Peter Atkins (bishop)
New Zealand Anglican bishop (1936–2022)
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Peter Geoffrey Atkins (29 April 1936 – 11 May 2022) was a New Zealand Anglican clergyman, who served as the Bishop of Waiapu from 1983 to 1990.
Peter Atkins | |
|---|---|
| Bishop of Waiapu | |
| Province | Aotearoa, New Zealand and Polynesia |
| Diocese | Waiapu |
| In office | 1983–1990 |
| Predecessor | Ralph Matthews |
| Successor | Murray Mills |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Peter Geoffrey Atkins 29 April 1936 |
| Died | 11 May 2022 (aged 86) Auckland, New Zealand |
| Denomination | Anglicanism |
| Spouse | Rosemary Atkins |
| Children | 1 |
| Alma mater | Sidney Sussex College, Cambridge |
Biography
Born on 29 April 1936, Atkins was educated at Merchant Taylors' School, Crosby, and Sidney Sussex College, Cambridge. He was ordained in 1963.[1] He began his ordained ministry with a curacy at Karori, after which he was a priest-tutor at St Peter's Theological College in the Solomon Islands.[2] Later, he was vicar of Waipukurau, then diocesan secretary and registrar in the Diocese of Waiapu. He was archdeacon of Hawke's Bay from 1979 until 17 September 1983,[3] when he was ordained to the episcopate.[4] In 1990, he was awarded the New Zealand 1990 Commemoration Medal.[5]
After resigning his see, Atkins moved to Auckland in 1991 where he was dean at St John's Theological College and a lecturer in liturgy and evangelism at the University of Auckland.[6][7] He was also a senior research fellow at the University of Birmingham, and wrote a series of books on practical theology.[7]
Atkins died in Auckland on 11 May 2022, at the age of 86.[6][8]
