Our Vision
The Diocese through this decade is working on Regeneration. We dream of each of our ministry units being populated with new generations of believers. We pray for each of our churches to have a spread of generations in its congregations.
Our focus is on making disciples, strengthening families and building communities.
Come and join us!
Our Story
In 1850 Christchurch and the Canterbury plains and foothills were settled with migrants from Great Britain, many of whom were members of the Church of England. Anglican churches were founded. Anglican missioners shared the Good News with local Māori.
In 1856 the Diocese of Christchurch was established, Christchurch was declared a city by Queen Victoria, and Bishop Henry Harper arrived as our first bishop.
Nearly 170 years later we are onto our ninth bishop. The Diocese incorporates all of Canterbury, Westland and the Chatham Islands, divided into 54 parishes and one Cathedral ministry unit in the centre of Christchurch.
Safeguarding and Complaint Process
Safeguarding is about prevention of harm and early intervention to minimise the opportunity for the child, young person or vulnerable adult to be harmed.
If you wish to make a complaint about an office bearer in the Anglican Church (for example, a priest, deacon, bishop, licenced lay minister, trustee, etc) we encourage you to put it in writing and send it directly to the independent Registrar, either by email or post.
What is faith?
Is Christianity true?
What happens when I die?
Finding faith in a busy world.
Coming soon: We talk to 5 people with fresh stories of finding faith & community.
News and Announcements
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Read more: Bishop Peter’s Christmas message 2025
Bishop Peter’s Christmas message 2025
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Read more: Christmas and Holiday Services 2025 – Jan 2026
Christmas and Holiday Services 2025 – Jan 2026
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Read more: Primatial Christmas Message 2025
Primatial Christmas Message 2025
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Read more: AnglicanLife Issue 86 Print Magazine is out
AnglicanLife Issue 86 Print Magazine is out
Anglican e-Life
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Read more: Anglican e-Life | 11 February 2026
Anglican e-Life | 11 February 2026
Dear Friends,
The post-summer holiday part of 2026 is well underway as we look ahead, to a busy period with many important and wonderful services/events coming up.
Ash Wednesday, 18 February 2025, is one of the most important days in the church’s calendar and I am delighted that ecumenical services for Ash Wednesday are planned across our Diocese. I am looking forward to preaching at our annual Roman Catholic – Anglican cathedrals’ ecumenical service which will be in St. Mary’s Pro Cathedral, Manchester Street, Christchurch at 5.30pm. All welcome.
The following night, 7pm to 8.30pm, Thursday 19 February, is Open Heaven, at Wolfbrook Arena, Christchurch. I attended this event last year and it was a highlight of the year as some 5,000 Christians from across our city and region came together to praise God and to pray for our nation. I will be there this year and I encourage all readers of e-Life to join me. Doors open at 6.15pm and entry is free. This year the capacity of the arena for this event has been increased to 8,000 so there will be room for everyone. More details at Open Heaven.
Coming up in early March is the World Day of Prayer. This is a global annual event, always held on the first Friday in March – so this year, Friday 6 March 2026. Please look at for a local, ecumenical, prayer service held in a church near you and join with others in praying for our world. This year Nigerian women have written the service based on Matthew 11:28-30. With all that has been in the news about Christians being persecuted, kidnapped and killed in Nigeria, it is timely to hear their voice. Further details are at on the AAW website, AAW events, and elsewhere in e-Life next week.
Clergy Announcements
At the end of January, the Reverend Lisa McInnes concluded her role as Vicar of Avonside, and the Reverend Steven Dunne concluded his role as Priest-in-Charge of Woodend-Pegasus. I thank Lisa and Steven for the respective ministries and wish them well for the next chapter in their lives.
