Brian Patrick Ashby CBE (10 November 1923 – 5 June 1988) was the fifth Catholic Bishop of Christchurch, New Zealand.
His work in this area was recognised in 1983 when Pope John Paul II appointed him to the Vatican Secretariat for the Promotion of Christian Unity.
[2] Ashby was the first New Zealand bishop to implement church sanctuary alterations in the wake of the second Vatican Council.
[4] Ashby had the role of visionary in the Catholic hierarchy and he became a significant leader in Church and community affairs.
His youth, energy and charisma enabled him to take the lead on social justice issues, particularly those involving Māori-Pākehā relations, overseas aid and sporting contacts with South Africa (which he visited, to see for himself the consequences of Apartheid)[1] Both he and his friend, Bishop Pyatt were outspoken critics of the 1981 Springbok Rugby Tour.
[1] Ashby also headed the New Zealand Catholic Commission for Evangelisation, Justice and Development which gave money to HART (Halt All Racist Tours) in 1981 and later to the Waitangi Action Committee.
In April 1988, he was diagnosed with terminal cancer and died on 5 June 1988 in the Mary Potter Hospital, Christchurch.