Warren, highly respected historian and
chronicler of the Anglican Church in New Zealand, is a gifted and popular
speaker whose sincerity and all-encompassing theology is coupled with intensely
practical spirituality.
Born in Timaru on 29th July 1937, Warren was educated at Timaru Boys' High
School before entering Canterbury University where he graduated BA (History,
English, Political Science) in 1959, MA (History) and LTh. in 1960. He attained
the degree of Master of Divinity in 1966 while studying under an International
Scholarship at the Episcopal Divinity School, Cambridge, Massachusetts. While
there, he served as Assistant Priest of St Stephen's, Cohassett.
In 1990 he was awarded a Doctorate of Ministry, completing residential course
work at the Episcopal Divinity School and Harvard Divinity School while holding
the Procter Fellowship for continuing professional education.
Ordained Deacon in 1960 and Priest in 1961, he served as Assistant Curate in
St Mary's, Merivale, Christchurch, 1960 - 1962.
In 1962, after marrying Dorothy Jean Lock, who died in 1999, Warren was
briefly the Vicar of the Chatham Islands, 800km (500 miles) east of
Christchurch. Pitt Island, the most easterly of the island group, is the first
place on earth to see each new day. In 1963 he returned to the mainland as
Assistant Curate at St. Paul's, Papanui until 1965, then became Assistant Priest
at the Priory Church of St Peter, Dunstable.
From 1966 to 1969 Warren was Vicar of Banks Peninsula, Otago, then warden of
Selwyn College, University of Otago, Dunedin (1969 - 80), and Ministry Officer,
Diocese of Auckland, from 1980 - 88. In 1987 he became an Honorary Canon of Holy
Trinity Cathedral. He was next appointed Vicar of St Andrew's Church,
Epsom, and in 1990 became also the Archdeacon of Mangawhau. In 1992 he was
installed as Dean of St Paul's Cathedral, Dunedin and retired to Auckland in
1996, where he was invited to join our ministry team.
From 1982 to 1992 Warren was also Chairperson of the Anglican Archives
Committee, and has been a member and office holder of a large number of Boards,
Commissions and Committees throughout his career.
Warren married Dr Elizabeth Niven, a Senior Lecturer in Nursing, in 2001. Following retirement he has devoted more time to the voluntary national post as Dean of the New Zealand Priory of the Order of St John. In that role he co-authored a major Report for the International Order on relationships to non-Christian faith communities. He was invested as a Knight of Grace in the Order in 2004.
He has also maintained his interest in education, having been a Member of the
Faculties of the University of Otago and of St John's Theological College as
Lecturer, Tutor and Examiner.
Publications:
Bishop Selwyn in New Zealand, 1841 - 68 (1983 -
OOP)
Articles in the Dictionary of New Zealand
Biography and the World Book Encyclopaedia.