Felton Mathews Window
The window to St Paul is dedicated to Felton Mathew, a man who founded a capital city on the other side of the world. Felton was an architect and surveyor and in 1829 found himself in New South Wales as an assistant surveyor for roads and bridges. He corresponded with his cousin Sarah and in 1832 she travelled to Australia where they were married. During the 1830s Felton accompanied by his wife explored and surveyed much of the outback but in 1840 they sailed to New Zealand where he had been tasked to determine the site of a Capital City for the new country. Felton Mathews brokered the purchase of land from the Maoris which became known as the Waitangi Treaty and set about drawing town-plans which were to be the basis of the embryonic city.
Mrs and Mrs Mathews remained in Auckland for several years but Felton became embroiled in a dispute with the New Zealand Governor who he believed had overlooked him for promotion. The couple decided to come back to Seaford but Felton died en-route home. Sarah returned to her house in Clinton Place and commemorated her husband by the window seen here.
Sarah Mathews