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: The Archbishops’ 2025 Easter Message
The Archbishops’ 2025 Easter Message
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Read more: Statement of Condolence on the Passing of Pope Francis
Statement of Condolence on the Passing of Pope Francis
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Read more: Palm Sunday at Christ Church Cathedral
Palm Sunday at Christ Church Cathedral
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Read more: The Archbishops’ Statement of Solidarity Following the Strike on the Anglican Ahli Arab Hospital, Gaza
The Archbishops’ Statement of Solidarity Following the Strike on the Anglican Ahli Arab Hospital, Gaza
Anglican e-Life
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Read more: Anglican e-Life | 14 May 2025
Anglican e-Life | 14 May 2025
Dear Friends,
Thank you for praying for this week’s Clergy Conference (today is our final day of meeting). The theme of our conference is Reimagining the Future. What could we and should we change in our Diocese as we move forward in Regeneration of our Diocese, as change in society continues and as all ministry units face rising costs of ministry and property. Our deliberations will feed into proposals coming to this year’s Synod as we seek to be a Diocese which as far as possible within our canons, statutes and Acts of Parliament seeks to be adaptable to changing contexts for the ministry of the Gospel.
While at our conference we have been enjoying meeting in the new community centre at All Saints’, Burwood in the Parish of Shirley. It was a privilege to take part in the opening of the centre on Sunday afternoon with Mayor Phil Mauger, in a centre filled with congregational members, local community supporters and political leaders. I congratulate the Reverend Dr Carolyn Robertson and her parish team, the external contractors and CPT staff who have worked so hard through several years to ensure the vision for this building became a reality.
I remind you of two calls to prayer: A Call to Prayer for our younger generations, our first third, is being planned for 5pm, Sunday 25 May 2025. This is at the end of Youth Week and the invitation and encouragement is for Christians to gather in small or large groups to prayer for our tamariki, our children, our rangatahi, our young people. Then, the Reverend Tim Handley (Westland), on behalf of the Diocese, is working on a Day of Prayer, 9am to 5pm, Saturday 7 June 2025. Further details about are being mailed out to ministry unit leaders and to all members of the Diocesan Prayer Community.
Christ Church Cathedral in the Square has been in the news this past week. First, Frank Films has published an 8-minute video online about “When will Christchurch get its heart back? – Cathedral Square”. Secondly, Chris Lynch has published a responsive opinion piece titled “The Cathedral doesn’t define Christchurch and it’s time to stop pretending it does”
Meanwhile, Christ Church Cathedral Reinstatement Limited (CCRL) is quietly moving forward in continuing work on how we might complete the cathedral. No one can disagree with Chris Lynch that a significant focus of inner-city life in Christchurch is currently in and around the Riverside Market. My disagreement with Chris is that we have not gotten a completed Square yet – it is not only the cathedral that needs completing but also the vacant sections around the Square, along with cafes and restaurants to supplement the few that are already there. A completed Square, with a buzzing Te Pae, our well used Tūranga – main city library, and people moving in and out of hotels, offices, cafes and restaurants, sitting midway between the Riverside market, inner city shops and the arts precinct with a busy Court Theatre, Theatre Royal and The Piano, will take on a life of its own. If only we have a vision to see what can be rather than what currently is not.
It is very distressing to read and hear global news these days. There is no peace in our world. The situation in Gaza is horrible. Ukraine remains a killing field despite promises of ceasefire talks. India and Pakistan have a fragile ceasefire following exchanges of fire against each other. Pray for peace!
All are welcome to the Hura Kōhatu (unveiling of the grave) for the late Bishop Richard Wallace at 11am Wairewa [Little River] Urupā Saturday, 31 May 2025 followed by Hākari at Te Pā Mihinare o Te Waipounamu, 290 Ferry Road, Waltham. Please RSVP to admin@waipounamu.org.nz
This coming Sunday, 18 May is Easter 5. The Gospel reading is John 13:31-35. “By this love you have for one another everyone will now that you are my disciples.” Let us never underestimate the power and the impact of the love we have for one another.
Arohanui,
+Peter.
