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: New leader of Presbyterian Church is Southern man who asks what we believe
New leader of Presbyterian Church is Southern man who asks what we believe
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Read more: Primatial Statement on the Appointment of the 106th Archbishop of Canterbury
Primatial Statement on the Appointment of the 106th Archbishop of Canterbury
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Read more: New plan to reopen Christ Church Cathedral as it was built – in stages
New plan to reopen Christ Church Cathedral as it was built – in stages
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Read more: Primatial Statement Regarding the Holy Land
Primatial Statement Regarding the Holy Land
Anglican e-Life
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Read more: Anglican e-Life | 5 November 2025
Anglican e-Life | 5 November 2025
Greetings from the Vicar General, Mark Barlow.
In the cover photo collage, we have the fun-filled Ellesmere Parish Fair, and Deeper 2025 with over 95 people across our Diocese gathering at Woodend for deeper fellowship, worship, kai, and indoor/outdoor activities. Many thanks to the organisers, leaders, helpers, and participants who made Deeper a wonderful family-friendly gathering for our Diocese last Saturday.
We are pleased to announce that from Sunday, 1 February 2026, the Venerable Nick Mountfort will join the Diocesan Ministry Team based at the Anglican Centre. Bishop Peter has appointed Nick to be Archdeacon for Ministry Education.
Earlier this week I took a stroll along the banks of the Liffey, which runs through Lincoln, on a warm and sunny afternoon. As I walked along, I was giving thanks to God for the many blessings in my life, of which there are many.
We had a very successful Parish Plant Fair on the weekend, raising more than $15,000.00; there was a wonderful baptism service the next day with a full church, and I was having an actual day off! I have to confess that it would have been easy to have become a bit smug about these ‘blessings’ were it not for some others that awaited me along the path.
My reverie was interrupted by the approach of a very large Muscovy duck which, without any fear, waddled right up to me wagging its tail feathers, as if in greeting. Naturally I replied, marvelling at its trust. Within a few paces, my gaze was distracted by a large rhododendron bush, utterly festooned with pale pink flowers. I had to stop to admire it. As I stood there transfixed by its beauty, a magnificent golden monarch butterfly fluttered by above me with the casual ease of a creature in no particular hurry but seemingly enjoying its journey. “Are you just showing off, Lord?” I prayed. “Absolutely!” came the reply, “Were you?” Somewhat chastened and purged of any trace of smugness, I had the blessings of the weekend put into perspective and became truly thankful to the One who graciously bestowed them.
This Sunday’s gospel is Luke 20:27-38 which contains another challenge to see things from God’s perspective rather than our own. Like the Sadducees, we can become smug about the rightness or logic of our own theological positions, and even want to use them to test or defeat another, as they did. Like us, they didn’t know what they didn’t know until Jesus enlightened them, opening their hearts to the greater priorities of the one who is not the God of the dead but the God of the living.
With love
Mark Barlow
Vicar General
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Read more: Anglican e-Life | 29 October 2025
Anglican e-Life | 29 October 2025
Kia ora from the Vicar General, Mark Barlow.
Around our Diocese: Sumner-Redcliffs parishioners and Vicar, Rev’d Harry Newton celebrated Leah’s baptism on the beach with her family and loved ones two weeks ago. The following week, Dame Sue Bagshaw was the guest speaker at the annual Christ’s College Pink Lunch for the International Breast Cancer Awareness Month of October.
Yesterday in the calendar we remembered Saints Simon and Jude, two apostles who were disciples of Jesus during His earthly ministry. The reason that we remember them on the same day is that, according to church tradition, these two travelled and ministered together, carrying on the principle of two-by-two in Persia. Eventually, they were even martyred together, apparently in what is now Beirut.
Reflecting on the significance of such a faithful ministry partnership, I could not help but remember and give thanks for the people with whom I have shared partnerships in ministry. Sometimes fellow clergy, sometimes lay leaders, sometimes wise and mature mentors in the faith, sometimes new believers fuelled by the zeal of their recent conversions.
