Bishops’ Medals - Celebrating Faithful Service
Eight Bishops’ medals have been awarded this year (thus far). Today we share some of the recipients (that we have information for).
But first, you may be wondering, what is a Bishops’ Medal?
Here’s what you need to know:
A Bishops’ Medal is awarded for a lay person’s long-standing, faithful service to a Parish, Mission Unit or to the Diocese at large. It is a way of honouring outstanding commitment to Christ and His Church.
A Bishops’ Medal consists of:
An enamel pin of the Diocesan crest and, a citation, with the Bishops’ seal, detailing the recipients’ service. As a Bishops’ award, with Diocesan seal, Bishops’ Medals are recorded in the Diocesan Yearbook.
What’s the process for requesting one?
Requests for Bishops’ Medals are made by the Parish, to the Bishop’s Office. The recipient is nominated through Vestry. If the person nominated is a member of Vestry and discretion is required, nomination can take place by the Priest in Charge and Wardens.
Today we recognise Trevor Benson (Parish of Taihape), Steve Simons (Parish of Petone), Graeme and Hillary Duncan (All Saints Palmerston North) and Penny Harding (Parish of Wellington South).
See below:
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raeme has been a faithful and devoted member of All Saints Parish for over 30 years. Throughout all those years his life has been marked by a steadfast and generous commitment to the service of this parish community and he has never sought the limelight preferring to work in the background. Indeed, much of what he has done has been characterised by deep humility and quiet faithfulness.
Together with his wife Hilary, Graeme has lovingly tended the gardens at All Saints’ and at St Oswald’s. Through changing seasons, in sunshine and rain, he has cared for our sacred spaces so that they might reflect the beauty and welcome of God.
He has also been utterly reliable in his role as server and verger — preparing the sanctuary for services, assisting in the distribution of Communion, and ensuring that our worship is offered with reverence and dignity. Week by week, year after year, he has served without fanfare and without any desire for recognition — so faithfully that he himself has lost count of the years.
His life of service also extends well beyond our parish. In ways that are equally humble and generous, he has given of himself in the wider community, including his service as a trustee of what we now know as our City Mission Trust for over 20 years.
Graeme embodies a quiet and beautiful devotion to Jesus and to the Church. His life reminds us that the strength of a parish is built not only on vision and bursts of activity, but on steadfast love, perseverance, and sacrifice offered over many years.
With deep gratitude and thanksgiving to God, and with affection and admiration, we honour Graeme — and give thanks for the gift he is to the Parish and to the Diocese.
He is a true and faithful servant of God and His Church.
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Hilary has been a faithful and devoted member of All Saints Parish for over 30 years. Throughout all those years her life has been marked by a steadfast and generous commitment to the service of this parish community and has never sought the limelight preferring to work in the background. Indeed, much of what she has done has been characterised by deep humility and quiet faithfulness.
Hilary, alongside her husband Graeme, has lovingly tended the gardens at All Saints and St Oswald’s. Through changing seasons, in sunshine and rain, she has cared for our sacred spaces so that they might reflect the beauty and welcome of God.
She, alongside her husband, has also been utterly reliable in her role as server and verger — preparing the sanctuary for services, assisting in the distribution of Communion, and ensuring that our worship is offered with reverence and dignity. Week by week, year after year, she has served without fanfare and without any desire for recognition — so faithfully that she has lost count of the years.
Her life of service also extends well beyond our parish, in ways that are equally humble and generous. She has given of herself in the wider community, including through her quiet work at Arohanui Hospice and in other acts of compassion known perhaps only to God.
Hilary embodies a quiet and beautiful devotion to Jesus and to the Church. Her life reminds us that the strength of a parish is built not only on vision and bursts of activity, but on steadfast love, perseverance, and sacrifice offered over many years.
With deep gratitude and thanksgiving to God, and with affection and admiration, we honour Hilary — and we give thanks for the gift she is to the Parish and to the Diocese.
She is a true and faithful servant of God and His Church.
Graeme and Hillary Duncan
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We celebrate and honour Trevor Benson’s dedication and involvement with St Margaret’s Church, Taihape throughout many years.
Trevor has lived in Taihape and been involved in the parish in various ways since before 1960.
He was Vicar’s Warden then Bishops Warden from 1985-1992.
He and his wife Margaret represented Taihape at Government house in 1997 for the visit of the Archbishop of Canterbury.
Trevor is a loyal and industrious member of St Margaret’s and Taihape Parish working in multiple areas of stewardship and governance.
He has been, and continues to be, a very practical advocate of St Margaret’s Church.
He is a true and faithful servant of God and His Church.
Trevor Benson
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Steve has been a faithful member of St Augustine’s, Pito One, for around 18 years. For more than 10 of those years he has served the parish in leadership roles, including as a member of Vestry and as People’s Warden. In these roles, and in many quieter ways, Steve has offered steady, practical, and dependable service to the life of the parish.
Steve’s willingness to serve is seen across many areas of parish life. He has recently taken over the leadership of a long-standing study group after John Terris stepped down, helping to ensure this important part of our shared life continues. He is also a volunteer who serves breakfast to students at Petone Central School, supporting a ministry that connects St Augustine’s with the wider community.
In recent years Steve has taken on a particularly important role in grounds and maintenance. He regularly cares for the church grounds, clears rubbish, helps maintain the lawns, and organises the lawn-mowing roster. He is often the lead person for working bees, identifying what needs to be done, coordinating tasks, and helping mobilise others so that practical needs are met.
Steve’s practical care has also been invaluable during major building projects, including the replacement of the church roof and the painting of the church buildings. In conjunction with the Parish Manager, Steve has liaised with contractors and workers, helped ensure important details were followed through, offered helpful insight on project quotes, and provided trusted practical advice when needed.
Much of Steve’s service happens quietly and in the background. He is steady, calm, practical, dependable, and generous. He does not serve for recognition, but because he sees what needs to be done and is willing to help. He is also someone who is there for people in need, both within the parish and beyond it, including serving for a number of years as the main supervisor for four children in a court-approved arrangement for a separated family.
He is a true and faithful servant of God and His Church.
Steve Simons
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Penny has been a member of the Parish for 19 years, starting when she joined St Cuthbert’s (Berhampore) in 2007. Shortly afterwards she was asked by the Priest in Charge, Rev Susan Blaikie, to take on the role of People’s Warden and she also became the Vestry Secretary. Penny continued to serve as People’s Warden and Vestry Secretary for 14 years, crucially remaining in the roles when, following the 2013 earthquakes, St Cuthbert’s was declared unsafe and the congregation returned to Newtown under Rev Karen Dyhrberg.
She was also People's Warden during the Covid pandemic under Rev Mark Johnson, and instrumental in coordinating pastoral connections when public gatherings weren't possible. In 2019-2020 she had a massive role in the parish’s response to the Royal Commission of Inquiry on Abuse in Care.
Penny is a faithful woman of prayer, overseeing Saturday morning gathered prayer rhythms for both St Cuthbert’s and St Tom’s over many years, and continuing her involvement in prayer groups today. She has had a long-standing role in taking home communion to people who cannot attend church services and has been actively engaged in pastoral care amongst the congregation.
Penny is known for her superb cooking skills and generous hospitality, frequently offering to host Vestry meetings which would always start with a delicious meal.
Penny’s contribution to the Parish has been faithful, humble, and deeply appreciated. Her service has strengthened the parish whānau/family through years of leadership, care, prayer, practical support, grit and dependability.
She is a true and faithful servant of God and His Church.
Penny Harding
