Norman Lesser

Norman Alfred Lesser (16 March 1902 - 12 February 1985^[1]) was an Anglican bishop and Archbishop of New Zealand from 1961 to 1971. He was the Bishop of Waiapu^[2] from 1947^[3] to 1971.

Education and early ministry

He was educated at the Liverpool Collegiate Institution and Fitzwilliam College, Cambridge. He began his ecclesiastical career with a curacy at St Simon and St Jude, Anfield, Liverpool.^[4] He then held similar posts at Holy Trinity, Formby and Liverpool Cathedral. In 1931 he became Vicar of St John, Barrow-in-Furness. From 1931 to 1939 he was Rector and Sub-Dean of Nairobi Cathedral and from then until his elevation to the Waiapu See its Provost.

Episcopal ministry

Lesser succeeded Archbishop Reginald Herbert Owen as Primate of the Anglican Church of New Zealand on his death in 1961.Norman Lesser Drive in Auckland is named after him.

References

1. ^ “Who was Who” 1897-2007 London, A & C Black, 2007 ISBN 9780199540877
2. ^ Lesser on the Waiapu Cathedral website
3. ^ The Times, Tuesday, Dec 24, 1946; pg. 7; Issue 50642; col B Ecclesiastical News New Bishop Of Waiapu
4. ^ Crockford's Clerical Directory1948 Oxford OUP 1947

External links

• Lesser's Papers in the Anglican Church Archive Collection in the John Kinder Theological Library
• Lesser's Papers in The National Archives

Church of England titles
Preceded by George Craig Cruickshank	Bishop of Waiapu 1947 – 1971	Succeeded by Paul Reeves
Preceded by Reginald Herbert Owen	Archbishop of New Zealand 1961 – 1971	Succeeded by Allen Johnston

Persondata
Name	Lesser, Norman Alfred
Alternative names
Short description
Date of birth	16 March 1902
Place of birth
Date of death	12 February 1985
Place of death