The Diocese of Christchurch is one of the thirteen dioceses and hui amorangi (Māori bishoprics) of the Anglican Church in Aotearoa, New Zealand and Polynesia. The Diocese covers the area between the Conway River and the Waitaki River in the South Island of New Zealand.
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History
The Diocese of Christchurch was established in 1856 by the subdivision of the Diocese of New Zealand. Henry Harper, who arrived in Lyttelton on the Egmont on 23 December 1856, was the first bishop. The seat of the Bishop of Christchurch was at ChristChurch Cathedral until its demolition following the 2011 Christchurch earthquake. The current seat is in the Cardboard Cathedral in Christchurch.
Before the Christchurch Diocese was founded, it was intended that Thomas Jackson would be installed as a bishop for the South Island, with would his See located at Lyttelton.
Archdeacons
The Archdeaconry of Christchurch dates to 1866 when Henry Jacobs became the first (apparently sole) Archdeacon of the diocese Jacobs resigned in May 1889 and was succeeded by Croasdaile Bowen, a brother of Charles Bowen. Bowen did not serve for long, as he had a stroke in November 1889 and died in January 1890.
Archdeacons of Christchurch
1890–1901: Ven George Cholmondeley
1902–1909: Ven Alfred Averill
1960–1968: Ven Hubert Coc.ks
Archdeacons of Akaroa
1909–1910: Ven Alfred Averill-(Later became Bishop of Waiapu)
1959–1969: Ven Walter Davies-including the Archdeaconary of Ashburton
1971–1974: Ven Keith Bathurst-including Archdeaconry of Ashburton
1975–1985: Ven John Brathwaite-including Archdeaconry of Ashburton
Archdeacons of Rangiora
1876: Ven Benjamin Dudley
Archdeacons of Rangiora & Westland
1959–1960: Ven Hubert Coc.ks
Archdeacons of Timaru
1945–1953 (res.): Walter Averill, Vicar of St Mary's, Timaru
1975–1977: Ven John Branthwaite
Archdeacons of Mid-Canterbury
1990–1991: Ven John Branthwaite
Archdeacons of Sumner
1969–1973: Ven Walter Davies
1974–1976: Ven Keith Bathurst
1976–1979: Ven Richard Carson
Archdeacons of Ashburton
1985–1989: Ven John Branthwaite