Anashuya Fletcher
Anashuya Fletcher | |
|---|---|
| Assistant Bishop of Wellington | |
 Anashuya Fletcher being installed as Assistant Bishop of Wellington. | |
| Church | Anglican Church in Aotearoa, New Zealand and Polynesia |
| Diocese | Wellington |
| In office | 2024–present |
| Predecessor | Eleanor Sanderson |
| Orders | |
| Ordination | 17 November 2018 (priesthood) by Justin Duckworth |
| Consecration | 13 April 2024 by Don Tamihere |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 1984 (age 39–40) |
| Spouse | Paul Fletcher |
| Children | 2 |
Anashuya "Ana" Fletcher, née Richards, (born 1984) is a Sri Lanka-born New Zealand Anglican bishop. She has been assistant bishop in the Anglican Diocese of Wellington since 2024.
Biography
[edit]Fletcher was born in Sri Lanka to Tamil Christian parents and immigrated with her family to New Zealand to escape civil war around the age of one.[1] She grew up in Auckland, trained as an attorney and worked as a solicitor and in human rights law at International Justice Mission before entering ordained ministry.[2][3] She and her husband, Paul Fletcher, also co-founded social enterprises like a fair-trade coffee shop and Common Good Coffee.[4][3]
Fletcher was ordained to the priesthood at Wellington Cathedral alongside her husband in 2018.[5] The Fletchers, who have two young children, were appointed co-priests in charge at St. Peter's Anglican Church, Gonville, in Whanganui.[6] Anashuya also worked as "inter-cultural communities enabler" for the New Zealand Church Missionary Society.[3] Her appointment as assistant bishop of Wellington was announced in February 2024, and she was ordained as a bishop at Wellington Cathedral on 13 April 2024.[7][2]
References
[edit]- ^ Martin, Robin (7 February 2019). "Regional refugee resettlement: 'There is a real desire to welcome'". Radio New Zealand. Retrieved 25 March 2024.
- ^ a b Clarke-Morris, Julanne (16 April 2024). "Wellington celebrates Bishop Ana". Anglic. Retrieved 22 April 2024.
- ^ a b c Wylie, Liz (25 February 2024). "Anglican Church appoints Whanganui reverend youngest Assistant Bishop of Wellington". Whanganui Chronicle.
- ^ Johanson, Rowan (12 October 2013). "Coffee project fuels social change". Newshub. Retrieved 25 March 2024.
- ^ "Wellington celebrates as 18 ordained". Anglican Taonga. 22 November 2018. Retrieved 25 March 2024.
- ^ Tweed, Mike (2 May 2021). "Our leaders: Community comes first for St Peter's Anglican Church priests Paul and Ana Fletcher". Whanganui Chronicle. Retrieved 25 March 2024.
- ^ "Wellington Anglicans Welcome Anashuya Fletcher As Assistant Bishop". Scoop. 12 April 2024. Retrieved 15 April 2024.