The recently appointed Dean of Christchurch Lynda Patterson, took up her duties at the beginning of November, having acted in that role for the past 20 months.
Her installation will take place on 15 December.
Is she high-church or low-church? Answer: “I am liturgically fairly catholic and theologically fairly liberal – a liberal catholic,” she says.
Mike Crean, writing in The Press, says “Patterson has been in Christchurch long enough to understand how people are polarised by debates: a cathedral for Cathedral Square, differences between high and low church factions, ordination of people in same-sex relationships.
“If the sparkling personality of the Northern Irish farm girl cannot carry her through such controversies, then her ability to see all sides and bring reconciliation to them should do it.”
Patterson studied theology at Oxford and then lectured in theology there, for a total of 12 years. She had intended doing a doctorate but enjoyed the teaching so much she took on extra classes instead.
Having previously visited New Zealand, she she came to live there 10 years ago.
Patterson’s first year involved becoming “acclimatised to New Zealand culture”, learning Maori and studying for church ministry. Bishop David Coles ordained her as a deacon in 2004 and a priest in 2005.
She was attached to Theological House in Merivale and acted as curate to the cathedral. She became theologian-in-residence at the cathedral and assistant to the then dean, Peter Beck. When Beck resigned in 2011, Patterson became acting dean.
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