Much-loved parishioner Bishop Brian Carrell died on Sunday, August 31, 2025.
He was the husband (for 66 years) of May, father and father-in-law of Peter and Teresa, Martin and Greta, Benjamin and Lynda, Anne-Marie and Brent, and Amanda. He was the grandfather of 16 and great-grandfather of 10.
Brian was born in 1933, deaconed in 1957, priested in 1957, and ordained a bishop in 1991. He had an MA and BD. He was a curate in Timaru and then St Albans, Christchurch; Vicar of Hororata (1960-65); Vicar of St Matthew’s Dunedin (1965-71); General Secretary of the NZ Church Missionary Society (1971-1982); Vicar of All Saints’ Palmerston North (1982-1991); and then Assistant Bishop of Wellington and Regional Bishop of the northern region of the Diocese, based in Palmerston North. In 1999 Brian and May retired to Christchurch, where they have served the Diocese, and the Parish of Fendalton in various ways.
His son, Peter, is the Bishop of Christchurch.
Brian’s funeral is at 10.30am, Monday 8 September 2025, in the Transitional Cathedral, Hereford Street, Christchurch. It will be live streamed here.
I first “met” Brian Carrell in 1998 when I bought and read his book Moving Between Times: Modernity and Postmodernity – A Christian View. I was delighted that he signed it for me 25 years later during a Lenten study group I led in my first year here at St Barnabas.
I “met” him again through his writing in 2022 when I read his book Creating a New Zealand Prayer Book in preparation for taking up my role in this parish.
I met him in person only a few months later at my commissioning service at St Barnabas in early 2023.
I have met him many times since then, of which two recent encounters stand out.
The first was to have Brian and May be part of our Lifestreams service on Sunday 27 July where they were sponsors for the baptism of their granddaughter, and our youth minister, Charlotte. As a baptism gift, I was moved to be able to present Charlotte with a copy of A New Zealand Prayer Book, which Brian had such a significant hand in putting together.
My second memorable set of encounters with Brian were in recent weeks, visiting Brian and May at their home with Holy Communion, and then several times in Christchurch Hospital. On one of those occasions, one of the nurses, spotting my clerical collar, asked if I was coming to see the VIP – the Very Important Padre! I laughed and said ‘of course’!
His importance and influence live on among his family, friends, colleagues, writings, and our Parish of Fendalton. We will all miss him.
May he rest in peace and rise in glory.
Rev’d Andrew
By Andrew Butcher