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.
News and Announcements
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Read more: Now online: Latest AnglicanLife Magazine with VIP Tamariki
Now online: Latest AnglicanLife Magazine with VIP Tamariki
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Read more: The Anglican Diocese does not control a property empire
The Anglican Diocese does not control a property empire
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Read more: Primatial Announcement: Bishop-elect Announced for Te Hui Amorangi ki Te
Primatial Announcement: Bishop-elect Announced for Te Hui Amorangi ki Te
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Read more: Christ Church Cathedral lit to honour NZ servicemen and women
Christ Church Cathedral lit to honour NZ servicemen and women
Anglican e-Life
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Read more: Anglican e-Life | 23 September 2026
Anglican e-Life | 23 September 2026
Dear Friends,
In this past week it has been a joy and a privilege to share in the formal opening of Wai Ora last Friday morning, visit our Deacons’ Retreat at Te Waiora, Hororata on Saturday morning, confirm Marian Harrison and Emma Tovey at All Souls Church, Merivale-St Albans Parish on Sunday morning, and then to share in the final Evensong with Richard Webster as our Interim Cathedral Music Director while John Linker has been on sabbatical leave.
Wai Ora is the new University of Otago Faculty of Medicine building a few hundred metres to the west of the Anglican Centre between Tuam Street and Oxford terrace. It has cost $292m and will draw into a single site important work in teaching, research, and training in clinical practice. Relevant to some present-day concerns about AI, it was helpfully informative on a tour of the building to hear and see a brief presentation from world leading researchers into analysis of cancer tissue, who use AI to analyse the results of digitisation of tissue slides, enabling advances in research into how cancer treatment might be aligned with the individual physical make up of each patient. Without AI as a tool, this research would not advance.
This weekend I am looking forward to participating in the formal inauguration of the new Parish of Mid Canterbury (i.e. combining of the former parishes of Mayfield-Mt. Somers, Methven, and Rakaia). All are welcome to join us on Saturday on a tour of the churches of the parish, with prayer and reflection at each place, and lunch in the middle at St Stephen’s, Ashburton (9am, St Mark’s, Rakaia; 10am St Patrick’s, Dorie; 11am St James’, Chertsey; 1.30pm St Aidan, Mt Somers; 2.30pm All Saints, Ruapuna; and 3.30pm St. John’s, Barrhill). Then, on Sunday there will be a celebration eucharist at 10 am at All Saints, Methven—again, all welcome.
Phil Trotter, our current Safeguarding Educator, had a medical incident post Synod whereby his memory was affected. This led to a visit with a Neurologist where it was discovered that he joins other members of his wider whānau with a susceptibility to temporal lobe seizures. It means he cannot drive for up to a year. Phil very much takes a field worker approach to this role and would struggle if parked behind a desk. He turns 64 shortly, and Carol his wife has asked him to join her in an early retirement. Phil has a peace about this and will be continuing in his supervision practice, as supervisees either come to his home office or meet online, so no driving required! Apart from following through on some parish training commitments, Phil will finish this Diocesan role on Thursday, 15 October 2026.
The Reverend Lawrence Kimberley has recently announced his resignation as Chair of the Board of Anglican Financial Care (AFC is our church’s body responsible for clergy pensions, a Kiwisaver fund for clergy and church employees, some welfare funds, and other investment funds). Lawrence has served with AFC for 26 years. The most recent AFC newsletters offers this well-deserved tribute to Lawrence:
“Rev’d Lawrence has led the Board with care, dedication, and a deep commitment to service and unity. He has always made time to listen and engage with staff, bringing warmth, thoughtfulness, and a gracious demeanour to his leadership. His considered and approachable style has been greatly valued, and he will be sincerely missed by both the Board and staff. Lawrence has served AFC with distinction, and the Board offers its heartfelt thanks for his outstanding leadership, commitment, and care throughout his long tenure.”
On behalf of all in our Diocese who have benefitted from Lawrence’s work with AFC, I endorse this tribute: thank you, Lawrence!
