Brown, Alfred Nesbit, 1803-1884 (Person)

SummaryAlso known as Te Parāone.

Alfred Nesbit Brown was a leading figure in the Church Missionary Society’s work in the Bay of Plenty, establishing the Te Papa mission station at Tauranga and ministering there for more than four decades. Known for his fluency in te reo Māori and his close engagement with local iwi, he oversaw pastoral work, education, and land transactions on behalf of the CMS, while also navigating the tensions of the New Zealand Wars. He suffered some sort of chronic eye condition and didn't enjoy travel by sea. He declined an offer of a bishopric but continued active ministry well into later life. His reputation among Māori suffered when he supported British officers on the eve of the Battle at Pukehinahina, and later again with the transfer of the Te Papa mission lands to the government. His mission house, The Elms, still stands in Tauranga.

1803 – Born in Colchester, Essex, England.
1827 – Ordained deacon in the Church of England.
1828 – Ordained priest; accepted for service with the Church Missionary Society (CMS).
1829 – Married Charlotte Arnett; sailed to New Zealand aboard Prince Regent; arrived at Paihia, Bay of Islands.
1835–1836 – Established CMS station at Matamata with James Preece; evacuated due to inter-tribal conflict.
1838 – Moved to Tauranga; founded Te Papa mission station.
1839 – Purchased 1,333 acres at Tauranga on behalf of CMS.
1842 – Licensed as Archdeacon of Tauranga; appointment formalised in 1843.
1847 – Declined offer of a bishopric.
1855 – Death of first wife, Charlotte.
1860 – Married Christina Crombie Grant Johnston.
1864 – Hosted British officers at The Elms on the eve of the Battle at Pukehinahina (Gate Pā).
1860s (late) – CMS relinquished most Te Papa lands to the government.
1873 – Purchased The Elms property from CMS; retired from active mission work but continued parish duties.
1884 – Died at The Elms, Tauranga; buried at Mission Cemetery (Ōtamataha Pā).

SourcesTe Ara – The Encyclopedia of New ZealandBiography: Brown, Alfred Nesbit and Brown, CharlotteAn Encyclopaedia of New Zealand (1966)National Library of New ZealandThe Elms | Te Papa Tauranga – HistoryWai 215 - Research Reports: Waitangi Tribunal Tauranga Moana ClaimsBOP Times, 9 September 1884, p2Te Papa: Naboth's Vineyard? Towards Reconciliation in Tauranga Moana: Executive Summary and RecommendationsSummary of report Te Papa: Naboth's Vineyard? Towards Reconciliation in Tauranga Moana.

Photographs

Archdeacon Brown (Caption: Arch Brown)

Archdeacon Brown (Caption: Carte-de-visite Brown)

Archdeacon Brown Tauranga (Caption: Archdeacon Brown)

Archdeacon Brown(Caption: Carte-de-visite Archdeacon Brown)

Archdeacon Brown (Caption: Archdeacon Brown)

Sketch of Archdeacon Brown

Publications

Te Papa Block: A History of Church Missionary Society and Crown Dealings 1838-1867

Journal of the Tauranga Historical Society Number 2

Journal of the Tauranga Historical Society Number 40

Journal of the Tauranga Historical Society Number 45

Journal of the Tauranga Historical Society Number 67

Archive Collections

The Elms Foundation Archives

Photocopied papers relating to Alfred Nesbit Brown

Publication Collections

Typescripts of the Journals of A.N. Brown

Te Ao Mārama - Tauranga City Libraries Photo 07-170

Usage

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Personal Information

First Name(s)Alfred NesbitSurnameBrownAlso Known asTe ParāoneArchdeacon BrownDate of Birth23 Oct 1803Place of BirthColchester, Essex, EnglandDate of Death7 Sep 1884Place of DeathTauranga, New ZealandOccupationMissionaryAnglican priestArchdeacon

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Brown, Alfred Nesbit, 1803-1884 (Person)