The Reverend Sammy Mould will lead the Parish of Woodend-Pegasus as Deacon-in-Charge until Wednesday, 18 March 2026 when she will become Priest-in-Charge of the parish, following her ordination to the priesthood at 7pm on Wednesday 18 March, in the Transitional Cathedral. All are welcome to this service for which the Reverend Lucy Flatt, Vicar of Johnsonville, will be the preacher. Sammy will work 0.8 FTE for the parish and continue working one day a week in her Diocesan role as leader of our Under 40s Diocesan Ministry Team.
March 2026 Quiet Days: 9am to 3pm, with the morning spent in Bible study led by Bishop Peter, and the afternoon in prayer for the world and for the Diocese:
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Saturday 7 March, All Saints, Hokitika (Gospel of John chapters 1-3 for the Bible study)
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Saturday 14 March, Church of the Epiphany, Hanmer Springs (John chapters 4-6)
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Saturday 21 March, The Anglican Centre, 95 Tuam Street, Christchurch (John chapters 7-10)
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Saturday 28 March, St. Alban’s, Pleasant Point (John chapters 11-13)
All are welcome to the quiet days. Please bring your own lunch or plan to go to a nearby eating place. Morning tea is provided.
On the Sundays following the Quiet Days I will then preach and preside in the local church at the main Sunday morning service, except for Sunday 22 March when I will preach and preside at Te Hepara Pai, Te Waipounamu, Ferry Road, Christchurch. It would be a great encouragement to the Parishes of Westland, Hanmer Springs and Temuka-Te Ngawai if some members of the Diocese outside those localities planned to participate in one of those three weekends.
The internationally acclaimed King’s Singers return to Christchurch Town Hall on 11 March 2026 for a very special concert marking Christchurch-born baritone Chris Bruerton‘s final New Zealand performance with the ensemble. You will experience an unforgettable evening of flawless harmony, wit, and a richly varied programme spanning Renaissance masterpieces to contemporary favourites, in a heartfelt homecoming and farewell celebration. Tickets are available online. Chris Bruerton’s musical journey was shaped by his years as a chorister and lay clerk at the cathedral. He and his colleagues in the King’s Singers are extraordinary singers.
The Reverend Jim and Sandra Robb write:
“Our heart-felt thanks for your comments and prayerful support following our son Timothy’s recent death. Some of you have asked for a link to view the service: A recording of his funeral held on Monday 2 February in St Mary’s Church Eaton Socon, England is currently accessible on You Tube as “Timothy Robb’s Thanksgiving Service”. We’re not sure how long this will remain on-line so as a back-up it’s now permanently stored on Vimeo and can be accessed.”
Last Friday was Waitangi Day. Teresa and I were able to be in Waitangi for our first experience of Waitangi Day celebrations and commemorations. It was a privilege to support local Māori Anglican Bishop, Kito Pikaahu, by sharing with other bishops and church leaders in the well-known Dawn Service and then in another, similar service at 9 am. I have written a few reflections about the experience of this important day in our history on my personal blog.
This coming Sunday, 15 February 2026 is Epiphany 6. The Gospel reading is Matthew 5:21-37. Being a disciple of Jesus is costly. Jesus calls us in passages such as this to live up to a very high calling. If we are challenged by this passage, let’s pray for God’s help through the Holy Spirit to live up to our high calling. If we are not challenged by this passage, let’s take care not to be proud of our righteous state!
Arohanui,
+Peter.
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Read more: Anglican e-Life | 4 February 2026
Anglican e-Life | 4 February 2026
Dear Friends,
Veronica Cross has given me notice that she will retire from her Bishop’s EA role on 20 April 2026. I am so grateful for her work with me, her support for many aspects of life in the Anglican Centre, and her extraordinary helpfulness to individuals, committees and boards across the Diocese on a wide range of matters. Closer to 20 April will be an opportunity to say more about Veronica and to wish God’s blessings on her and Dave, her husband, for the next chapter of their life together.
