REVEREND CAREW ELERS
I am a direct descendant of Reverend Carew Thomas Elers (1790-1863). He is my fourth great grandfather. This is my whakapapa.
Reverend Carew Thomas Elers (my fourth great grandfather) was from an aristocratic pedigree. Although his great, great grandfather was German, Reverend Carew Elers' great grandmother was Dorothy Carew of Carew Castle, Pembrokeshire. Accordingly, Reverend Carew Elers was a direct descendant of King Edward 1. His name is mentioned in several books about the Royal family lineage. As an example, here is an extract from the Burke 1851 book on the Royal family genealogy. Here is a different extract from another book. Reverend Carew Elers' grandmother (Mary Elers nee Charon or Charron) was from a French Huguenot family. Huguenots were French Protestant Christians.
CHAPLAIN TO HIS ROYAL HIGHNESS THE DUKE OF CLARENCE
Reverend Carew Elers graduated from the University of Cambridge and was ordained to the diaconate on the 20th of July 1817. He was ordained to the priesthood on the 17th of May 1818. From 1822 to 1830 he served as a chaplain to HRH The Duke of Clarence, who became King William IV. Reverend Carew Elers' uncle, Reverend Peter Elers, was previously the chaplain to HRH The Duke of Clarence.
VICAR OF BICKENHILL FOR 40 YEARS
From 1823 until his death in 1863, Reverend Carew Elers was the vicar of St Peter's Church in the small village of Bickenhill, Solihull, West Midlands. I, like many other members of the Elers family in New Zealand, have made the journey to St Peter's Church in Bickenhill to pay respects, as the graves of Reverend Carew Elers and his wife Sarah and many of his children are located there.
Reverend Dr Steve Elers with his two daughters in 2022 at St Peter's Church in Bickenhill, England. Directly in front of them are the graves of Reverend Carew Elers and his wife Sarah (Steve Elers' fourth great grandparents).
St Peter's Church at Bickenhill was built in the year 1140 (yes... 1140). There are three plaques on the wall to the left of the altar table. All three plaques are dedications to the Elers family.
The three plaques on the wall are dedicated to the Elers family.
The plaque on the bottom left (in the above photo) is dedicated to the children of Reverend Carew Elers and Sarah Elers: Carew Elers (died in 1828, aged 15 weeks); George Elers (died in 1832, aged 7 months); and Charles George Elers (died in 1833, aged 9 months). The plaque included three Bible verses:
"I was dumb; I opened not my mouth because thou didst it" (Psalm 39:9)
"Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord. Even so saith the spirit" (Revelation 14:13)
"As in Adam all die even so in Christ shall all be made alive" (1 Corinthians 15:22)
The plaque to the right is dedicated to more of Reverend Carew Elers and Sarah Elers' children: Charles Henry Elers (died in 1837, just 16 days old); Sarah Elizabeth Elers (died in 1840, aged 18 years old); Adeline Elers (died in 1842, aged 5 years old); and Caroline Elers (died in 1844, aged 5 years old). The plaque includes the following verse (Matthew 5:8)
"Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God."
The plaque on the top left is dedicated to another daughter, Sophia Elers (died in 1845, aged 19 years). It is also dedicated to Reverend Carew Elers (died in 1863) and his wife Sarah Elers (died in 1892).
This is a scan of Reverend Carew Elers' original trade card (the equivalent of a modern day business card). There weren't any phone numbers or email addresses to give in those days!