Christchurch city’s annual Heritage Week is coming soon. One highlight will be events/conversations at St Michael and All Angels, Oxford Terrace, central Christchurch. For those who have not stepped inside St Michael’s you might be interested in the following events. The Church will be open from 10am to 2pm with various people available to answer questions. (There is usually a service between 12.30pm and 1pm to which you are welcome):
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Friday 16 October: The founding of St Michaels 1851-2026 with Johnann Williams
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Saturday 17 October: Our treasures and taonga with Fr Peter Williams
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Tuesday 20 October: Our stunning stained-glass windows with Robert Maclagan
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Wednesday 21 October: Our music: the restored pipe organ with Daniel Cooper
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Friday 23 October: Our bell and its belfry with Johnann Williams
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Saturday 24 October: Our timber Gothic church building
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Monday 26 October: Some of our remarkable parishioners
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Other heritage week events can be found on What’s On: Christchurch City Council
A number of other important events are coming up in the next weeks:
Michaelmas service at 7pm next Tuesday 29 September 2026, at St. Michael and All Angels, Oxford Terrace, Christchurch, to which all people across the Diocese are welcome. In 2026 we are celebrating on this occasion 175 years since the establishment of the Parish of St. Michael and All Angels. Our guest preacher is Archbishop Emeritus Sir David Moxon. Refreshments in the parish hall follow after the service. All welcome.
At 7pm on Thursday 1 October, in St Peter’s Church, Church Corner, Upper Riccarton, the Reverend Prince Devanandan will be inducted as the next Vicar of Upper Riccarton-Yaldhurst. The preacher will be the Reverend Dr Mary Caygill.
At 2pm Saturday afternoon 3 October, the Reverend Brett Roberts will be inducted as the next Vicar of St Mary’s, Timaru. The preacher will be the Reverend Dr Hugh Bowron. All welcome to each of these services.
For young adults across the Diocese of Christchurch: you are invited to Ebb and Flow Young Adults Retreat (18-30s), 12pm Friday 2 October to 4pm Sunday 4 October 2026 at Little River. Slow down, become quiet and still to create space to encounter God afresh through the life of Jonah. It is a time to ebb, to come in, to sink deep into ourselves and into God so that we can open ourselves to flowing out into the places, relationships, work that God is calling us to. Details and registration at: Ebb & Flow Young Adults Retreat (18-30s)—Fill out form
On Thursday 15 October, 6.30pm to 8.45pm, Sister Eveleen Retreat House is running a Quiz Night and Silent Auction fundraiser at Brighton Beach House Café—organise a team now! Details at https://www.anglicanlife.org.nz/event/quiz-night-and-silent-auction/.
At 7pm on Wednesday 21 October 2026, I will ordain the Reverend Dr André Muller to the priesthood in Holy Trinity church, Avonside, and at 5pm, Sunday 1 November, I will ordain the Reverend Cirũ Muriuki to the priesthood in St Martin’s, Lincoln Road, Spreydon. All welcome.
In a follow up to the recent “Bearing Witness” speaking tour featuring Lamma and Yousef, Palestinian theologians, recordings and videos of Lamma & Yousef’s seminars and sermons from the tour are available on ac4pp website. You can watch and listen to some of their sessions and interviews here.
This coming Sunday, 27 September 2026 is Ordinary 26 and the Gospel is Matthew 21:23-32. Sometimes Christians take a ‘pick ‘n’ choose’ approach to what parts of the gospel we take as coming directly ‘from God’ and what parts we treat as ‘optional, up to each of us to do as we see fit in our own eyes’. The religious leaders with whom Jesus was in conversation had developed a response to God which suited them. When challenged by a prophetic figure such as John the Baptist they were momentarily unsettled (until Herod solved the situation in their favour). Now Jesus continues the challenge. Is Jesus challenging us today about the way in which we respond to God? The church to which we belong: is it being shaped by us to suit ourselves more than allowing God to shape it for God’s glory?
Arohanui,
+Peter.
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Read more: Anglican e-Life | 16 September 2026
Anglican e-Life | 16 September 2026
Kia ora te whanau,
Ko tēnei wiki Te Wiki o te Reo Māori. Kia hōhonu ake ai te ahurea Māori i Aotearoa, me whakapakari tatou i te whakamahinga o te reo Māori. This week is Māori language week. To deepen Māori culture within Aotearoa, we must strengthen the use of the Māori language.
Nau mai ki a Rosalind Black, our new Bishop’s EA, who began working with us last Thursday. The contact address for Rosalind continues as previously: bishopsea@anglicanlife.org.nz. A big thank you to Sarah Dunning who has been the Interim Bishop’s EA since April. Sarah continues her work as Theology House Librarian.