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Read more: Anglican e-Life | 7 May 2025
Anglican e-Life | 7 May 2025
Dear Friends,
Last Thursday I was in Auckland with the Reverends Meg Harvey, Tim Handley, Margaret Neate and Archdeacons Katrina Hill and Dawn Baldwin for a Tikanga Pakeha consultation on flourishing small churches, facilitated by the Tikanga Pakeha Ministry Council. As we lean into Regeneration in our Diocese in this decade, it was important to gain wisdom from this event, some of which will be shared at our Clergy Conference next week, 12-14 May, at All Saints, Burwood in the Parish of Shirley.
Please pray for clergy as we gather for our conference. We will be focusing on some big questions as we engage with challenges facing our Diocese such as how we offer effective ministry and engage in the mission of Jesus in our communities while pressed hard by financial issues such as parishes unable to support a full stipend and increasing costs of property stressing budgets for all our ministry units.
While at our conference we will be enjoying meeting in the new building at All Saints’ and I remind you that all are welcome at the formal opening of this building on New Brighton Road at 1pm this Sunday 11 May 2025.
The Reverend Jacqui Stevenson announced on Sunday that she is concluding her ministry as Vicar of St. Aidan’s, Bryndwr on Sunday 3 August 2025. Jacqui will have been Vicar of Bryndwr for 12 years. I will say more nearer the time of her final Sunday, suffice to say for now that I am very grateful for Jacqui’s faithful leadership of this parish and consistent work in development of the mission of the parish in its local neighbourhoods.
This week is the last week for the Reverends Christine and John de Senna serving the Diocese as Chaplains to the Retired Clergy, Widows and Widowers. Thank you, Christine and John for your ministry in this joint role. You have pastored our senior clergy and their families with love, faithfulness and great care. I hope I can announce a new appointment soon.
Congratulations to the Reverend Graham and Alison Button who celebrate 60 years of marriage this week!
Last weekend we held our regular Diocesan Discernment Weekend at Te Waiora House, Hororata. It is always a privilege to work with those who are discerning a call to ordination and with those who advise me in this process. I thank our Diocesan Director of Ordination, the Reverend Jenny Wilkens for her leadership of the weekend, for the commitment of our advisors and discernees to good process, and to the volunteer staff at Te Waiora House for their warm hospitality and and excellent cooking.
On Sunday afternoon, Teresa and I participated in a Patronal Service for St. George’s Hospital, led by the Reverend Jeff Cotton, Chaplain to the Hospital. I think it is the first time I have preached on St. George – one of the more colourful saints and an intriguing figure for whom there are definitely more legends than facts, and who is claimed as significant by more nations than England. My researches for the sermon uncovered an interesting idea of Canon Wilford (the driving force behind the establishment of St. George’s) that St. George was a good name for the hospital because it would be slaying the dragon of ill-health. The name is also associated with the hope of Canon Wilford that invoking the patron saint of England might help solicit funds from England. This idea was not particularly successful. The hospital today, thankfully, is a great success as part of the network of hospitals, both public and private, across Christchurch which offer an array of medical services.
Nothing worthwhile in the service of our God is achieved without prayer. I remind you of two calls to prayer: A Call to Prayer for our younger generations, our first third, is being planned for 5pm, Sunday 25 May 2025. This is at the end of Youth Week and the invitation and encouragement is for Christians to gather in small or large groups to prayer for our tamariki, our children, our rangatahi, our young people. Then, the Reverend Tim Handley (Westland), on behalf of the Diocese, is working on a Day of Prayer, now confirmed for 9am to 5pm, Saturday 7 June 2025, which will see people across our Diocese joining with people from the Dioceses of Sheffield, Bondo [Kenya] and Argentina praying for God’s mission in the world as part of “Thy Kingdom Come” – a global, ecumenical prayer movement that invites Christians around the world to pray from Ascension to Pentecost for more people to come to know Jesus. Further details about this will be mailed out soon to ministry unit leaders and to all members of the Diocesan Prayer Community.
Licensed ministers being in supervision is vital for a flourishing church and for us to be a safe church. I am delighted to learn that three more people in the Canterbury region have completed the CAIRA Pastoral and Professional Supervision Training, including one of our clergy, the Reverend Victoria Askin.
