Biography

Kathleen Huntingdon Sutton (nee Walker) (16 Dec 1904-1 Mar 2005) was born in Jubbulpore, India, the daughter of Revd. Edward (Pat) Walker and Nettie Huntingdon Walker (nee Harris), the eldest of 10 children. She grew up in a rectory family, first at Hawthorn in Victoria, then at Grenfell, Chatswood and Woollongong in NSW. In 1930, she married Revd Leonard Neville Sutton, then precentor of St. Andrew's Cathedral in Sydney and headmaster of the St. Andrew's Choir School. By 1933, they were at Parramatta, where Leonard was the chaplain of the Kings School. The family served at Ashfield and Leeton in NSW before coming to St. John's, Launceston in 1949. By that time, they had 2 children, Patricia, b. 1931 and David, b.1935.

A document found in the Mothers' Union records of St..John's, Launceston, outlines Kathleen's involvement in, and commitment to, Mothers' Union, from when her daughter was just 2 years old at Parramatta, through to her retirement years in Launceston, including service as northern vice-president and in 1962, diocesan president.

In 1967, Kathleen resigned from the diocesan role following the sudden death of her husband in 1966, and went overseas to spend an extended period with her daughter and family in Shepparton, England. The time there included much involvement in Mothers' Union, including special services at St. Paul's Cathedral, and participation in an Overseas Conference at Canterbury. Visiting Ireland, she was able to deliver talks on church life and Mothers' Union in Tasmania, using photographic slides forwarded by the Diocese of Tasmania.

Kathleen kept up connections with St. John's in her later years. A memorial plaque was placed in the sanctuary wall alongside the plaque and deposited ashes of her late husband. The inscription reads;

IN MEMORY OF

KATHLEEN H. SUTTON

DIED 1ST MARCH 2005

BELOVED WIFE OF

ARCHDEACON L.N. SUTTON

Source