James Sunter (4 September 1839 – 10 July 1909), commonly referred to as Canon Sunter, was rector of St Paul's Church, Adelaide, from 1890 to 1909. An obituary referred to him as "one of the best known and most highly respected clergymen in Adelaide".
Sunter was born in Yorkshire and educated at St John's College, Hurstpierpoint. He was an apt and conscientious student, winning bursaries and exhibitions that helped pay his way through Durham University, where he received his Bachelor of Arts degree in 1877. He was ordained deacon in 1871, and priest in 1872 by the Bishop of Durham. He was appointed curate, serving at Wallsend 1871–1873; Tynemouth 1873–1875; Holy Trinity, North Shields, 1875–1879 and acting chaplain of Wellesley training ship in 1875.[1] He was appointed vicar of St Anthony's church, Newcastle-on-Tyne, serving 1879–1890 and as honorary canon of St Nicholas' Cathedral from 1887 to 1890, when he was offered the incumbency of St Paul's, Pulteney Street, Adelaide, by Bishop Kennion.[2] St Paul's had a reputation as one of Adelaide's few "low" Anglican churches.[3] One commentator branded St Paul's "High Church",[4] though she may have referred to later practices.
He arrived in South Australia on RMS Ormuz with his family on 4 November 1890, succeeding Rev. J. W. Owen, resigned, and was inducted by Kennion on 9 November 1890. He found the church building in need of a great deal of attention, and with that well underway, had the pipe organ renovated at a cost of over £500. Extensive additions were made to the Sunday-school buildings, so that something like £2,000 was spent during his incumbency, all without increasing the church debt.[2]
He was a great believer in religious education, and contributed greatly to the success of St Paul's school for girls and the Pulteney Street school for boys (later Pulteney Grammar), at both of which he taught regularly. He was a governor of St Peter's College, and on the council of St Barnabas College.He was for many years Classics Master at Prince Alfred College,[5] chief rival to Saint Peter's College.He was a believer in Bible reading in State schools, and regularly lobbied Parliament on the subject.[2] He actively promoted the welfare of young people by the formation of guilds and societies, which he was tireless in promoting.
He acted as examining chaplain for Bishop Harmer from 1896 to 1905, and in the later part of his career was appointed chaplain to the Yatala Labor Prison ("The Stockade"). He was believed to have a positive influence on those prisoners with whom he came in contact, making visits there every Sunday and Thursday, and maintained contact with many after their discharge.He occasionally provided pastoral comfort for men about to be hanged.[6]
Sunter's great ambition was completion of the church tower in time for the church Jubilee in 1910, the foundation stone having been laid by Sir Richard MacDonnell in 1860, but he did not live to see it completed.His death, after a few days' illness, was quite unexpected. He had reached the Biblical span of seventy years, quite unknown to most of his parishioners, who thought of him as a much younger man, carrying out his duties in a vigorous and conscientious way.[2]
His eulogy was read by Bishop Nutter Thomas, who preached at St Paul's Church from the text "Well done, good and faithful servant". He referred to Sunter's theological treatises, and to the literary outputs of his predecessors, Dean Russell, who died on 20 May 1886, and John W. Owen,[2] who died in 1905.[7]
His successor as rector of St Paul's Church was Rev. Edward Herbert Bleby.[8]
Sunter was a proud Yorkshireman, and a founder of the Society of Yorkshiremen in South Australia, later termed "Yorkshire Society". He was elected club president at the inaugural general meeting, Bishop Kennion having refused nomination.[9] He was still president in 1897, when the society played host to visiting cricketers.[10]
He was a founder of the Lady Kintore Cottages, a charity for supporting widows and deserted wives.
He was a keen cyclist (on one occasion his participation delaying a wedding ceremony[11]), a vice-president of the League of SA Wheelmen 1897–1902.[12]
One of the four houses of Pulteney Grammar School is named "Moore-Sunter", in recognition of his influence while head master of the college, coupled with that of William Samuel Moore.[13]
James Sunter (1839–1909) married Miss Hepworth, of Bradford, in England.[14] It is likely she died in England before he accepted the Adelaide position.[1]
On 28 May 1894 in Sydney, Sunter married again, to Marie Caroline Schomburgk, daughter of Dr. Schomburgk, Director of the Adelaide Botanic Garden. She died at Altona-Elbe, Germany, on 17 April 1913.[19] Her remains were interred at the North Road Cemetery on 23 June 1913.