170 years for the Diocese of Christchurch and the City of Christchurch

On Friday evening, 31 July 2026, an event was held at Christ's College, here in Christchurch, to celebrate 170 years of the City of Christchurch being formally declared a city by Queen Victoria, 31 July 1856, this being simultaneous with the See of Christchurch being established with Henry John Chitty Harper being made the first Bishop of Christchurch (ordination happening in England), all written up in "letters patent."

The key statement in the letters patent was (and remains):

“…  And we do further by these our Letters Patent ordain and constitute the Town of Christchurch in the said Diocese of Christchurch to be a Bishops See and the seat of the said Bishop and do ordain that the said Town of Christchurch shall be a City And we do further thereby ordain and declare that the Church of Christ Church in the said Town or City shall be the Cathedral Church and the See of the said Bishop of Christchurch and his successors…”.

Now we can (rightly) note that Nelson was [British/European] settled in 1842, Dunedin in 1848 (and Christchurch in 1850), but this specific rendition of the town of Christchurch as the City of Christchurch makes it the first ever city of New Zealand.

Definitely something to celebrate. There were drinks and fruit cake in the College Dining Hall. There were talks in the College Chapel reciting aspects of the history of +Harper, the Diocese and the City from 1856 onwards into the early years of establishing Diocese and City. Some of +Harper's adventures in travelling made me realise what a lucky and somewhat "pale" life I lead as one of his successors. I have never fallen off my horse, for instance. Nor have I had to sleep in rough circumstances in a primitive cottage. Let alone travel into the face of a bitter southerly, unless in the comfort of my car.

My modest contribution to the evening (and intentionally modest in terms of its planned brevity) was to reflect on the continuing relationship between the Diocese and the City. Here is the text:

"I try to discipline myself not to read social media comments in relation to Christ Church cathedral but sometimes I get a glimpse and realise with some parts of our city, the Diocese's relationship is rocky if not on the ropes.

The relationship, as set out tonight, has history and an express joint beginning in 1856 with the letters patent and the arrival of +Harper.

But a lot has happened since 1856. Anglicans were not the only kind of Christians in Chch at that time, but we were the dominant species.

We cannot say that today. The dominant denomination is the Catholic Church. The most numerous form of Christianity is Pentecostalism.

Nevertheless, we are still in the city.

We are here with 27 parishes (approx half of all our parishes) and 46 churches (a quarter of which are in Banks Peninsula*). That is more numerical presence than any other denomination.

We offer service and care to the last, least and lost, as well as to the well off, the comfortable middle class, and the recently arrived.

We have much to be humble about in our no longer dominant church but we are proud of the brilliant work our City Mission undertakes, and we are pleased to offer education through our five outstanding Anglican schools.**

We are grateful to the Christchurch City Council for it support for Christ Church Cathedral through many years, before the 2011 quakes and since.

At the heart of the centre of the city sits this singular symbol of the Church of England settlement's intentions, that this city would be a place of godliness and learning.

While views may vary about the re-opening of the cathedral, and how it should be funded, it is a simple fact of our past as a city that we are a cathedral city.

My hope, nevertheless, is that the future of the relationship between the Diocese and the city is not marked by controversy and debate over this extraordinary symbol, but instead by our continuing service to the people of the city through all our churches, our schools and the City Mission.

The ability to continue that relationship of service is not a matter of funds but of faith in Jesus Christ.

Our English forbears believed in Jesus Christ, as Lord and Saviour of human­kind, as the Source, Centre and End of history.

"Christchurch" and "Christ's College" are not merely good old English names but signs of the One who matters above all things.

May our city continue to bear Christ's name and our Diocese continue to serve this city." 

*For those unfamiliar with the boundaries of Christchurch city, it now includes Banks Peninsula, a largely rural area to the south-east of Christchurch's main, contiguous urban areas.

**This is a reference to five Anglican schools for which the Diocese has a structural relationship, including me being the Warden of these schools. There is a sixth school which is also "diocesan" in Timaru. There are two further schools in Christchurch which have no structural relationship with the Diocese but do have enduring relationships with their respective local parishes.