This year is the 1,700th anniversary of the First Council of Nicaea, the first ecumenical or universal council of the church of God, which was decisive in determining the orthodox understanding of Jesus Christ as fully God as well as human, and thus dealt with the so-called Arian controversy in which Arius asserted that Jesus as Son of God was created by God and subordinate to God. When we say the Nicene Creed in our services we are reciting a creed substantially set out and agreed to by this Council. The creed we say is an amended version of the first Nicene Creed and was agreed to at the First Council of Constantinople in 381 AD. To celebrate the significance of the First Council of Nicaea, all are welcome, and especially from all churches, to a service at 5 pm Sunday 15 June 2025 in the Transitional Cathedral. Sunday 15 June is Trinity Sunday and thus a most appropriate Sunday for our ecumenical service.
The Conclave to elect a new Pope is underway. Please pray for the cardinals that they will clearly hear the voice of God in these proceedings. This morning I read a beautifully expressed article by local Catholic priest, Father John O’Connor in the online Press. John relates the proceedings to the movie Conclave which many readers here will have seen this year.
This coming Sunday, 11 May is Easter 4 (also known as Good Shepherd Sunday).The Gospel reading is John 10:22-30. In the last verse of this passage, the Good Shepherd moves on from talking about his role as shepherd to making a theological claim which turns the world of theology upside down: “The Father and I are one.” John’s Gospel turns on this claim about who Jesus really is, the human being from Nazareth is one being with the God of the whole world.
Arohanui,
+Peter.
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Read more: Anglican e-Life | 30 April 2025
Anglican e-Life | 30 April 2025
Dear Friends,
Last Friday, ANZAC Day, was a busy day for Dean Ben Truman, who took a leading part in the Dawn Service in Cathedral Square and then led the Civic Service in the Transitional Cathedral at 10am. I was able to be part of the crowd for the Dawn Service and loved seeing Christ Church Cathedral illuminated in “poppy” red to commemorate New Zealand’s fallen. At the Civic Service, numbers were down a little on previous years and I wonder if that was due to the school holidays and ANZAC Day being the first day of a long weekend.
At midday, Teresa and I were privileged to join with several lay and ordained Anglican colleagues at St. Mary’s Pro Cathedral, Manchester Street, for a Requiem Mass for Pope Francis, presided over by Bishop Michael Gielen. Then on Saturday evening many readers will have watched the livestream of the funeral in Rome itself for Pope Francis. It is very clear from everything being said and written at this time that Francis made an impact on people around our globe: Catholic and non-Catholic Christians, atheists, members of other world faiths and, noting the leaders who gathered, politicians of all parts of the political spectrum.
Planning for our annual Synod in September is underway. In respect of Diocesan youth representatives for the Synod we would like to invite parishes / ministry units with young people aged between 16-24 years old who would be interested in attending synod as a Diocesan Youth Rep to send in nominations. It’s super simple – just fill in the form here. Diocesan youth reps have voice and vote at Synod. Nominations need to be made by this Friday, 2 May. If you have any questions, please contact Rev’d Sammy Mould by email or phone.
Also on the subject of youth in our church and in our nation, A Call to Prayer for our younger generations, our first third, is being planned for 5pm, Sunday 25 May 2025. This is at the end of Youth Week and the invitation and encouragement is for Christians to gather in small or large groups to prayer for our tamariki, our children, our rangatahi, our young people.
Then, continuing the theme of prayer, the Reverend Tim Handley (Westland), on behalf of the Diocese, is working on a Day of Prayer, most likely Saturday 7 June 2025, which will see people across our Diocese joining with people from the Dioceses of Sheffield, Bondo [Kenya] and Argentina praying for God’s mission in the world as part of “Thy Kingdom Come” – a global, ecumenical prayer movement that invites Christians around the world to pray from Ascension to Pentecost for more people to come to know Jesus. Details to come!
I am delighted to announce that Debbie Johnston has joined the CPT finance team as replacement CPT Finance Manager for Ashley South who is retiring in a few months’ time, before Synod in September. Debbie worked for us in 2019, and is pleased to be backing working with us. Debbie looks forward to working with clergy and parish officers on investment funds and related matters for our ministry units.