Whether they be short or long, we are all blessed to have had these associations, all of which are good to remember and to give thanks for. Unlike the two aforementioned apostles, ours have not (as yet) led to martyrdom, but I pray for all of us, and for the partnerships that we are in now, that they may be as faithful, devoted and effective as that of Saint Simon and Saint Jude.
One way that we can all partner together is in the business of being people of prayer. I hope that we can commit together to praying in these days for all who have been adversely affected by the recent stormy weather, especially for those who are still without electricity, and face the prospect of remaining so for days to come.
In the gospel for this coming Sunday (Luke 19:1-10), we have the chief tax collector Zacchaeus, despised by many but loved by Jesus. As I reflect on our Lord’s actions, I cannot help, like Zacchaeus, to be amazed and moved by Him. Here is what struck home. Jesus knew His man. Whether by reputation or by inspiration of the Holy Spirit He discerned the one in greatest need and, rather than scorning or avoiding this arch-sinner, the Lord revealed to him, and to the crowd, the true nature of God. A God of mercy who triumphs over judgement, a God who isn’t fazed by the condescension of others but brings salvation to the houses of sinners when they look into His face and see their worth to the God of Abraham.
This is the Master in whose footsteps we walk and whose ways we seek to emulate. May we be blessed and be a blessing as we do.
Arohanui ki a koutou katoa
Vicar General Mark Barlow
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Read more: Anglican e-Life | 22 October 2025
Anglican e-Life | 22 October 2025
Greetings to all from the Deputy Vicar General, Indrea Alexander.
In the cover photo collage: We were blessed to have the Reverend Jemma Allen lead our Safe Ministry and Boundaries workshops in October, while Sister Eveleen Retreat House hosted its final ‘Clergy Retreat’ for the year last week.
On Saturday 29 November at the Transitional Cathedral, Wanjiru (Ciru) Muriuki and André Muller will be ordained deacons. Following their ordinations, Ciru has been appointed Assistant Curate in the Parish of Riccarton-Spreydon, and André will work as Assistant Curate with Archdeacon Katrina Hill in the parishes of Linwood-Aranui, East Christchurch and Avonside.
It was estimated 100,000 essential public service workers could be on strike this week in a protest for better pay and working conditions – 50,000 teachers, 36,000 nurses, plus senior doctors, dentists, social workers, healthcare workers and more. We pray for all who are affected by workplace disputes, that wisdom, fairness, and peace may prevail.
We are sad to advise that the Reverend Hugh Paterson died on Saturday at Darfield hospital, surrounded by his family. Hugh was ordained deacon in 1960, then priested in 1962. He served as Assistant Curate in Highfield Parish, before serving in Kumara, Hokitika and Malvern. Hugh then served as Director of Rural Ministry and as Regional Dean in North Canterbury. Hugh retired to the Old Sheffield Vicarage and was a familiar much-loved personality in the Malvern Parish in his retirement years. Hugh’s funeral will be held on Thursday 23 October, 11am at Trinity Church, Darfield.
Monday, 27 October is Labour Day, a public holiday in New Zealand. In the 1800s, New Zealand workers sought the right to limit their work to eight hours a day. Labour Day was officially celebrated from 1900, though the eight-hour day was still not a legal entitlement. At one time, the chant was “eight hours work, eight hours play, eight hours sleep and eight bob a day.” The Living Wage movement, guided by the Lower Hutt Anglican Family Centre Social Policy Research Unit, currently calculates $28.95 an hour as the level of income required to provide fulltime workers with the necessities of life and allow them to participate with dignity as active citizens in society. Many workers receive less, with the minimum wage currently $23.50. According to the Retirement Commission in 2019, 12% of over 65s are still trying to pay off a mortgage.
At Synod there was discussion about how to better care for clergy, and it was asked whether to explore providing health insurance. That would benefit clergy, but I yearn to hear the church’s clamorous cry for a well-resourced public health system that will benefit all.
Due to the red weather warning, the AAW Social Concerns/Overseas and Outreach roadshow in Timaru on Thursday, 23 October will be postponed until further notice.
Arohanui,
Indrea.
