James Thomas (4 September 1918-2005) was Dean of Saint Paul's Cathedral, Wellington from 1978 to 1985.[1]
Thomas was born on 4 September 1918 in Wales.[2] He was educated at St David's College, Lampeter and Selwyn College, Cambridge; and ordained in 1942 or 1943 (sources differ). After curacies in Amroth and Laugharne he was a Chaplain to the British Armed Forces during World War II. When peace returned, he served a further curacy at Braunton and held incumbencies at Thornthwaite (England), Kensington (New Zealand), Otipua, Riccarton and Auckland. He was Archdeacon of Waitemata from 1972 until 1978.[3] He had arrived in New Zealand in 1955.
He has one son and three daughters. Since 2020, his daughter Susan Thomas has been chief justice of the New Zealand High Court.[4] He died in 2005 (https://ehive.com/collections/4366/objects/143558/photograph-colour-portrait-of-the-very-reverend-james-thomas-third-dean-of-wellington-19781985-in-w)