I mate a Huia Tahere i te Tūrei kua hipa, whai muri i tētahi mate ohorere. Huia Tahere, administrator for Te Hui Amorangi o Te Waipounamu, died last Tuesday following a sudden illness. Huia’s tangihanga began last Friday and concluded with her funeral service yesterday at Te Hepara Pai, Ferry Road, Woolston. Please pray for Huia’s family as they mourn the loss of their mother and grandmother, and for Bishop Susan and her church family as they mourn the loss of a much-loved friend and staff worker for their hui amorangi.
There was an excellent turn out for the Science for the Churches Seminar hosted by Theology House last Saturday. The day was blessed with keen Christian minds sharing knowledge and understanding of science—most of the speakers being local to Christchurch. Christchurch is a leading city in Aotearoa New Zealand in respect of scientific development, including growth in medical science. This Thursday and Friday there are events to mark the opening of Wai Ora, the University of Otago’s medical Faculty’s Christchurch centre of research and teaching, which is a few hundred metres down Tuam Street from the Anglican Centre: https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/education/1380566/university-of-otago-s-biggest-building-project-opens-in-christchurch
On a beautiful Sunday afternoon, this past weekend, the annual South Canterbury Archdeaconry service was held at St Peter’s, Temuka. A big thank you to Acting Archdeacon Indrea Alexander and to the Reverend Sue Paton (Vicar of Temuka-Te Ngawai) for their organisation of the service. At the same time, in the Transitional Cathedral, the Association of Anglican Women held their annual Festival Service. A big thank you to Ellen Loader (AAW President), the Reverend Jan Brodie (AAW Chaplain), and the Reverend Dr Anne Shave (preacher for the service), for their contributions to making this service happen.
A number of important events are coming up in the next weeks and months:
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Michaelmas service at 7pm Tuesday 29 September 2026, at St Michael and All Angels, Oxford Terrace, Christchurch, to which all people across the Diocese are welcome. In 2026 we are celebrating on this occasion 175 years since the establishment of the Parish of St Michael and All Angels. Our guest preacher is Archbishop Emeritus Sir David Moxon. Refreshments in the parish hall follow after the service.
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At 7pm on Thursday 1 October, in St Peter’s Church, Church Corner, Upper Riccarton, the Reverend Prince Devanandan will be inducted as the next Vicar of Upper Riccarton-Yaldhurst. The preacher will be the Reverend Dr Mary Caygill.
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At 2pm Saturday afternoon 3 October, the Reverend Brett Roberts will be inducted as the next Vicar of St Mary’s, Timaru. The preacher will be the Reverend Dr Hugh Bowron. All welcome to each of these services.
Calling young adults across the Diocese of Christchurch: you are invited to Ebb and Flow Young Adults Retreat (18-30s), 12pm Friday 2 October to 4pm Sunday 4 October 2026 at Little River. Slow down, become quiet and still to create space to encounter God afresh through the life of Jonah. It is a time to ebb, to come in, to sink deep into ourselves and into God so that we can open ourselves to flowing out into the places, relationships, work that God is calling us to. Details and registration at: Ebb & Flow Young Adults Retreat (18-30s) – Fill out form
On Thursday 15 October, 6.30pm to 8.45pm, Sister Eveleen Retreat House is running a Quiz Night and Silent Auction fundraiser at Brighton Beach House Café—organise a team now! Details at https://www.anglicanlife.org.nz/event/quiz-night-and-silent-auction/.
At 7pm on Wednesday 21 October 2026, I will ordain the Reverend Dr André Muller to the priesthood (venue in East Christchurch to be confirmed) and at 5pm, Sunday 1 November, I will ordain the Reverend Cirũ Muriuki to the priesthood in St. Martin’s, Lincoln Road, Spreydon. All welcome.
Looking a bit further ahead, the ordination of deacons will take place this year at 10.30am, Saturday 28 November, in the Transitional Cathedral.
Parihaka Day, 5 November, remains both a challenging day for New Zealanders as we reckon with our history of settler violence against Māori, and a day of inspiration as we contemplate achieving peace in a world unfortunately beset with conflicts. “In the lead-up to Parihaka Day 2026, the Christchurch Parihaka Network (NMKŌ) will run four free church-based talks to explore the historical events of 5 Nov 1881. The Crown invasion of the peaceful Taranaki village of Parihaka is an especially poignant event amongst the large-scale losses incurred by Māori during the New Zealand Wars. The invasion culminated in the arrest of its Christian leaders’, Te Whiti-o-Rongomai and Tohu Kākahi, who led their 2000-strong community in philosophy of peace and reconciliation through non-violence. These events will be informal, discussion-based, beginner-friendly and run by experienced facilitators. No te reo Māori or prior knowledge necessary; no RSVPs. All warmly welcome.”
