"Monty" was a most
treasured member of the Cathedral community through to his death on
12th June 2003. An excellent raconteur with a wry
sense of humour, he was noted throughout his life for
comments made at his own expense concerning his lack of height. His rich,
powerful voice, well practised from years of choral and liturgical singing, could bring instant attention from a noisy crowd.
Bishop Monteith's wit and urbane charm were underpinned by steely resolve and
intense practicality. This combination of characteristics served him well when
overseeing the enormous task of beginning construction of the Cathedral.
The Bishop was born on Valentine's Day, 14 February 1904 at
Mangatainoka, near Woodville, and educated at Hastings West (later Raureka)
Primary School and Napier Boys' High School. He began to attend church seriously
while at High School, and was confirmed on 21 November 1920 at St John's
Cathedral. The Cathedral, built of brick to the design of Benjamin Mountfort,
was destroyed in the Napier earthquake of 1931.
While his first choice of career was Architecture - an interest retained
throughout his life - he was persuaded to become an accountant and began
studying by correspondence. In a private family memoir (Days of Our Age -
1989), having made comment that he didn't really know of any one reason for
choosing his eventual vocation, he describes his call to Holy Orders as "..
a sense of need and opportunity, and the possibility of filling it. I could not
see why I should not offer myself."
On 29 February 1924 he entered St John's Theological College, Auckland, and
enrolled at Auckland
University (then Auckland University College, University of New Zealand),
graduating with a B.A. (Education) in 1928. He was ordained Deacon at St
Matthew's-in-the-City on 21 December 1928, and Priest on Advent Sunday 1929 at
St Mary's Cathedral Church.
Bishop Monteith's ministry began with a curacy at St Matthew's, Auckland,
from 1928 to 1930, interrupted during 1929 by a short period as Priest-in-Charge
of the Hauraki Plains Parish, south of Auckland, where he met Kathleen Methven
Mules, who was Superintendent of the Sunday School at Turua.
In 1930 he embarked on the first of his travels, sailing for England to gain
more vocational experience, where he became Assistant Curate in the Parish of St
Gabriel, Pimlico. On accepting the Curacy at Stoke-on-Trent, in charge of St
Paul's, Mt Pleasant, he learned that they wanted a married priest. It was
therefore arranged that Kathleen should go to England, and they were married on
19 September 1931 at St Gabriel's. They remained at St Paul's until late 1933.
They returned to New Zealand in 1934 when Monty was inducted Vicar of
Dargaville, North Auckland, serving a parish church and 19 other centres in the
district, and travelling huge distances over poor roads. In 1938 he moved to St
Barnabas', Mt Eden, Auckland, where he remained until his appointment as Vicar
of Parnell and Dean of Auckland in 1949. In 1941 he had been appointed to the
Cathedral Committee, which was charged with utilising Miss Mina Tait Horton's
bequest by building the Cathedral first mooted by Bishop Selwyn in 1843. He
retired as Dean in 1969.
Bishop Monteith's booklet "The Cathedral of the Holy Trinity ~ The Story
of the Years 1935 - 1996" (revised 2002) gives an incomparable insight into the huge
workload which he undertook on this project. Aside from his own direct efforts
and his unrelenting inspiration of others, his boundless energy still enabled
him to fulfil all the pastoral and civic functions required of his
position. These included a Royal Visit by the newly crowned Queen Elizabeth in
1953, followed later the same year by the then Archbishop of Canterbury, Dr
Geoffrey Fisher.
From 1963 to 1976 he was Vicar-General, and in 1965 was consecrated Assistant
Bishop of Auckland, a post he held in an honorary capacity until l976, six years
after his retirement as Dean. He was elected a Fellow of St John's College in
1971 - a rarely granted recognition of his life and works.
Kathleen, who was also noted for a delightful sense of humour, died in 1968
after a long illness. In 1982 Bishop Rae married Hilary Llewellyn Etherington, a
member of the Cathedral Choir, and a person who matched his quick mind and
sharp wit.
After retiring he wrote and published several books, giving all
proceeds to the Cathedral Completion Project. He had an entertaining,
informative and chatty style which is fresh and easy to read. Aside from
"The Cathedral ..", mentioned above, "Enjoy Europe with me"
and "More Travels with Monty" tell of his various journeys through
Europe.
In 1998 he published "Meals with the Minibish - A Collection of
Recipes". The photograph shows him autographing a copy for parishioner and
former People's Warden, Stephanie Fleming.
His publications, assembled with Hilary, have raised more than
$25,000 for the Cathedral Completion Fund.
Aside from his writing, Bishop Monty pursued many other interests
including music, cooking and woodwork. He spent many hours in his magnificent garden, and
at 96 discovered the internet and explored the diverse places where his many friends lived. As a regular
member of our Cathedral congregation until shortly before his death he continued to be sought out for his
friendship, wisdom and guidance by congregation and clergy alike. In
2002 the visitor's centre was named the Bishop Monteith Visitor's
Centre.
In earlier years his sports included tennis and swimming; he played clarinet,
and taught himself to play the harmonium, the only instrument available in many
country churches. He was also a member, and later Patron, of the Auckland Dorian
Choir.