Biography

Leonard Sutton (1899-1966) was born on 25^th August 1899 at St. Kilda, Victoria, the son of Frank and Isobel Sutton. While still a child his family moved to Sydney, where Leonard attended the St. Andrew’s Cathedral Choir School; later he achieved the distinction of being the first boy from the school to become precentor of the Cathedral.

Having graduated B.A. from the University of Sydney, he attended Moore Theological College and graduated Th.L. with Second Class Honours. He was made deacon in 1925 and ordained priest in 1926. In the following year he was awarded a Lucas-Tooth scholarship, enabling him to study at Jesus College, Oxford, where he gained his M.A. degree.

In 1930 the Reverend Leonard Sutton returned to Sydney in the dual capacity of precentor of St. Andrew’s Cathedral and headmaster of the Choir School. Four years later he moved to the King’s School, Parramatta, as chaplain. His next appointment, in 1937, was as vice-principal and chaplain at Brighton Grammar School, Victoria. In 1939 the Reverend Sutton returned to New South Wales to the work of parish priest, first as locum tenens at St. Oswald’s, Haberfield, then six months later in June he was inducted as rector of St. John’s, Ashfield, where he remained for ten years.

In 1949, in his fiftieth year, the Reverend Sutton became rector of St. John’s Church, Launceston, Tasmania, and in 1953 was appointed Archdeacon of Launceston. In 1961 he went to St. Andrew’s, Evandale, as rector but continued as Archdeacon of Launceston. Two years later he was appointed Vicar-General of the Diocese.

On 30^th August 1930 he married Kathleen Huntingdon, daughter of the Reverend Edward and Mrs Nettie Walker; there are two children, Patricia and David. Archdeacon Sutton died on 8^th November 1966. His ashes were placed in the sanctuary wall of St. John’s behind a memorial plaque. The inscription reads:

IN MEMORY OF
LEONARD NEVILLE SUTTON
D. 8TH NOVEMBER 1966
RECTOR OF ST JOHN’S 1949-1961,
ARCHDEACON OF LAUNCESTON 1953-1966,
VICAR-GENERAL 1963-1966,
WHOSE ASHES ARE DEPOSITED
IN THIS SANCTUARY WALL

(Extract from Engraved in Memory by J.S.Gill. 1988)

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