The four Anglican schools in Auckland gathered at Parnell’s Holy Trinity Cathedral last evening to farewell Bishop John Paterson, and to thank him for his long contribution to their welfare.
There was a massed choir from the four schools – Diocesan School for Girls; Dilworth School; King’s College and King’s School – as well as performances from the kapa haka groups from Dilworth and Dio.
Anglican Schools have been a priority for Bishop John throughout his episcopacy, and this was acknowledged by Donald Maclean, the principal of Dilworth School.
He told the gathered students and teachers that Bishop John had provided an example of what it was to be a true leader and man of prayer.
In response Bishop John – himself a King's College old boy – repeated his challenge to students to consider the vocation of ministry.
Bishop John and his wife Marion left the Cathedral to a haka from the pupils of Dilworth School, who lined the length of the forecourt.
The schools' farewell was the culmination of a weekend of goodbyes to Bishop John and his wife Marion.
On Sunday, The Rev Canon Kenneth Kearon, the Secretary General of the Anglican Communion, preached at Bishop John’s final Eucharist at Holy Trinity Cathedral.
Bishop John presided at that Eucharist, and in a moving final act of his episcopacy, he laid down his pastoral staff on the altar.
On the previous afternoon the diocese had come to the cathedral from the four winds to celebrate Bishop John’s 15 years as Bishop.
On the right, we’ve posted a selection of photos taken throughout the weekend.
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In his farewell address to the diocese on Saturday, Bishop John had challenged society's ideas about 'the good life.’
“The challenge remains," he said, "for the church to convince secular Kiwi people that leading the good life in this marvellous part of God’s creation is in itself never enough.
"A sustaining faith in and experience of the love of God is an absolute necessity and that will remain the major challenge for our church.”
Bishop Paterson said another focus during his 10 years as bishop had been to encourage younger people to consider ordained ministry. These clergy were now bringing a new sense of energy and understanding of ministry.
Bishop Paterson has held leadership positions in both the national and international church. As Primate he led the wider provincial church of Aotearoa, New Zealand and Polynesia from 1998 to 2004.
In the worldwide church he chaired the Anglican Consultative Council for the past seven years. That international work was acknowledged in the service with the presence of the Rev’d Canon Kenneth Kearon, Secretary General of the Anglican Communion based in England.
Earlier, Archbishop David Moxon, the senior bishop of the New Zealand dioceses, said Bishop Paterson’s leadership had been marked by a realism that never lost perspective.
“He’s a very rational person," Archbishop Moxon said. "Even-handed, and even thinking. He’s realistic, down to earth – but also careful and a very thorough planner. Bishop John is like a good captain, calmly scanning the horizon to see where things are headed in the long term.”
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