Mr Kissling was the first Vicar of Parnell, and though dogged by poor
health, possibly from an unrecognised tropical disease, he accomplished a great
deal during the 28 years prior to his death.
Born on 2nd April 1805 in Murr, Wurtemberg, Kissling left school
at the age of 14 and studied industrial arts at the Moravian settlement of
Kornthal. He was admitted to the Moravian College at Basle University in October
1823, and on completion of four years of theological studies was ordained a
minister in the Reformed Lutheran United Church.
The Basle Missionary Society sent him to West Africa to take charge of
a school where he also spent some years translating the Scriptures into Bassu.
Meantime, the Church Missionary Society could not find Englishmen willing to go
to Africa as missionaries, and frequently employed Lutherans for the work.
George Kissling transferred to the CMS in 1833 and took charge of the parishes
of St Peter at Bathurst and St James at Charlotte, Sierra Leone.
He briefly returned to Europe to marry, returning to Africa in 1837 as
Headmaster of the native college at Fourah Bay. Ill health, and the death of his
wife after only one year of marriage, forced his recall to England in 1840, when
he was admitted into the Church of England as a Deacon. He was priested at St
Paul's Cathedral in 1841, and remarried.
The Kisslings arrived in New Zealand on 2nd May 1842 on the Louisa
Campbell. In 1843 he was posted by Bishop Selwyn to establish and run a
Mission Station at Kawakawa- maitawhiti (renamed Te Araroa in 1880), East Cape,
which he built on two blocks of land purchased from local Maori. In addition to
raising five sons, his wife established and taught in Maori schools. In 1846
ill-health again forced a change in direction.
Under Selwyn's guidance St Stephen's School for Maori Boys was in 1847
established in Kohimarama, Auckland, with the Revd Kissling as first Headmaster.
After fire destroyed the school a new one was built in 1850 on the site now
occupied by Parnell Primary School, remaining there until 1930 when a new school
was built at Ramarama, at the foot of the Bombay Hills.
On 16th January 1849 Mr Kissling became the first Vicar of St
Barnabas', built on Point Dunlop, off Augustus [formerly Selwyn]
Terrace, overlooking Mechanics Bay. The land was later demolished and used to
reclaim land for the rail yards and Tamaki Drive. The church was shifted in 1877
to Mt Eden Rd, where it continues in modified and extended form as the Mt Eden
Parish church. Kissling's assistant was Dr John Kinder, educationist and
churchman, who became famous for his paintings of Auckland. Historic Kinder
House, which is open to the public, and only two minutes walk from the
Cathedral.
As St Stephen's Chapel and St Barnabas' Church became too small for a growing
congregation, a new Thatcher-designed Church was built. The Revd George Kissling
was appointed Vicar when "Old" St Mary's was consecrated on 14th
October 1860. He resigned with continuing health problems on 18th
September 1861, and in 1862 was appointed Archdeacon of Waitemata.
He continued to assist at St Mary's as health permitted until his death on 10th
November 1865. Archdeacon Kissling is buried in the graveyard of St Stephen's
Chapel with his wife, who died in 1891, and several descendants. A number of
later descendants continue to live in New Zealand.
*"Old" St Mary's Church was the
predecessor to the present St Mary's, first consecrated 1888.