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Sun 4 Oct, St Marks Opawa, 100 Opawa Road, Opawa: 11.30am-12.45pm
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Tues 20 Oct, St Mary’s Pro-Cathedral, 373 Manchester Street, Central City: 7.30-9pm
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Tues 27 Oct, Northcity Church, 95a Sawyers Arms Road, Northcote: 7.30-9pm
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Wed 28 Oct, All Saints Burwood, 305 New Brighton Rd, New Brighton: 7.30-9pm
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Thurs 5 Nov, Parihaka Commemorative Peace Service, World Peace Bell, Botanic Gardens: 1pm.
All five of these free, public events are posted on NMKŌ social media www.facebook.com/ParihakaOtautahi/ and www.instagram.com/parihakaotautahi/along with information outlining the events leading up to 5 Nov 1881.
Emerging in mainstream media news this week is the story of a remarkable bequest by the late Ron and Joan Gillatt. Their gift of $60m to 15 Christchurch charities and clubs “is believed to be the third-largest charitable donation in New Zealand history, behind only US billionaire Julian Robertson’s bequest of $200m worth of paintings to the Auckland Art Gallery in 2022 and Auckland farmer Harold Plumley’s gift of $122m to the Auckland Catholic Church after his death in 2016.” There is a lengthy report on the Gillatt’s telling the story of their bequest in the NZ Herald (behind a paywall) at: https://www.nzherald.co.nz/business/markets/shares/bequest-of-ron-gillatt-gifts-unprecedented-60m-to-christchurch-charities/premium/YNOEAQGXW5CABLHI3DGVQBQ4QE/This report also notes that “Two Anglican churches in Halswell and Hornby, and the Halswell Community Hall, are also flagged as 5% beneficiaries.” That is, respectively, the Parishes of Halswell-Prebbleton and of Hornby, West Melton and Templeton are the recipients of an annual distribution, in perpetuity, which is focused on repairs and maintenance of their buildings only, and not on capital development, nor on general costs of mission and ministry. This is an incredible gift for these two parishes for which we give thanks to God.
This coming Sunday, 20 September 2026 is Ordinary 25 and the Gospel is Matthew 20:1-16. Should we call this parable, “the parable of the gracious employer” or “the parable of the ungrateful employees”?
Back to Te Wiki o Te Reo. Most of us find learning another language challenging. In my own faltering journey to learn Te Reo, with special reference to the life of the church, I have found it useful to learn two frequent prayers by heart: the Lord’s Prayer (e.g. NZPB, p.418) and the Grace (e.g. NZPB, p.52). Might that be something we all aspire to do between now and Te Wiki o Te Reo 2027?
Kia tau ki a tātou katoa
te atawhai o tō tātou Ariki, o Īhu Karaiti,
me te aroha o te Atua,
me to whiwhinga tahitanga ki te Wairua Tapu.
Āke ake ake. Āmine.
May there be, with you all
the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ,
and the love of God,
and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit.
Forever and ever. Amen.
Arohanui,
+Peter.
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Read more: Anglican e-Life | 9 September 2026
Anglican e-Life | 9 September 2026
Dear Friends,
Thank you for your prayers for our Synod this past weekend. We managed to get through all the business before us. My Presidential Address is available to read at: https://www.anglicanlife.org.nz/christchurch-diocesan-synod/.
Among decisions made, I want to underline the following to you:
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support for CPT and Standing Committee finding a way forward to fund two contributions to the Re:Opening of the Cathedral ($20m and $15m), provided that other major contributions to the $95m are either in promised or we are confident of securing them;
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$160,000 is our target for giving to Anglican Missions Board across the Diocese;
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Standing Committee will commission a working group to develop policy on AI use in the Diocese; and
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a suite of policy templates will be developed by Diocesan staff for the use of all ministry units in order to save administrative time in ministry units across our Diocese.
(Papers for the Synod are publicly available at: https://www.anglicanlife.org.nz/christchurch-diocesan-synod/, but readers should not assume each motion or all parts of each bill were passed).
In respect of elections at Synod, congratulations to Archdeacon Nick Mountfort (to Standing Committee) and the Reverend Sue Paton (to the Craighead Diocesan School Board of Proprietors), both elected unopposed, and to the Reverend Dr Carolyn Robertson and the Reverend Peg Riley, elected to the Church Property Trustees.
