Ross Bay was today ordained Anglican Bishop of Auckland.
His ordination and installation as 11th Anglican Bishop of Auckland took place in the Holy Trinity Cathedral this afternoon in front of about 1000 people.
Cameron Brewer, chief executive of the Newmarket Business Association, described Bishop Bray's rise in the church as "meteoric"
"Ross Bay was Newmarket's local vicar, at St Mark's Church on Remuera Road, until November 2007," Mr Brewer said.
"He was then appointed Dean of the Holy Trinity Cathedral, with his first big job to preside over the funeral of Sir Edmund Hillary in January 2008.
"It's amazing to think that just over two years ago Ross was effectively a village vicar, albeit an outstanding one. Now he's one of the most senior clergymen in New Zealand. Who ever said going into the Church was not a career path?"
Mr Brewer said Bishop Bray was going to be a huge asset for the whole of the Auckland Diocese, which includes Northland.
Following his ordination, the newly ordained Bishop was welcomed by the Cathedral community in what is called the Service of Installation.
This began with the Bishop following an ancient tradition of knocking three times with his pastoral staff on the closed doors of the Cathedral. The doors then opened to welcome the new Bishop to the Cathedral where the Bishop's chair resides as a sign of his office.
The pastoral staff used by the new bishop has history and reflects the succession of bishops in Auckland.
It was presented to Bishop William Cowie in 1890 by the clergy of the Diocese of Auckland to mark his 21st year as Bishop of Auckland. The same staff was laid down on the altar by the previous Bishop of Auckland, the Rt Rev John Paterson when he retired in March this year.
NZPA