From 1847 to 1848 he was curate of Bussage, Gloucestershire, in 1848 he was briefly headmaster of St Nicolas' College, Shoreham-by-Sea, and from 1849 to 1850 curate of All Saints Church, Poplar, London. In 1850 he sailed to New Zealand on to be classical professor of a proposed new college in Canterbury. Sir George Seymour was one of the First Four Ships to carry emigrants from England to the new colony of Canterbury in New Zealand on behalf of the Canterbury Association. On arrival he conducted the first Church of England service in the Canterbury region and in July 1851, conducted the service at the opening of the first church in Christchurch.The Very Reverend Henry Jacobs The Cyclopedia Of New Zealand From 1852 he was headmaster of the Christ's College Grammar School, Christchurch.
