Henry Murray

Henry St Aubyn Murray (14 January 1886 – 12 April 1943) was a New Zealand architect and athlete.

Biography Murray was born in Christchurch, New Zealand, in 1886. He received his education at Christ's College. All Black Toby Murray was his cousin. After school, he went to the local architect Frederick John Barlow as an apprentice.

He competed for Australasia in the 1908 Summer Olympics in London, England.

He married Ismene Nola Simms on 5 April 1916, in Brisbane. She was the daughter of H. G. Simms from London, who had lately lived in Christchurch. From later that year, Murray served with the 11th Field Company of the Royal Australian Engineers in WWI. In 1917, he won a Military Cross for bravery.

As an architect, Murray undertook many commissions for the Catholic Church. His best-known work in the Church of the Holy Name in Ashburton, which is registered by Heritage New Zealand as a Category I historic structure. Another notable structure that he designed is the Akaroa War Memorial.

Murray was a flying officer in the Royal New Zealand Air Force during WWII. On Saturday, 10 April 1943, he was in a jeep that skidded on loose gravel near Whangarei Harbour and overturned. He died from his injuries early the following Monday morning, aged 57. Murray's funeral was held at St Mary's Catholic Church in Central Christchurch and he was buried at Ruru Lawn Cemetery in Bromley.