Peter Beck (cleric)
Encyclopedia
The Very Reverend Peter J. Beck (born ) has since 2002 been the dean of ChristChurch Cathedral in Christchurch
, New Zealand. Born in England, Beck has been in New Zealand since 1981, and was vicar of St Matthew in the city
in Auckland. He knew the late Sir Edmund Hillary
from his time in Auckland, is a board member of the Hillary Institute, and spoke at the state funeral of Hillary in 2008. Since the February 2011 Christchurch earthquake
, Beck has been one of the figureheads of the city.
, South Yorkshire, England, in 1948 or 1949. He is a graduate of Oxford University
and was ordained as a priest in 1973 in England and emigrated to New Zealand in 1981.
in Auckland from 1992 to 2000 and developed an association with Sir Edmund Hillary
and his wife June. His next role was as the director of a retreat centre, Vaughan Park, in Auckland. Since 2002, he has been the dean of ChristChurch Cathedral in Christchurch.
Beck is on the board of the Hillary Institute; the organisation was launched as part of the 50th anniversary visit of Hillary to Antarctica in 2007. Beck was asked by Lady Hillary to speak at the 2008 state funeral of her husband.
Following the February 2011 Christchurch earthquake
, Beck became one of the figureheads of Christchurch. One of his quotes is often cited:
It was feared that up to 22 people would have been killed after the collapse of the tower of the ChristChurch Cathedral in the February earthquake. Beck cried with relief when he was informed on 5 March that nobody had been found in the church.
Gareth Farr
composed a memorial piece for the Christchurch earthquake, Nor'West Arch, first performed on 25 September 2011. The title makes reference to a particular Christchurch weather pattern
, but is also that part of the ChristChurch Cathedral that received most damage in the earthquake. Beck was part of the performance, reading out an introduction including the quote above. The concert was one of the highlights of the 2011 Christchurch Arts Festival.
at Lake Clearwater in the Southern Alps
, inland from Ashburton
.
Christchurch
Christchurch is the largest city in the South Island of New Zealand, and the country's second-largest urban area after Auckland. It lies one third of the way down the South Island's east coast, just north of Banks Peninsula which itself, since 2006, lies within the formal limits of...
, New Zealand. Born in England, Beck has been in New Zealand since 1981, and was vicar of St Matthew in the city
St Matthew's, Auckland
St Matthew's, or St Matthew-in-the-City, is an historic Anglican church located in the Central Business District of Auckland, renowned for its neo-Gothic style since its completion in 1905.-History:...
in Auckland. He knew the late Sir Edmund Hillary
Edmund Hillary
Sir Edmund Percival Hillary, KG, ONZ, KBE , was a New Zealand mountaineer, explorer and philanthropist. On 29 May 1953 at the age of 33, he and Sherpa mountaineer Tenzing Norgay became the first climbers known to have reached the summit of Mount Everest – see Timeline of climbing Mount Everest...
from his time in Auckland, is a board member of the Hillary Institute, and spoke at the state funeral of Hillary in 2008. Since the February 2011 Christchurch earthquake
2011 Christchurch earthquake
The February 2011 Christchurch earthquake was a magnitude 6.3 earthquake that struck the Canterbury region in New Zealand's South Island at on local time , The earthquake was centred west of the town of Lyttelton, and south-east of the centre of Christchurch, New Zealand's second-most populous...
, Beck has been one of the figureheads of the city.
Early life
Beck was born in SheffieldSheffield
Sheffield is a city and metropolitan borough of South Yorkshire, England. Its name derives from the River Sheaf, which runs through the city. Historically a part of the West Riding of Yorkshire, and with some of its southern suburbs annexed from Derbyshire, the city has grown from its largely...
, South Yorkshire, England, in 1948 or 1949. He is a graduate of Oxford University
University of Oxford
The University of Oxford is a university located in Oxford, United Kingdom. It is the second-oldest surviving university in the world and the oldest in the English-speaking world. Although its exact date of foundation is unclear, there is evidence of teaching as far back as 1096...
and was ordained as a priest in 1973 in England and emigrated to New Zealand in 1981.
New Zealand
He was vicar of St Matthew in the citySt Matthew's, Auckland
St Matthew's, or St Matthew-in-the-City, is an historic Anglican church located in the Central Business District of Auckland, renowned for its neo-Gothic style since its completion in 1905.-History:...
in Auckland from 1992 to 2000 and developed an association with Sir Edmund Hillary
Edmund Hillary
Sir Edmund Percival Hillary, KG, ONZ, KBE , was a New Zealand mountaineer, explorer and philanthropist. On 29 May 1953 at the age of 33, he and Sherpa mountaineer Tenzing Norgay became the first climbers known to have reached the summit of Mount Everest – see Timeline of climbing Mount Everest...
and his wife June. His next role was as the director of a retreat centre, Vaughan Park, in Auckland. Since 2002, he has been the dean of ChristChurch Cathedral in Christchurch.
Beck is on the board of the Hillary Institute; the organisation was launched as part of the 50th anniversary visit of Hillary to Antarctica in 2007. Beck was asked by Lady Hillary to speak at the 2008 state funeral of her husband.
Following the February 2011 Christchurch earthquake
2011 Christchurch earthquake
The February 2011 Christchurch earthquake was a magnitude 6.3 earthquake that struck the Canterbury region in New Zealand's South Island at on local time , The earthquake was centred west of the town of Lyttelton, and south-east of the centre of Christchurch, New Zealand's second-most populous...
, Beck became one of the figureheads of Christchurch. One of his quotes is often cited:
The earthquake was not an act of God. The earthquake was the planet doing its thing the way the planet does. For me as a Christian, the act of God is in the love and compassion that people are sharing among each other.
It was feared that up to 22 people would have been killed after the collapse of the tower of the ChristChurch Cathedral in the February earthquake. Beck cried with relief when he was informed on 5 March that nobody had been found in the church.
Gareth Farr
Gareth Farr
Gareth Vincent Farr ONZM is a New Zealand composer and percussionist. He has released a number of classical CDs and composed a number of works performed by the New Zealand Symphony Orchestra and Royal New Zealand Ballet...
composed a memorial piece for the Christchurch earthquake, Nor'West Arch, first performed on 25 September 2011. The title makes reference to a particular Christchurch weather pattern
Nor'west arch
The Nor'west arch is a weather pattern peculiar to the east coast of New Zealand's South Island. For this reason, it is also often referred to as the Canterbury arch. It is shown in an apparent arch of high white cloud in an otherwise clear blue sky over the Southern Alps, and is accompanied by a...
, but is also that part of the ChristChurch Cathedral that received most damage in the earthquake. Beck was part of the performance, reading out an introduction including the quote above. The concert was one of the highlights of the 2011 Christchurch Arts Festival.
Personal life
Beck is married to Gay and they have three adult children. The Becks own a bachVacation property
Vacation property is a niche in the real estate market dealing with residences used for holiday vacations . In the United Kingdom this type of property is usually termed a holiday home, in Australia, a holiday house/home, or weekender, in New Zealand, a bach or crib...
at Lake Clearwater in the Southern Alps
Southern Alps
The Southern Alps is a mountain range extending along much of the length of New Zealand's South Island, reaching its greatest elevations near the island's western side...
, inland from Ashburton
Ashburton, New Zealand
Ashburton is a town and district in the Canterbury Region on the east coast of the South Island of New Zealand. It is the third-largest centre in Canterbury, after Christchurch and Timaru. The area around Ashburton is frequently referred to as Mid Canterbury, which is also the name of the...
.