[3] Henry Harper, who arrived in Lyttelton on the Egmont on 23 December 1856, was the first bishop.

Before the Christchurch Diocese was founded, it was intended that Thomas Jackson would be installed as a bishop for the South Island, with would his See located at Lyttelton.

[6] The Archdeaconry of Christchurch dates to 1866[9] when Henry Jacobs became the first (apparently sole)[10] Archdeacon of the diocese[11] Jacobs resigned in May 1889 and was succeeded by Croasdaile Bowen, a brother of Charles Bowen.

Bowen did not serve for long, as he had a stroke in November 1889 and died in January 1890.

[12] The Archdeaconry of Akaroa dates back to at latest 1855, when Octavius Mathias was collated.