Welcome to Theology House

Director: The Rev'd Dr Peter Carrell has been appointed to the joint role of Director of Theology House and Director of Education for the Diocese of Christchurch. He will take up this position late in January 2010.

After taking degrees in mathematics and theology, Peter was ordained in Christchurch at the end of 1986. He worked as an assistant minister in the Parish of Shirley for three years before leaving for doctoral studies at the University of Durham.

Since 1993 Peter has served in the Diocese of Nelson. He spent seven years in parish ministry in the Stoke and Blenheim South parishes, and for the last nine years has been Ministry Educator for the whole Diocese.

Peter is married to Teresa Kundycki-Carrell and they have four children aged 12 to 19 years. Outside of theological education Peter's interests are in sport, gardening, and politics.

He is looking forward to his new role, which he will take up towards the end of January 2010.

"The Anglican church is facing a variety of challenges at the beginning of the 21st century, most of which need to be met with a clear head and a sound mind," he says. "Excellent theological education for lay and ordained people is needed if the church is to grow in strength as it responds to these challenges."

email: director@theologyhouse.ac.nz

The Administrator is Mrs Chris Church. She usually is in the office from 11.00am to 4.00pm. She deals with all matters relating to registration for courses and payment of fees.

email: admin@theologyhouse.ac.nz

The Librarian is Mrs Judith Curtis. She has been involved with the Library for a number of years and is very familiar with the resources of the Library. She is in the library between 8.00am and midday.

email: library@theologyhouse.ac.nz

All other teaching staff for the courses run by Theology House are part-time and are appointed on an annual basis according to which courses are being offered.

Theology House is operated by the College House Institute of Theology. It has a Board of Trustees, which is chaired by the Anglican Bishop of Christchurch. Through its Board and historically the Institute has links to the Anglican Church, but there are no denominational restrictions on entry to courses, and Theology House is an independent body incorporated under the Charitable Trusts' Act 1957.

The parent body of the Institute is College House, which operated both as a theological college and a hall of residence for the University of Canterbury. In 1992 College House resolved that its "theological branch" should be managed by a separate governing body and be known as "College House Institute of Theology".

The Deed of Foundation was formally signed on 28 July 1994. Since May 1992 College House Institute of Theology has operated from its present premises, upstairs in the Parish Hall of St Mary's-in-Merivale, Christchurch.

From June 2003 the Institute adopted the name Theology House for its operations.