan
Spouses name	m1: Mary Goodbehere m2: Elizabeth (Bessie) Johnston Ingles
Mothers date of birth	1821
Mothers place of birth	Manchester, England
Mothers date of death	23/10/1885
Spouses date of death	m1: 07/04/1904 m2: 1920
Fathers date of birth	c1824
Mothers place of death	New Plymouth
Spouses place of death	m1: Lower Hutt m2:
Fathers name	Henry Clere
Marriage date	m1: 18/04/1883 m2: 17/10/1905
Parents date of marriage	1849
Place of marriage	m1: Feilding m2: Wellington
Parents place of marriage	Stockport, Cheshire, England
Fathers date of death	29/06/1887
Fathers place of death	Hawera
Cause of death	Old age
Place of birth	Walsden, Lancashire, England
Occupation	Architect
Place of death	Wellington

Frederick de Jersey Clere (1856-1952) - Clere was born in Lancashire and emigrated with his family in 1877. Already well trained as an architect, he practised in the provinces before returning to Wellington. He stayed in practice for another 58 years. Clere was Diocesan Architect of the Anglican Church for much of his professional life. He was also an enthusiastic advocate of the building properties of concrete. He was pre-eminent in church design; his best known design is the reinforced-concrete St Mary of the Angels (1922). Apart from churches, Clere designed a huge variety of buildings including many for the Wellington Harbour Board.

Clere practised on his own and in association with many other architects, including his son.

From the Museum, walk to the entrance of Queens Wharf.

de Clere Churches in the Horowhenua: