Thomas Jackson, born 1 September 1812, was the son of a Wesleyan clergyman. He was educated at St Saviour’s School, Southwark, and St Mary’s Hall, Oxford where he graduated BA in 1834 and MA in 1837. In 1844, at the early age of 32, he was appointed Principal of St John’s Training College for teachers at Battersea. This college trained teachers for English Church schools and he retained this position until he was named as the Bishop Designate of Lyttelton. At the time it was envisaged that the principal town in the new settlement would be Lyttelton rather that of Christchurch which did become the main locality. He was named in June 1850 and from that time until he sailed for New Zealand in September of that same year he addressed many meetings on behalf of the Canterbury Association who were promoting immigration. He did much to further the cause and his speeches on the subject were very well received.
A legal hitch was discovered some time before the first immigrant ships left England for Canterbury. The Letters Patent appointing the Bishop of New Zealand Dr. George Selwyn (Bishop of Lichfield) had no clause providing for a resignation of part of the New Zealand Diocese which would have been needed if another person were to be appointed in Canterbury. It was determined that the Diocese of Lyttelton should include all of the South Island whereas Dr. Selwyn wished to resign from only the Canterbury Settlement and Otago. In view of this, Jackson undertook to go to New Zealand and discuss the matter with Selwyn and others. He had in his possession a document for Selwyn’s signature which would have Selwyn resigning the Sea of New Zealand. In the end, another document was signed by him in which he only resigned the Canterbury and Otago areas. There was some doubt about the legality of this document.
Jackson then proposed to return to England to have the matter regularised with the Archbishop of Canterbury. It appears that he also wished to be consecrated Bishop by the highest Church authority to ensure his position. He was then to return to Lyttelton and take up his post. He must have been a keen man for long ocean voyages as the trip each way was around one hundred days. It would appear that his wife, Elizabeth, who travelled out to New Zealand was much less keen. Two of their children also accompanied them. They travelled on the sailing ship “Castle Eden” which was the fifth ship chartered by the Canterbury Association for carrying emigrants. It arrived in Lyttelton in February 1851.
Jackson was only in Canterbury (New Zealand) about six weeks but he was very active in church matters, and travelled extensively during that time. A long report was written by Jackson to the Archbishop of Canterbury, (England) presumably on the homeward voyage. It is likely that he made notes at the time of his travels. This report was subsequently published. He had arrived back in England during September 1851 after visiting Sydney. When reading the report, it was fully obvious that he intended to return to Canterbury to take up his position. This was not to be. Jackson, despite his earlier good reputation, was not a popular man in Canterbury. He lost the support of the locals, and had some difficulties with the Canterbury Association. Because of the problems there had been moves against him and he never took up the bishopric to which he had been appointed. Apparently, the Archbishop of Canterbury persuaded Jackson to withdraw any claims he had to the post and thus, he stayed in England. A face-saving announcement was made claiming that Jackson’s wife was unable to undertake another long voyage because of sickness. A rector’s position was found for him at St Mary’s, Stoke Newington, in England where he developed a reputation as preacher. He died in 1886.
Thomas Jackson has sometimes been referred to as the Bishop Designate of Canterbury but this is not strictly correct. His title was the Bishop Designate of Lyttelton. Therefore, his title was, and is, unique. The first Bishop actually appointed to Christchurch was Bishop Harper.