Following Nathan Muirhead’s conclusion of his role as Diocesan Safeguarding Officer, I am delighted to announce that Mr Phil Trotter has been appointed to the role and will begin work this coming Monday 9 February 2026. Among several roles in youth ministry, Phil has previously worked for the Diocese of Christchurch as Diocesan Youth Advisor for 11 years, as National Youth Advisor for Tikanga Pakeha for 5 years and as full-time lecturer at Laidlaw College teaching youth ministry and overseeing ministry internships. Phil’s most recent roles have involved youth work in the Hurunui District. Thank you, Phil, for rejoining the Diocesan staff team for this important work. Phil can be contacted at safe.edu@anglicanlife.org.nz
Thank you to all who gathered for Evensong at the Transitional Cathedral on Sunday evening, during which we commissioned Archdeacon Nick Mountfort as Archdeacon of Ministry for the Diocese, and we installed the Reverend Bosco Peters as a Clerical Canon of Christ Church Cathedral. Archdeacon Nick may be contacted on education, training and formation matters in the Diocese at education@anglicanlife.org.nz.
This Friday is Waitangi Day. Let’s continue to pray for our nation, that we will grow more deeply in being a diversity-in-unity people. From a Tiriti perspective we are the diversity of two peoples signing the one covenant for our life together. From a contemporary perspective we are the diversity of people from many nations arriving on these shores through intervals of time, with multiple cultures being expressed through a diversity of customs, religious practices and everyday aspirations for a better life. On Waitangi Day we have an opportunity as a whole nation to ensure that we truly, deeply “love one another” (even if that phrase sourced from Jesus himself is never used by any of our political leaders).
Ash Wednesday, the beginning of Lent is two weeks away, Wednesday 18 February 2025. I commend ministry units organising ecumenical services for Ash Wednesday and look forward to joining in our annual Roman Catholic – Anglican cathedrals’ ecumenical service which will be in St. Mary’s Pro Cathedral, Manchester Street, Christchurch at 5.30pm. All welcome.
I commend Bible study groups for Lent and recommend for study the next instalment of Theology House’s Lenten study series, In the Spirit of Lent. The edition for Year A (2025-2026) again includes art by the Reverend Sarah West and text by Gareth Bezett, Director of Theology House. Orders can be made at Theology House and books will be posted to you as soon as possible. Copies are $9 each.
In March there will be a series of Quiet Days in four parts of the Diocese in March 2026. Each Quiet Day will consist of Bible study and prayer and take place on a Saturday, 9am to 3pm. I will then preach and preside in a local church the next day at the main Sunday morning service. The weekends are, 7-8 March, at All Saints, Hokitika, Westland; 14-15 March at the Church of the Epiphany, Hanmer Springs; 21-22 March here in Christchurch (Saturday in the Anglican Centre; Sunday service at Te Hepara Pai, Ferry Road), and 28-29 March at St. Albans’, Pleasant Point. It would be a great encouragement to the Parishes of Westland, Hanmer Springs and Temuka-Te Ngawai if some members of the Diocese outside those localities planned to participate in one of those three weekends. More details to come.
The internationally acclaimed King’s Singers return to Christchurch Town Hall on 11 March 2026 for a very special concert marking Christchurch-born baritone Chris Bruerton‘s final New Zealand performance with the ensemble. Expect an unforgettable evening of flawless harmony, wit, and a richly varied programme spanning Renaissance masterpieces to contemporary favourites, in a heartfelt homecoming and farewell celebration. Tickets are available online from Eventfinda.
Let’s continue in prayer for the troubled places of the world, including Iran (which has gone somewhat quiet in the news, but great trouble continues there). The Anglican Missions Board page offers guidance on praying the news about Iran. The Reverend Edrick Corban-Banks has also supplied prayers for use in our Diocese and beyond which are available in this e-Life.
This coming Sunday, 8 February 2026 is Epiphany 5. The Gospel reading is Matthew 5:13-20. There are at least three significant Sunday messages to be brought out of this passage: being salt of the earth; being light to the world; being righteous in the context of the Law of Moses and the teaching of Jesus as it reinterprets that Law.
Arohanui,
+Peter.
