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Anashuya Fletcher

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Anashuya Fletcher
Assistant Bishop of Wellington
Anashuya Fletcher being installed as Assistant Bishop of Wellington.
ChurchAnglican Church in Aotearoa, New Zealand and Polynesia
DioceseWellington
In office2024–present
PredecessorEleanor Sanderson
Orders
Ordination17 November 2018 (priesthood)
by Justin Duckworth
Consecration13 April 2024
by Don Tamihere
Personal details
Born1984 (age 39–40)
SpousePaul Fletcher
Children2

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

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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

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  1. ^ Martin, Robin (7 February 2019). "Regional refugee resettlement: 'There is a real desire to welcome'". Radio New Zealand. Retrieved 25 March 2024.
  2. ^ a b Clarke-Morris, Julanne (16 April 2024). "Wellington celebrates Bishop Ana". Anglic. Retrieved 22 April 2024.
  3. ^ a b c Wylie, Liz (25 February 2024). "Anglican Church appoints Whanganui reverend youngest Assistant Bishop of Wellington". Whanganui Chronicle.
  4. ^ Johanson, Rowan (12 October 2013). "Coffee project fuels social change". Newshub. Retrieved 25 March 2024.
  5. ^ "Wellington celebrates as 18 ordained". Anglican Taonga. 22 November 2018. Retrieved 25 March 2024.
  6. ^ 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.
  7. ^ "Wellington Anglicans Welcome Anashuya Fletcher As Assistant Bishop". Scoop. 12 April 2024. Retrieved 15 April 2024.
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