Michael Henry Brown CNZM OStJ ED (15 April 1936 – 8 January 2024) was a New Zealand Anglican priest. After a range of clerical roles in Canterbury, he was Dean of Wellington Cathedral of St Paul^[1] from 1985 to^[2] 2002.

Early life and family

Michael Brown was born in Christchurch on 15 April 1936, the son of Catherine (nee Dunn) and Harry Brown, a First World War artillery veteran. He was the youngest of three; he had an older sister, Jean (b.1923), and a brother, Peter (b.1929). Both predeceased him. He was educated at Christchurch Boys' High School.^[3] He saw military service with the Royal Regiment of New Zealand Artillery between 1955 and 1958, before going on to study at the University of Canterbury, graduating Bachelor of Commerce in 1963, and qualifying as an associate chartered accountant the same year.^[3] He later gained a Master of Business Administration degree from University of South Bend, Indiana in 1991.^[3]

On 9 January 1965, Michael married Anne Elizabeth Pierre.^[3] at the church of St Baranbas Fendalton, in Christchurch.

Priesthood

Michael Brown completed study for the Licentiate of Theology^[3] and was ordained in the Diocese of Christchurch in 1964. After curacies in Linwood and Ashburton he held incumbencies at Marchwiel, Burwood and Merivale.^[4] He was also Archdeacon of Rangiora and Westland.

He continued his military involvement with the Royal New Zealand Chaplains Department (RNZChD) between 1967 and 1984, and was awarded the Efficiency Decoration in 1983.^[3] During this time he was Chaplain to 3 Transport Company, Royal New Zealand Corps of Transport (RNZCT); 3 Field Regiment, Royal Regiment of New Zealand Artillery (RNZA); and Headquarters 3 Task Force Region (3TFR).

During this period he was Chaplain to the New Zealand Antarctic Programme,^[5] Department of Scientific and Industrial Research (DSIR), in which capacity he visited Antarctica twice, in 1978 and 1980.

He was also a part-time Police Chaplain in Christchurch from the late 1970s.

Michael was Chaplain Commandant of the RNZChD from 1995 to 2005.^[6]

In 1990, Brown was awarded the New Zealand 1990 Commemoration Medal.^[3]

In 2001, he was made an Officer of the Order of St John.^[7]

From 1985 to 2002 Michael Brown was Dean of Wellington Cathedral. During this time, with the agreement of Archbishop Brian Davis (who was also Bishop of Wellington at this time), he embarked on a campaign to complete the Cathedral. The Cathedral had been built in stages in the 1960s and 1970s, and the nave remained about half the planned size. Due to the Cathedral's role in state and civic occasions, it was deemed desirable to complete it according to the original plans. A major fundraising effort ensued, which raised over $6M in 1998 dollars. Michael received the Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit ^[3] in the 1999 Queen's Birthday Honours ^[8]for services to the community in recognition of this substantial achievement.

Dean Emeritus Michael Brown, CNZM, OStJ, ED died on 8 January 2024, at the age of 87.^[9]

References