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Read more: Anglican e-Life | 28 January 2026
Anglican e-Life | 28 January 2026
Dear Friends,
Further to my encouragement in e-Life last week that we have a special focus in our Sunday intercessions and parish prayer meetings, I have been made aware of this helpful Anglican Missions Board page which offers guidance on praying the news about Iran. I am grateful for prayers supplied by the Reverend Edrick Corban-Banks for use in our Diocese and beyond which are available in this e-Life. There is now a consensus in world media that the Iranian government has carried out the most appalling mass executions of its own citizens in order to maintain power. A number as high as 30,000 deaths is being reported in reliable mainstream media.
On Friday night, 23 January, at 7pm in St. Barnabas, Fendalton, the Reverend Dr Andrew Butcher was inducted as Vicar of Fendalton, and the Reverend Kay Webster was commissioned as Senior Associate Priest for the Parish of Fendalton. I rejoice that we have clerical leadership in two parishes, Fendalton and Avonhead settled in the first month of this year. I ask for your prayers as we work on other vacancies in parishes ranging from South Canterbury to North Canterbury.
On Sunday morning Lily Beavan was confirmed in St. John the Evangelist, Cheviot, and on Sunday afternoon parishioners from across Mid Canterbury gathered in St. John’s Church, Barrhill, for an annual Archdeaconry service, organised by the Reverend Sage Burke, with Archdeacon Indrea Alexander as our preacher.
This Sunday evening, at Evensong, 5pm Sunday 1 February 2026 in the Transitional Cathedral, we will commission Archdeacon Nick Mountfort as Archdeacon for Ministry for the Diocese, and we will install the Reverend Bosco Peters as a Clerical Canon of Christ Church Cathedral. All are welcome to this service.
From 1 February 2026 the Parish of Upper Riccarton-Yaldhurst will be seeking a new vicar to replace Archdeacon Nick Mountfort. During the vacancy, the Reverend Dr Mike Baker will be the Interim Priest-in-Charge with the Reverend Peg Riley continuing her role of Associate Priest for this parish.
Ash Wednesday, the beginning of Lent is three weeks away: Wednesday 18 February 2025. I commend ministry units organising ecumenical services for Ash Wednesday and look forward to joining in our annual Roman Catholic – Anglican cathedrals’ ecumenical service which will be in St. Mary’s Pro-Cathedral, Manchester Street, Christchurch at 5.30pm. All welcome.
I also commend Bible study groups for Lent and recommend for study the next instalment of Theology House’s Lenten study series, In the Spirit of Lent. The edition for Year A (2025-2026) again includes art by the Reverend Sarah West and text by Gareth Bezett, Director of Theology House. Orders can be made at Theology House and books will be posted to you as soon as possible. Copies are $9 each.
I am planning a series of Quiet Days in four parts of the Diocese in March 2026. Each Quiet Day will consist of Bible study and prayer and take place on a Saturday, 9am to 3pm. I will then preach and preside in a local church the next day. The weekends are, 7-8 March, at All Saints, Hokitika, Westland; 14-15 March at the Church of the Epiphany, Hanmer Springs; 21-22 March here in Christchurch (venues to be confirmed), and 28-29 March at St. Albans’, Pleasant Point. It would be a great encouragement to the Parishes of Westland, Hanmer Springs and Temuka-Te Ngawai if some members of the Diocese outside those localities planned to participate in one of those three weekends. More details in the next few weeks.
Diana Smith, widow of Fr Ron Smith, has died and her funeral was held in St. Michael’s and All Angels, Oxford Terrace, Christchurch last Saturday. I give thanks to God for Diana’s life and for her gentle presence in the congregation at St. Michael’s and for her support for Fr Ron’s ministry.