In further news from CPT: St. James The Great Church at Riccarton Road was badly damaged in the 2011 earthquakes and it was subsequently decided not to repair the church. St. James Church was deconsecrated by Bishop Victoria. Efforts to sell St. James Church for use as a church or repurposed for other uses have been unsuccessful due to the significant cost of repair and heritage restrictions. With the Christchurch City Council recently removing its heritage status, the option to deconstruct St. James Church can proceed in order to offer a “clean” site for sale without the encumbrance of a damaged building. The Parish of Riccarton-Spreydon has removed all items from inside the church which they consider of importance. The South Island Organ Company has successfully removed the pipe organ, and Stewart Stained Glass Windows have removed the commemorative windows. Deconstruction of St. James is expected to start in early May. After deconstruction is completed, the cleared site will be advertised for sale. The Church House office premises along with space for carparking at the western end of the site will remain as parish property.
I want to acknowledge with much gratitude the work of the Reverend Anne Russell-Brighty as director of the Elder Care programme for Anglican Care in our Diocese. Anne’s last official day in the role was Tuesday, 8 April 2025. Elder Care was begun by Anne in 2013 in response to the earthquakes. Elder Care groups were set up in parishes, along the lines of a Selwyn Centre model, intended to prevent social isolation among older people and to offer a strong emphasis on all aspects of health and well-being. The first two groups were held at Burwood and Opawa, with Fendalton/Merivale following soon after. Thank you, Anne for your 12 years of faithful ministry which has seen groups across the breadth of our Diocese flourish.
On Sunday I was delighted to meet with the Reverend Geoff and Gayle Lamason. Geoff and Gayle are living in the Papanui vicarage for the next few months while the Reverend Tim Frank, Vicar of Papanui, is on study leave and away with his family from everyday life in the parish and vicarage. Geoff and Gayle have temporarily moved to Christchurch from their usual ministries in Te Aroha in the Diocese of Waikato and Taranaki. Thank you for coming to us!
The formal opening of the new building at All Saints’, Burwood, in the Parish of Shirley, which will involve both the Mayor of Christchurch, Phil Mauger, and myself, will be at 1 pm, Sunday 11 May. All welcome.
Some good news I noticed recently concerns signs in our near neighbour, Australia, that people are turning to Christianity.
I am appreciating being part of regular Zoom meetings with colleagues here learning about “Building a Discipling Culture“. Discipleship is one of three key themes for our Diocesan work on Regeneration of our congregations. In last week’s session with our mentor, Tim Piesse (Crossways church, Melbourne) I love this description of the heart of Discipleship: it is all about the words, works and ways of Jesus.
As we move through these confusing times, it is important that we engage with ways and means of improving social cohesion. I commend to you a session being planned with local lawyer and charities expert, Steven Moe and well-known Kiwi economist Shamubeel Eaqub, on Friday 9 May: further info here.
One part of current confusion is attempting to understand why the National-led government is pressing hard on the question of taxing charities. Despite some excellent arguments against taxing charities, including charities such as churches (for a recent example in The Press, see Alex Penk writing this week in The Press online), it appears that Finance Minister Nicola Willis is determined to continue this hard press against us, even though it may only yield $50m from across the whole sector. Charities, of course, contribute significantly to social cohesion in society!
This coming Sunday, 27 April is Easter 3. The Gospel reading is John 21:1-19. Who would not want to have breakfast on a beach with the risen Jesus? The seven disciples in this story are surprised by the presence of their risen Lord. But Jesus has a message for them and for Simon Peter in particular: they are to follow him. Peter is restored to full relationship with Jesus, indicated by Jesus’ threefold dialogue with him. We too are called by Jesus to follow him… wherever that may lead. For Simon Peter and the Beloved Disciple that would be two different life stories, as predicted by Jesus in this text.
Arohanui,
+Peter.
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Read more: Anglican e-Life | 23 April 2025
Anglican e-Life | 23 April 2025
Dear Friends,
Pope Francis has died and many deserved tributes are being made about him as a disciple of Christ who made an impact on our world with the message of the love of God for all.