Indrea Alexander, Deputy Vicar General
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Read more: Anglican e-Life | 15 October 2025
Anglican e-Life | 15 October 2025
Greetings from the Vicar General, Mark Barlow.
October seems to be the month of ‘fairs’, celebrating the spring season. We have photos from the Garage and Car Boot Sale at St Peter’s, Upper Riccarton-Yaldhurst Parish. All are warmly welcomed to visit the parishes across our Diocese – see more in Upcoming Events (& Fairs) of this e-Life.
In Bishop Peter’s absence, I occasionally have the privilege of representing the Diocese at meetings, gatherings and events. One such instance occurred last week when I attended a meeting of the Christchurch Heads of Denominations group. This gathering is known as ‘Te Raranga’ (in English, ‘The Weaving’ or ‘The Net’). Leaders from most of the various denominations in our region gather three or four times a year to discuss matters of the moment for the church and to pray together.
This time we were hosted at Te Hepera Pai in Ferry Road by the Venerable Susan Wallace, Archdeacon in Te Pihopatanga O Te Waipounamu and Bishop’s Commissary following the death of her dear and much-loved father, Pihopa Rihari Wallace.
Susan gave the assembled leaders a brilliant and gripping summary of a Māori view of the outworking of the gospel in New Zealand, from the first sermon preached by Reverend Samuel Marsden at Oihi Beach on Christmas Day 1814, to the current strategy of the Te Waipounamu diocese for sharing the Good News. We were told that, from the moment when Māori decided to follow Jesus, the Gospel became part of this land; ingrained in the soil! The strategy is to take three ‘pou’ or posts and drive them into this gospel soil as strong anchors for the message.
The first pou is ‘Aroha!’–an unconditional, all-encompassing love that welcomes all. This, of course is redolent of αγαπη (agápē or pronounced as ‘aga-pay’) in the New Testament.
The second is ‘Rongo!’ –Peace. Peace with God through our Lord, with each other and with the earth. Again, reminiscent of a biblical concept familiar to us, namely Shalom, which is so much more than the mere prevention of conflict by a third-party force, but the removal, by God’s grace, of the things that cause division, which brings healing and unity such as we continue to pray for in Gaza and the Middle East.
The third is ‘Hari!’ –Celebration or joy. When people love one another and live in peace, celebration follows, usually involving singing and food! I think that we have a lot to learn from this Tikanga Māori mission action plan.
One way to start is to make time to attend the following:
Prayer Vigil for Peace
This Sunday evening, 19 October,
7pm to midnight at the Transitional Cathedral.
This is an opportunity to thank God for the advancement of the peace accord between Israel and the Palestinian people and to pray for its success, as well as for healing of hurts; the comforting of griefs, and the planting of hope in the Holy Land.
Deeper camp is a space for families and intermediate youth groups to grow deeper in relationship with each other and God. See the new promotional video in the Deeper article of this e-Life. Saturday, 1 November 2025 is a day full of activities and fun! There will be music, talks, waterslide, bouldering wall, archery, air rifles, competitions, crafts, a preschool space and lots more. It is a great opportunity to connect with some fun community and faith. This is a dedicated space for whānau and intermediates to create connections in your parish and across our Diocese. Any questions: please email Azaria Brooker. Book in for Deeper through this link.
This Sunday we continue our journey through the Gospel of Luke. In recent weeks, we have focused on the matter of faith; the mustard seed in 17:5-10; the faith of a healed, gentile leper in 17:11-19. This week, in 18:1-8, Jesus asks the question in verse 8:
“Nevertheless, when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on earth?”
Maybe a strange question to be asking, following a story about an oppressed widow and a diffident judge – or maybe not? How easy is it for us, despite our faith, to miscast our life of prayer and relationship with God along the lines of that between a put-upon individual on the one hand, and an apparently disinterested God on the other?
My prayer for us is that we will grasp our mustard seed of faith and trust that our prayers reach a God who loves us utterly and boundlessly, caring deeply about the people who concern us and things that trouble us. In addition, we can trust the Almighty One, who sees ahead, not only to hear us, but to act as may be best for us and for those for whom we pray!
Arohanui ki a koutou katoa
Vicar General Mark Barlow
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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