The Diocese of Christchurch currently covers the area shown on the map.
The area now known as the Diocese of Christchurch was originally part of the Diocese of New Zealand. From the time of the arrival of the Canterbury Association ships from 1850-1852, and their chaplains, the archival records are held both in the Diocesan Archives and at Archives New Zealand, Christchurch where they can be searched via their website.
1856-1868: The first Bishop of the diocese arrived in 1856 was responsible for the area south of the Hurinui River on the east coast, and on the west coast south of the Teramakau River. The records of the Rural Deanery Board for Otago/Southland for this period are held in the Hocken Library, Dunedin http://hakena.otago.ac.nz.
1868-1990: 1868 saw the establishment of the Diocese of Dunedin and from this date onwards the records for the parishes are held in two locations. Those for the Otago area are held at the Hocken Library, Dunedin. http://hakena.otago.ac.nz. Those for the Southland area are held at the Invercargill City Libraries and and Archives https://ilibrary.co.nz
The area bounded by the Waitaki River in the south, and the Hurinui River in the north, and the West Coast, including Kumara, Hokitika and Ross and South Westland became the Diocese of Christchurch.
1990: The Parishes of Cheviot, Amuri and Hanmer Springs were transferred from the Diocese of Nelson.
2000: The Parish of Kumara, which had been ministered to by the Parish of Greymouth for many years was formally transferred to the Diocese of Nelson. The archives remain in Christchurch.