This coming Sunday, 1 February 2026 is Epiphany 4 and likely in many churches to be celebrated as The Presentation of Jesus in the Temple. The Gospel reading is Luke 2:22-40. One way to read this story is to absorb and be inspired by the example of Simeon and Anna in their devotion to Jesus Christ. They anticipate the coming of the Christ, knowing not when this will be nor exactly whom this gift of God to the world will be. Their anticipation is expressed through many years in daily devotion in prayer and worship in their place of worship – the Temple in Jerusalem. They are faithful to Jesus whom they have not seen. May we be faithful to Jesus whom we have seen.
Arohanui,
+Peter.
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Read more: Anglican e-Life | 21 January 2026
Anglican e-Life | 21 January 2026
Dear Friends,
It is not possible to talk about a “Happy New Year” as 2026, less than one month old, sees no cessation in conflict and oppression in Gaza and the West Bank, Syria, Sudan and Ukraine, news of Iranian citizens being slaughtered by soldiers, terrorists and police employed by their own government, the breakdown of international law and order via US intervention in Venezuela and Trump’s obsession with owning Greenland, and flooding in parts of our islands as heavy rain falls in summer (once unknown but now a regular feature in our changed climate). I ask that our intercessions in regular services and our foci in parish prayer meetings includes prayer that our God will deliver the world from evil, with a special focus on deliverance from the evil of killing people in the Middle East: Gaza, West Bank, Syria and Iran. I also ask, as we perhaps have our attention taken up with the latest headlines, such as those about Iran, that in our prayers we continue to pray for all caught up in war, not forgetting enduring conflicts that now may not receive headline treatment. Evil is being visited on our world in these days. There is no cause in this world worth killing people for. I honour those who have given their lives in recent times for the simple cause of seeking to live free lives in a civil, just society.
Nevertheless, at the beginning of this year, we have some things to celebrate, and I congratulate the following in our Diocese who have been awarded honours by the King on recommendation of our Government: the Reverend Dr Patricia Allan (ONZM), Mr Graham Carr (ONZM), Mrs Bev Forrester (MNZM), Miss Jill Kerr (MNZM). I also note that Mrs Jane Zintl who lives in Wellington but in recent times has contributed to our diocese’s boundaries training has received an MNZM. Please open up this link (or In the Media in this e-Life) in order to find citations for each individual’s award.
Last night we had a wonderful induction service for the Reverend Dr Joshua Taylor as he became the Vicar of Avonhead. Please pray for Joshua and Jo and their family as they settle into their new life in Avonhead. As a new era begins for Avonhead, I thank the Reverend Dr John Fox for his work as Interim Priest in Charge of Avonhead and the Reverend Les Memory for his work as Assistant Priest through the past year. John Fox reverts to being Assistant Priest for Avonhead (0.5 FTE) and continues as Senior Ecumenical Chaplain at the University of Canterbury (0.5 FTE).
This Friday night, 23 January, at 7pm in St. Barnabas, Fendalton, I will induct the Reverend Dr Andrew Butcher as Vicar of Fendalton and commission the Reverend Kay Webster as Senior Associate Priest for the Parish of Fendalton. All are welcome to this service and clergy who robe should vest in alb and red stole. Kay Webster comes to our Diocese from the Diocese of Wellington: welcome Kay!
This Sunday afternoon, 26 January, at 4pm in St. John’s Church, Barrhill, the Archdeaconry of Mid Canterbury meets for worship. Archdeacon Indrea Alexander will be our preacher and I will be presiding at the eucharist. All are welcome – from within and without the Mid Canterbury area.
Today is the final day for Nathan Muirhead in his work as our Diocesan Safeguarding officer. Nathan shortly takes up a full-time teaching role at Paparoa Street School here in Christchurch. Thank you, Nathan, for your outstanding work in this role. We are moving ahead on a new appointment for a successor to Nathan.
The Reverend Jim and Sandra Robb have recently shared news of their son Timothy Robb‘s death, on 7 January 2026. Timothy has been the Vicar of St. Mary’s Church in Eaton Socon in Cambridgeshire, England. Please pray for Jim and Sandra and the whole Robb family as they grieve, and for Timothy’s widow, Julie and their daughter Sarah as they prepare for his funeral.
