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The Cyclopedia of New Zealand [Otago & Southland Provincial Districts]
The Rev. Matthew James Bowden Bennett
The Rev. Matthew James Bowden Bennett , B.A., Pastor of the Kaikorai Baptist Church, was born in Lancashire, England and educated at Chorley Grammar School, and at the Owens College, Manchester, of which college he became Gilchrist Scholar, and Greek and Angle-Saxon prizeman, and is now an Associate. He was also first Matriculation Exhibitioner of London University, where he took his B.A. degree with English and Classical honours in 1881. Mr. Bennett was ordained deacon by the late Bishop Fraser of Manchester in 1883, and priest in 1884. After holding curacies in Manchester and London he joined the Baptist denomination, and left England for the colonies. On arriving in Dunedin in 1893, he became pastor of the Caversham church, where he remained until 1895, when he went Home. He laboured for a few years in Lancashire and Durham, and again sought the colonies. In 1901 he returned to Dunedin, and was called during the same year to the pastorate of the Kaikorai church.