My own small, additional reflection is to observe that it seemed natural to speak about “Francis” without any sense that not calling him “Pope Francis” was being disrespectful, and with confidence that everyone in the conversation knew exactly to whom reference was being made. Francis was humble, open-hearted and always “for others” so that I and others felt we knew him though not having met him, and that he was our friend and fellow disciple rather than the humanly-speaking most powerful church leader on our planet. Our Archbishops have made a Primatial Statement of Condolences here.
This Friday at 12.05pm at St. Mary’s Pro Cathedral, Manchester Street, Christchurch, Bishop Michael Gielen will preside at a Requiem Mass for Pope Francis. Teresa and I plan to be present at this service in order to honour Francis and to support our Catholic brothers and sisters in Christ. A special food collection will take place at the Mass for the St Vincent de Paul Society, in memory of Pope Francis and in support of the poor.
Our experience of services from Maundy Thursday to Easter Sunday, including services at St. Bartholomew’s, Kaiapoi and the Transitional Cathedral, prompts me to thank everyone – clergy, laity, musicians, actors, etc – who put a great deal of time, energy and sheer hard work into ensuring that services across our Diocese through these special, holy days were well prepared, apt for the occasion and focused on the suffering, death and resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ. Thank you!
I also draw your attention to a Primatial Statement by our Archbishops on Holy Week and Easter here. Included in that statement is this pertinent message:
“In a world that can feel chaotic and led by power-driven leadership, Easter cuts through with a radically different message: a God who empties himself in love, whose power is shown in humility and grace. This story of redemption, of death overcome by life, could not be more relevant today. While some may claim to declare their own version of “Liberation Day,” Easter has always been, and will always be, the true day of liberation.”
Simultaneously with the ministry offered across the Diocese in our ministry units, many young people, their leaders and camp parents were at Easter Camp at Spencer Park, engaging with plenary speakers, seminar leaders and various activities in miserable weather conditions. I thank all those involved for your commitment, resilience and good humour. It was a privilege to visit the Camp on Good Friday afternoon.
Inevitably Easter attracts media interest, some of which reiterates familiar doubts about the reality of the resurrection of Jesus. Thus, readers of The Press on Saturday were treated to the continuing convictions of New Zealand’s most controversial theologian, Sir Lloyd Geering. For contrasting media coverage, readers here may be interested in interviews with Wellington Anglican church leaders, Dean Katie Lawrence and Bishop Ana Fletcher.
Finally, in good news at Easter, I am delighted to share the news that the new building at All Saints’, Burwood, in the Parish of Shirley, has achieved building compliance and the first services were held in it over this past weekend. This build which enlarges the worship space available for one of our largest congregations has been years in the making and I congratulate the Reverend Dr Carolyn Robertson, the Shirley vestry and the many people within the parish and in the design and construction teams on achieving this success.
We have received news that Bishop ‘Afa Vaka, former Assistant Bishop in the Diocese of Polynesia, based in Tonga, has died. Anglican Taonga shares his life story and news of his death.
This ANZAC Day (Friday 25 April), Christ Church Cathedral will be illuminated in red to commemorate New Zealand’s fallen during service. The Dawn Service, held in the Square itself, at 6.15am, will be an excellent opportunity to see the Cathedral in this poignant “poppy” shade of red. I remind readers that all are also welcome to a service later that morning, in the Transitional Cathedral, at 10am.
Last Wednesday I said this about Gaza’s Al Ahli Hospital: “This includes a further attack this week on Gaza’s Al Ahli Hospital (a Baptist owned, Anglican run hospital)”. The hospital is not owned by the Baptists. It was opened in 1882 by CMS. In 1954 it was bought by the Baptist Church but then returned to CMS in 1979 and has been Anglican-owned and operated ever since.
This coming Sunday, 27 April is Easter 2. The Gospel reading is John 20:19-31. There are two major themes in this passage. Jesus confirms that belief in him is possible without direct sight of him in his risen form. Jesus commissions his disciples: they are now sent into the world with the Good News as he himself has been sent by the Father. Many generations later, we are believers in Jesus Christ, with faith founded on the witness of Scripture to his resurrection, and his mission in the world continues through us upon whom he has breathed the Holy Spirit.
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