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.^[1] The Diocese covers the area between the Conway River and the Waitaki River in the South Island of New Zealand.^[2]

The Diocese of Christchurch was established in 1856 by the subdivision of the Diocese of New Zealand.^[3] Henry Harper, who arrived in Lyttelton on the Egmont on 23 December 1856, was the first bishop.^[4] The seat of the Bishop of Christchurch was at ChristChurch Cathedral^[5] 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.^[6]

The Archdeaconry of Christchurch dates to 1866^[9] when Henry Jacobs became the first (apparently sole)^[10] Archdeacon of the diocese^[11] 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.^[12]

Archdeacons of Christchurch

• 1902–1909 (res.): Alfred Averill, Vicar of St Michael and All Angels, Christchurch and Canon

The Archdeaconry of Akaroa dates back to at latest 1855, when Octavius Mathias was collated.^[13]

Archdeacons of Akaroa

• 1909–1910 (res.): Alfred Averill, Vicar of St Michael and All Angels, Christchurch and Canon (became Bishop of Waiapu)

The Archdeaconry of Rangiora existed in the second half nineteenth century, when the whole country had one diocese^[14] which was then split in 1856 by the subdivision of the Diocese of New Zealand.^[3]

In 1887, there were four archdeaconries: Jacob (by then also Dean) was still Archdeacon of Christchurch; Henry Harper was Archdeacon of Timaru and Westland; Benjamin Dudley of Rangiora and Edward Lingard of Akaroa^[11]

Archdeacons of Timaru

• 1945–1953 (res.): Walter Averill, Vicar of St Mary's, Timaru