Frederick de Jersey Clere

Clere was born in Walsden, Lancashire on 7 January 1856. Clere's father, Henry, was an Anglican clergyman.^[1] Frederick spent 6 years at St John's School in Clapton, London before articling to Edmund Scott at the age of 16. Scott was a Brighton architect who focused on ecclesiastical architecture. After 3 years, in 1875, Clere became assistant to ecclesiastical architect Robert Jewell Withers in London and joined the London Architectural Association.^[1][2]

Clere and his family arrived in Wellington aboard the Hurunui on 12 December 1877.^[1] Clere had difficulty acquiring work in Wellington so moved to the nascent settlement of Feilding in 1879. In Feilding there was ample work. Clere's most notable work in Feilding is the Church of St John the Evangelist. In 1882 Clere was made an associate of the Royal Institute of British Architects and a fellow in 1886.^[2]

In 1883 Clere was appointed as architect for the Anglican Diocese of Wellington and moved to Whanganui. In Whanganui Clere was appointed as architect to the Wanganui Education Board and partnered with Alfred Atkins. In 1886 Clere moved to Wellington and two years later disestablished his partnership with Atkins.^[a] Clere went on to form Clere, Fitzgerald & Richmond, this practice was active in the 1890s but after 1899 both Richmond and Clere had left. Clere formed a new partnership with his draughtsman John Swan but this had been dissolved by the time he moved to Lower Hutt in 1901.^[2]

In 1905 Clere's son Herbert started training under his father. In 1910 Herbert moved to Palmerston North and established Clere & Son. Frederick focused on ecclesiastical designs whilst Herbert carried out commercial and domestic designs.^[2]

Clere entered a partnership with Llewellyn Williams in 1919 but this had ended by 1923 over disagreements. After this Herbert returned from Palmerston North to work with his father in Wellington as Clere & Clere. Herbert continued to focus on domestic architecture whilst his father handled ecclesiastical contracts and on commercial properties the two would work together. Frederick became less active from 1935 but his son continued the practice of Clere & Clere until 1962.^[2]

Clere was a founding member of the New Zealand Institute of Architects and held the position of secretary for 50 years. In 1939 Clere was made a fellow.^[2]

As architect for the Anglican Wellington Diocese, Clere designed over 100 churches. Clere used the Gothic Revival style for his church designs with the most noteworthy being St John's, Feilding, All Saints' Church, Palmerston North, St Mary of the Angels, Wellington, and St Andrew's Church, New Plymouth. The majority of the churches designed by Clere are extant.^[1] For residential works Clere often used the Elizabethan style.^[4]

Clere was one of the first New Zealand architects to widely adopt reinforced concrete. Clere used concrete for the majority of his churches after 1904. His most notable reinforced concrete building is the Church of St Mary of the Angels, Wellington.^[1][5] Although Clere designed timber structures he criticised the use of timber by some architects for not being true to form.^[6]

In 1935 Clere was awarded the King George V Silver Jubilee Medal.^[1]

Clere served on the Wellington City Council until 1895 and later served on the Lower Hutt Borough Council.^[5][1]

Frederick de Jersey Clere married Mary Goodbehere in Feilding. Mary died in 1904 and 18 months later he married his housekeeper, Elizabeth Ingles. Elizabeth died in 1920.^[2] Clere died 13 August 1952.^[1]

Clere was an Anglican and was a lay member of the Wellington Diocesan Synod and General Synod from 1900.^[5] Clere was also a Freemason and member of the Waiwhetu Lodge.^[1]

Clere was an avid watercolour painter and had his work exhibited at the New Zealand Academy of Fine Arts on several occasions and a committee member of the academy. A painting by Clere is held by the Taranaki Museum.^[4][2] Clere was a supporter of the Royal New Zealand Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals.^[2]