Michael O'Connor was Dean at a time when the Cathedral
was in a critical financial state and had to make many serious and difficult
decisions in his efforts to resolve problems.
Despite these tribulations he was rarely seen outside the Cathedral without a
pipe clenched firmly between his teeth, and with a cheerful smile - and often a
new joke - for those whom he recognised.
Educated at Lancing College, West Sussex, from 1955 - 1959, then at the
College of Law, Guildford from 1963 - 1964, Dean Michael was admitted Solicitor
in 1964. He went up to St Catharine's College, Cambridge, (1964 -
1967) where he read Theology, and then to Cuddesdon College, Oxford (1967 -
1969) where he trained for ordination.
Ordained Deacon in 1969 and Priest in 1970, his first post was as Assistant
Curate at St Andrew, Headington. In 1972 the Revd Michael O'Connor began a very
busy life, with multiple postings a feature of his career. From 1979 to
1997, when he was appointed Dean of Auckland, he was Vicar of Rainham, Kent.
Other duties during that time included being Rural Dean of Gillingham (1981 -
1988), Honorary Canon of Rochester Cathedral (1987 - 1997), Member of the
Anglican Consultative Council (1988 - 1990), Honorary Chaplain to the Kent
County Constabulary (1991 - 1997), Church Commisioner (1995 - 1997), and
Commissary for the Bishops of Auckland and Newcastle (N.S.W.) from 1996.
In the wider Church he was a long-standing member of the Church of England
General Synod and of many committees, Commissions, Councils, and Boards.
Installed Dean of Auckland on 20th September 1997, The Very Revd
Michael O'Connor proved to be an excellent preacher. He worked extremely hard to
bring more people and activity to the Cathedral, and to make it an intrinsic
part of the City of Auckland. His desire to see biculturalism introduced more
actively into the life of the Cathedral resulted in his inclusion in the
Cathedral Eucharist of Te Inoi a Te Ariki, The Lord's Prayer in Maori.
You may read this beautiful prayer, complete with translation notes, here.
His friendship with The Rt Rev'd Pat Dunn, Catholic Bishop of Auckland,
resulted in the gift to the Cathedral of the kauri altar designed and made for
the visit of Pope John Paul II in 1986, now a focal point of the new nave, along
with the glorious stained glass windows which were installed in the liturgical
west end during his term.
Dean Michael returned to England in 2000 having been made an Honorary Canon
of the Cathedral. He is the Executive Officer of the Ecclesiastical Law Society,
of which he was a founder member in 1987, developing the study and understanding
of Church law.
Canon Michael became Vicar of Little Missenden, retiring in April 2004 to a thatched cottage in Oxford.
His current address is:
1 Steady's Lane, Stanton Harcourt, Witney, Oxon. OX29 5RL.
Phone: 01865 882776
Email link.