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.