Frederick de Jersey Clere

Frederick de Jersey Clere (7 January 1856 – 13 August 1952) was a New Zealand ecclesiastical architect. Born in Walsden, Lancashire, Clere received his architectural training in Brighton and London, later immigrating to New Zealand. In New Zealand Clere was appointed architect to the Anglican Diocese of Wellington and designed over a hundred churches, with many of them still extant. Clere was an adopter and advocate of reinforced concrete with the majority of his works after 1910 adopting the material. Clere's most notable reinforced concrete design being St Mary of the Angels, Wellington. Multiple of Clere's designs — both ecclesiastical and domestic and commercial — have heritage protection.

Clere was a founding member and fellow of the New Zealand Institute of Architects.

Early life Clere was born in Walsden, Lancashire on 7 January 1856. Clere's father, Henry, was an Anglican clergyman. Frederick spent 6 years at St John's School in Clapton, London before articling to Edmund Scott at the age of 16. Scott was a Brighton architect who focused on ecclesiastical architecture. After 3 years, in 1875, Clere became assistant to ecclesiastical architect Robert Jewell Withers in London and joined the London Architectural Association. Architectural career Clere and his family arrived in Wellington aboard the Hurunui on 12 December 1877. Clere went on to form Clere, Fitzgerald & Richmond, this practice was active in the 1890s but after 1899 both Richmond and Clere had left. Clere formed a new partnership with his draughtsman John Swan but this had been dissolved by the time he moved to Lower Hutt in 1901.

Clere was one of the first New Zealand architects to widely adopt reinforced concrete. Clere used concrete for the majority of his churches after 1904. His most notable reinforced concrete building is the Church of St Mary of the Angels, Wellington.

In 1935 Clere was awarded the King George V Silver Jubilee Medal.

Registered as a category 1 building with Heritage New Zealand. Designed by Atkins and Clere Third floor added in 1895. Registered as a category 1 building with Heritage New Zealand

Scheduled as class C building with the Whanganui District Council. Designed by both Atkins and Clere.

Registered as a category 2 building with Heritage New Zealand. No longer in situ but still extant

Brendenwood 1909 Demolished 1995.

Registered as a category 2 building with Heritage New Zealand. Clere also designed the vicarage in 1906 and an expansion in 1917

Registered as a category 2 building with Heritage New Zealand. Designed with Llewellyn Williams

Registered as a category 1 building. Designed by Frederick and Herbert de Jersey Clere.

Registered as a category 1 building with Heritage New Zealand. Clere's former partner, John Swan, designed St Gerard's Church.