Through the past week, ministry units have been receiving copies of the latest print version of our Diocesan AnglicanLife magazine. This issue’s theme is “Growth: Grow Wherever God Plants You” and it comes with a bonus feature. The latest VIP Tamariki Magazine is bound into the middle of it. Please take a copy of the magazine home with you this Sunday if you have not done so already.
On Sunday morning it was good share in worship with God’s people at St. Bartholomew’s, Kaiapoi. Since Sunday evening I have been in Auckland for meetings of the Tikanga Pakeha Ministry Council, the Tikanga Pakeha house of bishops and the house of bishops for our whole church. Today, we meet with the Catholic bishops of New Zealand to discuss matters of common interest between our churches.
On Monday morning, the Reverend Felicity Whitcombe died after a sudden illness. Felicity was ordained deacon in 2002 and priested in 2003 in the Diocese of Nelson where she served in the Parish of Spring Creek (2002-2005) and at Victory Community Church (2005-2013). She served as a Canon of Christ Church Cathedral, Nelson (2013-14) before moving to Christchurch to become Vicar of Kaiapoi (2014-2016). After two interim ministries, in the Parish of Geraldine and as chaplain at The Cathedral Grammar School, Felicity became Vicar of Woodend-Pegasus in 2018. Unfortunately, ill-health led to her retirement from that role in 2019. Please pray for her husband, the Reverend Aubrey Whitcombe and their family as they prepare for her funeral which will be at 11am, tomorrow, Thursday 10 September 2026 at Grace Vineyard Church, Beach Campus, 111 Seaview Road, New Brighton (access and parking through Beresford Street).
Many readers will have seen video footage of the terrifying floods which swept down from the China/Tibet/Nepal border into Nepal, with large loss of life, many missing persons and destruction of villages. Financial assistance in response to this disaster may be given via our Anglican Missions Board with details at: https://www.anglicantaonga.org.nz/news/worldwide/nepal_appeal_am.
All are invited to the annual Michaelmas service at 7pm Tuesday 29 September 2026, at St. Michael and All Angels, Oxford Terrace, Christchurch. In 2026 we are celebrating on this occasion 175 years since the establishment of the Parish of St. Michael and All Angels. Our guest preach is Archbishop Emeritus Sir David Moxon. Refreshments in the parish hall follow after the service.
As we head to the General Election on Saturday 7 November, Common Grace Aotearoa is mobilising churches for election enrolment. Their recommendation, which I support is that our churches hold an “Enrolment Sunday” in the second half of September (13/20/27 September) to inform their church members of the enrolment deadline. What this could involve for a local church is: Play a 3-minute video as a notice during a service about why and how to enrol, tailor-made for a church audience. This video features Archbishop Justin Duckworth, Catholic Archbishop Paul Martin, and others, available on: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_GSD-XRckhI. Also, enrolment forms and laptops can be made available to people can update their details have a service on Enrolment Sunday, via: https://actionnetwork.org/forms/sign-up-to-be-an-enrolmentturnout-champion-in-your-faith-community deadline for enrolment / changing details is Sunday, 25 October. For further details, please email Kate Day.
This Saturday, 12 September 2026 at Theology House, 95 Tuam Street, Christchurch, 9am to 3pm, you are welcome to participate in “Science for Churches”, a day-long seminar, free to students, $15 for others, featuring Steph Bevan, Joshua Wilson-Black, Cirũ Muriuki, William Hurren, Philip Pattemore and a Climate Panel of Richard Milne, Kathleen Rushton RSM. Delicious morning tea provided. For lunch, bring your own or head to nearby cafes. More details at: https://theologyhouse.ac.nz/events/science-for-the-churches-seminar/.
This coming Sunday, 13 September 2026 is Ordinary 24 and the Gospel is the Parable of the Unforgiving Servant, Matthew 18:21-35. The message here is simple (forgive others, as generously as your Heavenly Father has forgiven you) and consistent with what Jesus says elsewhere, most notably when teaching us to pray: “Forgive us the wrongs we have done as we forgive the wrongs others have done to us.”
Arohanui,
+Peter.
