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Minutes of the General Assembly 2012
During his long illness, Alex found inspiration in the prophet Joel, “I will restore to you
the years the locust hath eaten.”
In 1957, he changed his vocation and commenced his ministry studies at Knox
College. In January 1959, he married Benita Cottier. With Benita at his side, his health
and confidence were restored. Alex finished his training and took up his first position as
hospital chaplain and parish minister in Seacliff in 1960. Alex encouraged people to
visit patients and have patients out on leave. He arranged for groups of people to put
on musical programmes for selected wards and have afternoon tea with the patients.
He also encouraged the idea of establishing chapels in mental hospitals.
In 1965, Alex took up the position of parish minister at Tapanui. The Bartons were
there for eight years. Alex was encouraged to stand for the borough council which he
did successfully and embarked upon his campaign of upgrading the town's
infrastructure.
In 1970, the Bartons travelled to the United States where Alex undertook studies for his
Master’s which would qualify him for the hospital chaplaincy work he wished to do. In
1973, Alex took up a position as chaplain at the Dunedin Public Hospital. He was to
hold this position for 19 years, and in that period dealt with many thousands of patients.
Alex was the first to serve a two year term as moderator of Dunedin Presbytery and he
also served as moderator of the Synod of Otago and Southland.
In 1985, Alex and Benita had another year in the United States where he studied at the
Louisville Southern Baptist Seminary, ultimately graduating with a Doctorate in Ministry.
From 1992 until 2001, Alex was the minister at St Mark’s Parish in Pine Hill. Alex and
Benita were deeply embedded in the St Mark's and the Pine Hill community, and their
family are grateful for the tremendous support that community has given.
Alex's last official function as a minister was to officiate at the wedding in March 2011
of his eldest granddaughter, Rochelle. What more fitting note could there be on which
to end his career?
Barton, Doctor George Paterson QC
13 May 1925 – 17 May 2011
Born a son of the manse in Ponsonby, Auckland, George considered following his
father, Frazer, into ministry, but after three years at Knox, he enrolled at Victoria
University of Wellington to finish his arts degree and move on to law. However, George
intertwined his faith and his passion for justice in the way he conducted his long and
illustrious legal career.
George was admitted as a barrister and solicitor in 1948, the same year he married
Ailsa Begg, with whom he had three sons, David, John and Paul. Following his
admission, George went to read international law at Cambridge University where he
completed his PhD. This was under the supervision of the renowned Professor Hersh
Lauterpacht, the man who in 1945 published an "international bill of rights"—a
pioneering work advocating protection of fundamental human rights by international
treaty. Between 1950 and 1952, George was working in the human rights division of
the United Nations based in New York. Later, on his return to Aotearoa New Zealand,
he became a teacher of law at Victoria University of Wellington, ultimately being
Professor of Jurisprudence and Constitutional Law and then Dean of the Faculty of
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