The Press THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 10, 1966. Bishop Warren

Press, Volume CV, Issue 30981, 10 February 1966, Page 12

The Press THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 10, 1966. Bishop Warren

The 15 years of Bishop Warren s episcopacy have been crucial in the hLtory of the Christchurch diocese. The Church of England has met new, more sophisticated, challenges to its authority, as have the other Christian denominations. It has accepted new roles in the field of social service, particularly in the care of the aged and the sponsorship of youth work. The increase in the population of Christchurch and its spread to outer suburbs has made big demands on the church’s finances and on its priests.

Bishop Warren will be remembered with gratitude and affection in his diocese for his devoted attention to these problems and for his masterly grip of church affairs, inter-denominational, diocesan, and parish. He is an administrator of unusual capacity, whose gifts would have earned him a position of eminence in whatever career he had chosen. This is well illustrated in the reasons he has given for deciding to retire now: “ There is also the Lambeth “ Conference to be thought of . . . It seems right “ that a new bishop should be given some time in “ office before he goes to Lambeth ”, Bishop Warren has carried out a notable building programme in the diocese—extensions to the Cathedral, a new Church House, and numerous projects at parish level. Finance is the key to building activities; and Bishop Warren could with equal authority discuss mortgages with financiers, or mortices with architects. As a churchman, he has made his mark in ecumenical work; the cordial relationships among leading members of the main denominations in Christchurch are due, in no small measure, to Bishop Warren’s influence. His interests and activities have extended over a wide field. The University of Canterbury, the Order of St. John, the Red Cross Society, Christ's College, and St. Margaret’s College have all benefited from his energy and his sage counsel. All will be glad to learn that he will continue his active interest in these organisations.

Both the Bishop and Mrs Warren have suffered much ill health in recent years: and each has set a notable example of determination in the face of adversity. People ot all faiths will wish them well in their retirement—or, more properly, their semiretirement: for it is difficult to imagine either of these able and devoted citizens willingly accepting an idle retirement, however well earned.