Christopher George WilkinsonPrint Page

The altar of the church, and other furniture in the chapel commemorates the Reverend Christopher Wilkinson (1855-1929).

Christopher Wilkinson was born in England on 16^th December 1855. He was educated there and graduated from St. John's College, Cambridge.  He was made a deacon of the Church of England at Ripon in 1880, and priest in 1881. His first appointment was as curate at Calverley, 1880-1881, then at Up Holland, 1882-1889.

He came to Tasmania the next year and became the incumbent of Emu Bay, moving round the parishes of Wynyard and Burnie.

In 1895 he accepted the position of co-headmaster of the Launceston Church Grammar School with Mr Harry Gillett. The Reverend Wilkinson remained headmaster until 1918. At this time the school was situated at 37 Elizabeth Street, next to St. John's Church.  In conjunction with his duties at the school, the Reverend Wilkinson was assistant curate of St. John's. He was appointed acting rector in 1919, between the departure of Canon Baker and the arrival of the Reverend Crotty.

The Wilkinsons had two sons and four daughters, one of the latter, Doris, became headmistress of the Launceston Girls' Grammar School, in Elizabeth Street.

For a time after retirement, the Reverend and Mrs Wilkinson lived with Doris at her school, then the three of them went to where Doris was appointed headmistress, to Darlinghurst Church of England Girls' Grammar School, but in 1926, the Reverend and Mrs Wilkinson moved to Cremorne, Sydney.  He died there on 4^th May 1929 and she died on 16^th August 1937.

Tomorrow afternoon the Bishop of Tasmania (Dr. R. Snowdon Hay) will visit Holy Trinity Church for the purpose of laying hands on candidates for confirmation, and also for the purpose of consecrating a new altar and other chapel furnishings to the memory of the late Rev. C. G. Wilkinson. The deceased clergyman, during the last years of his residence in Launceston, was a daily worshipper and communicant at the chapel in Holy Trinity Church, and the memorial, at a cost of £95, has been subscribed for by his fellow communicants at the church, together with a few of his intimate friends. The alterations to the chapel will greatly improve the building. They consist of the extension of the sanctuary, necessitating the raising of the floor and an additional step; a handsome carved oak altar, with new frontals, and a Brussels carpet of ecclesiastical pattern.
Examiner (Launceston, Tas.), 19 October 1929.

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