Thomas Brown (bishop)
Encyclopedia
Thomas John Brown is an Anglican bishop in New Zealand
. He is currently the Bishop of Wellington
.
Brown was educated at the University of Otago
in New Zealand and ordained in 1972. After curacies
at St Matthew's in Christchurch, New Zealand, and St James the Greater in Leicester, England, he returned to New Zealand to become the vicar
of Upper Clutha in 1976. After further incumbencies
at Roslyn and Lower Hutt
he became the Archdeacon
of Belmont
in 1987. In 1991 he became the assistant bishop
and the vicar general
in the Diocese of Wellington
and, seven years later, its diocesan bishop.
In August 2010, Brown created a Second Life
account and joined the online virtual Epiphany Cathedral. The virtual cathedral had been established, with Brown's support, by a priest ordained by him some years before. Plans for Brown to preach as a bishop in the virtual cathedral were announced at the same time.
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
. He is currently the Bishop of Wellington
Diocese of Wellington
The Diocese of Wellington is one of the thirteen dioceses and hui amorangi of the Anglican Church in Aotearoa, New Zealand and Polynesia. The Diocese covers the area between the bottom of the North Island of New Zealand up to the area of Mount Ruapehu....
.
Brown was educated at the University of Otago
University of Otago
The University of Otago in Dunedin is New Zealand's oldest university with over 22,000 students enrolled during 2010.The university has New Zealand's highest average research quality and in New Zealand is second only to the University of Auckland in the number of A rated academic researchers it...
in New Zealand and ordained in 1972. After curacies
Curate
A curate is a person who is invested with the care or cure of souls of a parish. In this sense "curate" correctly means a parish priest but in English-speaking countries a curate is an assistant to the parish priest...
at St Matthew's in Christchurch, New Zealand, and St James the Greater in Leicester, England, he returned to New Zealand to become the vicar
Vicar
In the broadest sense, a vicar is a representative, deputy or substitute; anyone acting "in the person of" or agent for a superior . In this sense, the title is comparable to lieutenant...
of Upper Clutha in 1976. After further incumbencies
Vicar
In the broadest sense, a vicar is a representative, deputy or substitute; anyone acting "in the person of" or agent for a superior . In this sense, the title is comparable to lieutenant...
at Roslyn and Lower Hutt
Lower Hutt
Lower Hutt is a city in the Wellington region of New Zealand. Its council has adopted the name Hutt City Council, but neither the New Zealand Geographic Board nor the Local Government Act recognise the name Hutt City. This alternative name can lead to confusion, as there are two cities in the...
he became the Archdeacon
Archdeacon
An archdeacon is a senior clergy position in Anglicanism, Syrian Malabar Nasrani, Chaldean Catholic, and some other Christian denominations, above that of most clergy and below a bishop. In the High Middle Ages it was the most senior diocesan position below a bishop in the Roman Catholic Church...
of Belmont
Belmont, Wellington
Belmont is a suburb of Lower Hutt, to the north of Wellington in the North Island of New Zealand. It is on the west bank of the Hutt River, on State Highway 2 , the Wellington-Hutt main road, and across the river from the centre of Lower Hutt....
in 1987. In 1991 he became the assistant bishop
Assistant Bishop
An assistant bishop in the Anglican Communion is a bishop appointed to assist a diocesan bishop.-Church of England:In the established Church of England, assistant bishops are usually are retired bishops – in which case they are honorary assistant bishops...
and the vicar general
Vicar general
A vicar general is the principal deputy of the bishop of a diocese for the exercise of administrative authority. As vicar of the bishop, the vicar general exercises the bishop's ordinary executive power over the entire diocese and, thus, is the highest official in a diocese or other particular...
in the Diocese of Wellington
Diocese of Wellington
The Diocese of Wellington is one of the thirteen dioceses and hui amorangi of the Anglican Church in Aotearoa, New Zealand and Polynesia. The Diocese covers the area between the bottom of the North Island of New Zealand up to the area of Mount Ruapehu....
and, seven years later, its diocesan bishop.
In August 2010, Brown created a Second Life
Second Life
Second Life is an online virtual world developed by Linden Lab. It was launched on June 23, 2003. A number of free client programs, or Viewers, enable Second Life users, called Residents, to interact with each other through avatars...
account and joined the online virtual Epiphany Cathedral. The virtual cathedral had been established, with Brown's support, by a priest ordained by him some years before. Plans for Brown to preach as a bishop in the virtual cathedral were announced at the same time.