John Gray (New Zealand bishop)

John Robert Kuru Gray (1947 – 13 November 2015) was a New Zealand Anglican bishop.

Born in 1947[1] of Ngāti Porou and Ngāti Kahungunu descent, Gray was raised at Tokomaru Bay.[2] After studying nursing in Invercargill, he moved to Christchurch where he became active in the Anglican Church of the Good Shepherd in the suburb of Phillipstown. He was elected to the vestry and served as a churchwarden and, for five years, as a lay reader, before being ordained as a deacon in 1982.[2]

Ordained to the priesthood in 1983, Gray was named Pīhopa o (Bishop of) Te Waipounamu, New Zealand, in 1996, becoming the first Māori Anglican bishop for the South Island.[3] He was consecrated a bishop on 17 February 1996.[4]

Gray died on 13 November 2015,[3] and his body was returned to Tokomaru Bay for his tangihanga at Tuatini Marae.[5][6]

References

edit
  1. ^ Sherwood, Sam (13 November 2015). "Former South Island Bishop John Gray dies after long illness". The Press. Retrieved 25 November 2015.
  2. ^ a b "History of Te Hui Amorangi o Te Waipounamu". Te Hui Amorangi o Te Waipounamu. Retrieved 25 November 2015.
  3. ^ a b "Bishop John Gray of Te Waipounamu dies after illness". Anglican Communion Office. 2015. Retrieved 25 November 2015.
  4. ^ ACANZP Lectionary, 2009 (p. 96)
  5. ^ "Bishop John Gray's body travelling home". Stuff.co.nz. 15 November 2015. Retrieved 25 November 2015.
  6. ^ "Right Rev Bishop John Gray death notice". The Press. 14 November 2015. Retrieved 25 November 2015.