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Ryburn, Hubert James
Full NameRYBURN, Rev Hubert James, C.M.G., Ll.D., M.A.(Oxon & NZ), B.D.(Union)
Date of Birth19 April 1897Date of Death30 June 1988Biography
Educated at Wanganui first, then Invercargill where his father was minister of First Church. He entered Otago University in 1916 to specialise in mathematics. His course was interrupted by World War One.
War service from 23 July 1917 to 25 April 1919.
After the War he returned to Otago University, graduated Master of Arts 1921, he was rugby representative at Southland Boys High School; Otago representative in hockey; always a good tennis player; awarded Rhodes Scholarship; completed Bachelor of Arts at Oxford England 1923 (MA followed in 1958); studied theology at Union Seminary New York, graduated Bachelor of Divinity in 1925; he took Bachelor of Divinity at Union to give him qualification for ordination on return to New Zealand.
Licensed by Christchurch Presbytery 17 February 1926
'Hubert Ryburn was a man of strong conviction and sound churchmanship. He believed implicitly in what he was doing and he possessed the mental grasp and training to put his beliefs into action. Many will remember the quality of his preaching. It was scholarly, expository and direct. ...He also believed in Knox College as an entity and as an ideal. He subscribed to and built up the dream of the founder, Andrew Cameron, to develop a community of scholars where people of all faculties could learn from each other by the discipline of living in such a place. ...
'Sometimes he found the courts of the Church less than scintillating but he did his duty by them, and when he rose to speak everyone listened. He was always prepared, lucid and challenging. He kept up his interest in his practical enjoyments as long as he was able. His workshop was a model of exactness, and his rod and line were familiar with the streams of Upper North Otago.'
Date of Birth19 April 1897Date of Death30 June 1988Biography- born 19 April 1897 Gisborne
- son of Rev Robert Middleton RYBURN and Anna Jane STEADMAN (married 1892)
- married (1) 24 March 1931 Jocelyn Maud DUNLOP, born 6 February 1910, died 5 April 1980
- daughter of Prof Francis Wallace Dunlop and Maud GILLER (married 1909)
- married (2) Isabella PATERSON, born 28 January 1915, died 2001
- formerly Matron of Knox College, later of St Margaret’s College, Dunedin
- died 30 June 1988 Waverley, Dunedin, aged 91
Educated at Wanganui first, then Invercargill where his father was minister of First Church. He entered Otago University in 1916 to specialise in mathematics. His course was interrupted by World War One.
War service from 23 July 1917 to 25 April 1919.
After the War he returned to Otago University, graduated Master of Arts 1921, he was rugby representative at Southland Boys High School; Otago representative in hockey; always a good tennis player; awarded Rhodes Scholarship; completed Bachelor of Arts at Oxford England 1923 (MA followed in 1958); studied theology at Union Seminary New York, graduated Bachelor of Divinity in 1925; he took Bachelor of Divinity at Union to give him qualification for ordination on return to New Zealand.
Licensed by Christchurch Presbytery 17 February 1926
- Ordained Kaikohe (Bay of Islands) Northland 17 August 1926
- St Andrews, Dunedin 26.2.1929 — resigned 31 January 1941
- Master, Knox College, Dunedin 6 March 1941 — retired 31 January 1964
'Hubert Ryburn was a man of strong conviction and sound churchmanship. He believed implicitly in what he was doing and he possessed the mental grasp and training to put his beliefs into action. Many will remember the quality of his preaching. It was scholarly, expository and direct. ...He also believed in Knox College as an entity and as an ideal. He subscribed to and built up the dream of the founder, Andrew Cameron, to develop a community of scholars where people of all faculties could learn from each other by the discipline of living in such a place. ...
'Sometimes he found the courts of the Church less than scintillating but he did his duty by them, and when he rose to speak everyone listened. He was always prepared, lucid and challenging. He kept up his interest in his practical enjoyments as long as he was able. His workshop was a model of exactness, and his rod and line were familiar with the streams of Upper North Otago.'
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Ryburn, Hubert James. Presbyterian Research Centre, accessed 31/07/2026, https://pcanzarchives.recollect.co.nz/nodes/view/112678