Mrs Wyn Ehau has died. She is lying through this week at Te Pa Mihinare o Te Waipounamu, Ferry Roard, Christchurch, with visitors to Te Pa Mihinare welcome. Wyn’s funeral will be in the Aranui Wainoni Community Centre, 31 Hampshire Street, Christchurch at 1pm, this Friday 23 January. Wyn has been a longstanding and much-loved member of the congregation at Te Pa Mihinare. Together with her late husband George they founded Wai-Ora Trust and Wai-Ora Enterprise, a faith-based community organisation dedicated to the restoration of people and the environment.
Our Synod in September last year concluded with one lay membership on Standing Committee vacant. Recently the lay members of Standing Committee have filled that vacancy by electing Ross Jones (Hornby, Templeton and West Melton). Congratulations, Ross!
I am very pleased to announce that the Reverend Bosco Peters will be a Clerical Canon of Christ Church Cathedral, filling a vacancy created when the Reverend Mark Chamberlain retired as a clerical canon at the end of 2024. Bosco will be installed as canon at Evensong, 5pm Sunday, 1 February 2026 in the Transitional Cathedral.
During that same service we will be commissioning Archdeacon Nick Mountfort as Archdeacon for Ministry. In this role Nick will be undertaking work associated with the role of “ministry educator” for our Diocese, including leadership of Post Ordination Training, collaborating with me in our Diocesan Discernment process, representing the Diocese at various national church meetings concerning ministry formation and theological training, and facilitating such training and education as we need for lay and ordained ministers in our Diocese. For the time-being Nick will also continue as Archdeacon for Selwyn-Tawera.
Ash Wednesday, the beginning of Lent is imminent: Wednesday, 18 February 2025. I commend ministry units organising ecumenical services for Ash Wednesday and look forward to joining in our annual Roman Catholic – Anglican cathedrals’ ecumenical service (details next week). I also commend Bible study groups for Lent and recommend for study the next instalment of Theology House’s Lenten study series, In the Spirit of Lent. The edition for Year A (2025-2026) again includes art by the Reverend Sarah West and text by Gareth Bezett, Director of Theology House. Orders can be made at Theology House and books will be posted to you as soon as possible. Orders made before this week are being fulfilled this week. Copies are $9 each.
I am planning a series of Quiet Days in four parts of the Diocese in March 2026. Each Quiet Day will consist of Bible study and prayer and take place on a Saturday, 9am to 3pm. I will then preach and preside in a local church the next day. The weekends are, 7-8 March, at All Saints, Hokitika, Westland; 14-15 March at the Church of the Epiphany, Hanmer Springs; 21-22 March here in Christchurch (venues to be confirmed), and 28-29 March at St. Alban’s, Pleasant Point. It would be a great encouragement to the Parishes of Westland, Hanmer Springs and Temuka-Te Ngawai if some members of the Diocese outside those localities planned to participate in one of those three weekends. More details in the next few weeks.
Archbishop Don Tamihere has announced that the Electoral Synod for next Bishop of Te Hui Amorangi ki Te Waipounamu will be on 17 and 18 April 2026. Please pray for Archbishop Don and the committee planning for this important hui, and pray that God will call candidates to be presented for consideration by the synod members.
This coming Sunday, 26 January 2026 is Epiphany 3 and the Gospel reading is Matthew 4:12-23. The mission of Jesus is (a) for the whole world, for all peoples, irrespective of nationality or tribe; (b) centred on a simple message, paraphrasing, turn away from wrongdoing, live under the rule of God; (c) always personal because the mission involves calling individuals to follow Jesus.
Arohanui,
+Peter.
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Our Purpose
To proclaim the Good News of the Kingdom
To teach, baptise and nurture new believers
To respond to human need by loving service
To pursue peace and reconciliation
Protect the integrity of creation, sustain and renew the life of the earth