BISHOP OF AUCKLAND

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1835, 22 August 1913, Page 8

BISHOP OF AUCKLAND

<, DR. AVERILL ELECTED. PRACTICALLY UNANIMOUS' VOTE(By Telesraph.—Protis Association.! Auckland, August 21 An urgent invitation to accept the position of Anglican Bishop of Auckland, rendered vacant by the resignation of Dr. O. T. L. Crosslcy, was sent to tho Right Rev. W. A. Aver.ill, Bishop of Waiapu, this evening. The selection of Bishop Averill was made at a special session of the Synod by a practically unanimous vote.

The session was opened on Wednesday morning, and continued till late that evening without reaching a final conclusion. The Synod resumed this morning, and sat again until late in the evening, rising shortly after ten o'clock. The following telegram was then sent by the Bishop's Commissary (Archdeacon ■ Calder) to the Bishop of "Waiapu, at present in Wellington:— "Auckland Synod, at special session just closed, has," by practically unanimous vote, nominated you as Bishop if Auckland, and urgently desires your acceptance of- nomination."

.The Eight Reverend Alfred . Walter Averill was Ixirn in Stafford, England, in ISOS. lie received his earlier education at Stafford Grammar School, and by private tutor, subsequently pursuing his studies at St. .John's College, Oxford, whore, in,lSB7, he took the B.A. decree with second-class honours in the theological school. He entered Ely Theological College in 18S8, and in the same year was ordained deacon at the A'dvent .ordination in St. Paul's Cathedral by tin. late Archbishop Temple, then Bishop of London. ~ His first curacy was at St. George's, Hanover Square, which he held from 18S8 to IS9I, under Canon Capelcure, who was' Oanon of Windsor ■ and Chaplain to the late Queen. In 188!) ht> was. ordained priest by Archbishop Temple, at the Advent ordination : n St. Paul's.- His M.A. degree was taken by Bishop Averill in 1891, and in that year,, on the death of Canon Capelcure, he was appointed curate at Holy Trinity, Dalston, with the Rev. R.. S. Ilassard, who was formerly Vicar of St. Matthew's, Auckland, "in 1891 Air. ■ Hassard was nominated Vicar of St. Michael's, Christchurch, but declined the position, and on his recommendation Bishop Averill was chosen for it, and held it until 1909. From 1895 lie acted as chaplain to the Christchurch Hospital; from 1902 to 11)09

lie was honorary canon of Christchurch Cathedral; from 1903, Archdeacon of Akaroa; and during 1909 and 1910, Archdeacon of Christchurch. The election of Bishop Averill to the See of AVaiapu was made on September 18, 1909, and oil .Ttnuary 1G in the following year he was consecrated.