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Read more: Anglican e-Life | 2 September 2026
Anglican e-Life | 2 September 2026
Dear Friends,
On one of the Springboks’ tours of New Zealand, a former Springbok sent a telegram which just said, “Scrum, scrum, scrum.” That message still motivates the Springboks today as the All Blacks continue their greatest rivalry tour in South Africa. I see that the free-to-air replay this Sunday is at 11.30am rather than 11am, which means attendance at our morning services should be unaffected by the prospect of viewing this important match!
We could turn that message in the last day or so before our Synod to “Pray, pray, pray“.
Please pray for our Synod Eucharist tomorrow night, 7pm in the Transitional Cathedral – praying for those contributing in leadership to our worship and for Dean Ben Truman, our preacher.
Then, pray for our Synod business sessions which take place through Friday and Saturday at St. Christopher’s Church, Avonhead. Papers to date for the Synod are publicly available at: https://www.anglicanlife.org.nz/christchurch-diocesan-synod/.
Finally, please pray for the good health of our Synod members and staff facilitating the Synod: there is a lot of flu around at the moment and we wish our Synod to be as well attended as possible by our lay and clerical members.
Congratulations to the Parish of Lincoln for excellent celebrations through the past weekend for the 150th anniversary of St. Stephen’s Church, Lincoln. It was a delight at the celebration service on Sunday morning to baptise Carter Roma and Zac Button, and to confirm Tracey Kennedy, Felicity Kennedy, Jasmina Inch, Yvonne Hardwick and Ciara Dickson.
The Reverend William (Bill) Gaudin died at the weekend. His funeral is tomorrow at 1pm, at St. Christopher’s Church, Avonhead. Bill served in the Wellington, Christchurch and Dunedin dioceses. In our diocese, Bill served in the parishes of Spreydon-Hoon Hay (1967-68), Bishopdale-Harewood (1968-72), Oxford-Cust (1972-74), and Geraldine (1986-95). Please pray for Ferrabee, his wife and their family as they prepare for the service tomorrow. Clergy are invited to robe if they wish for the service, white stoles.
Many readers will have seen video footage of the terrifying floods which swept down from the China/Tibet/Nepal border into Nepal, with large losses of life, many missing persons and destruction of villages. It is possible to financially assist in response to this disaster via our Anglican Missions Board with details at https://www.anglicantaonga.org.nz/news/worldwide/nepal_appeal_am.
A reminder that Ravenscar House, Rolleston Avenue, Christchurch, which has a superb collection of NZ art and other artistic treasures is free to visit this Saturday 5 and Sunday 6 September – see https://www.ravenscarhouse.com/.
Also, this weekend, See-am Thompson, Senior Organ Scholar, Magdalen College, Oxford is giving an organ concert in the Transitional Cathedral at 2pm, Sunday, 6 September 2026. All welcome, entry via koha. See-am is a former Cathedral Chorister.
All are invited to the annual Michaelmas service at 7pm Tuesday 29 September 2026 at St. Michael and All Angels, Oxford Terrace, Christchurch. In 2026 we are celebrating on this occasion 175 years since the establishment of the Parish of St. Michael and All Angels. Our guest preach is Archbishop Emeritus Sir David Moxon. Refreshments in the parish hall follow after the service.
As we head to the General Election on Saturday, 7 November, for which enrolment closes finally on Sunday 25 October, Common Grace Aotearoa is mobilising churches for election enrolment. Their recommendation, which I support is that our churches hold an “Enrolment Sunday” in the second half of September to inform their church members of the enrolment deadline. What this could involve for a local church is:
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Play a 3-minute video as a notice during a service about why and how to enrol, tailor-made for a church audience. This video features Archbishop Justin Duckworth, Catholic Archbishop Paul Martin, and others.
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Provide enrolment forms and laptops so people can update their details after the service.
The best timing for Enrolment Sundays is 13, 20 or 27 September, so they fall before 4th October, after which people who enrol or change their details must cast a special vote. If need be, churches can still hold Enrolment Sundays on 4, 11 or 18 October. The deadline for enrolment / changing details is 25 October. For further details, and access to the video, please email Kate Day.
This coming Sunday, 6 September 2026 is Ordinary 23 (or may be celebrated as the new Feast of Creation, per a note in e-Life). The Gospel is Matthew 18:15-20. This passage teaches about the gathering together of followers of Jesus, that is, about the church as an organised body of believers in Jesus. It deals with how we might deal with conflict among us, the importance of the decisions we make, and the encouragement we have that Jesus is always with us, “where two or three are gathered in my name, I am there among them”.
Arohanui,
+Peter.
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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.
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