HARPER, HENRY JOHN CHITTY (1804-93), the first actual Bishop of Christchurch, was born at Gosport, Hampshire. His father, Tristram Harper, was a physician, and belonged to a Worcestershire family. Educated in the first place at Hyde Abbey school, Winchester, Harper went on to Queen's College, Oxford, where he graduated B.A. in 1826, and M.A. in 1834.

After his first degree Harper went as 'conduct,' or chaplain, to Eton College (where his coadjutor was Selwyn). At Eton he evinced characteristics which pointed him out as a man for high preferment. He was the leading spirit in many reforms at the college, and when he left he received testimonials from the authorities, and from the people of the parish of Eton, which showed the high esteem in which he was held. He was at Eton College from 1831 to 1836, and curate in charge of the parish till 1840. (There was no vicar at the time, the College holding the vicariate). Meanwhile Harper was ordained deacon (1831), and priest (1832). In 1840 Eton College presented him with the living of Stratfield-Mortimer, in Berkshire, where he remained until he was designated Bishop of Christchurch. While curate at Eton College he took private pupils. It was on Selwyn's advice that he read for holy orders, and years later Selwyn strongly recommended Harper as the man for the bishopric of Christchurch. Accordingly a meeting of churchmen, held in Lyttelton in 1855, decided to petition the Queen asking that Harper should be appointed. The Royal letters patent were duly issued, and on 10 Aug 1856 he was consecrated by Archbishop Sumner in the chapel at Lambeth Palace. At the same time he became a doctor of divinity.

With his wife and family Harper sailed in the ship Egmont, which on 23 Dec 1856 arrived in Lyttelton. The scene at the meeting of Selwyn and Harper is depicted in one of the sculptured panels of the pulpit in Christchurch Cathedral. On Christmas Day Harper was enthroned in the Church of St Michael and All Angels, which became the pro-cathedral of the diocese. By letters patent of the same date as Harper's, Selwyn was appointed Metropolitan of New Zealand; and before he left Christchurch he discussed with the new bishop his project of a constitution for the Church in New Zealand. Harper lived first in a house in Cambridge terrace (afterwards occupied by Dr Turnbull). On 24 Jan 1857 he consecrated the Church of the Holy Trinity at Avonside. Six months later he laid the foundation stone of Christ's College, of which he was first warden (Selwyn holding the office for only a few months). In the organisation of his vast diocese he travelled long journeys on horseback between the Hurunui on the north and Stewart Island. Almost every year he visited the farthest settlements of Otago and Southland. Like Selwyn, he spent many nights in the open, sometimes with only a saddle for pillow.

In 1866 the separation of Otago as an independent bishopric was initiated, and Harper was called upon to act as mediator and peacemaker when the opinions held by the bishop-designate (Jenner) caused his appointment to be challenged. Harper presided at several meetings in Dunedin, and tactfully and sympathetically endeavoured to induce the people of Otago to accept their bishop. When this was found impossible, he had to admit that the appointment was not valid until it was confirmed by the general synod of New Zealand. The controversy was still raging when Jenner reached New Zealand (Jan 1869). Harper convened the synod to meet in Dunedin, and presided throughout five or six days of anxious and difficult debate. One night he occupied the chair from 1 p.m. to 6 a.m. The synod declined by a decided majority to accept the bishop, and he returned to England. In due time Nevill arrived, and he was consecrated by Harper (1871). There were several other controversies which disturbed the even tenor of Harper's episcopate, notably the charge of heterodoxy against the Rev H. E. Carlyon, and the long discussion (1862-65) on the demand of the Christchurch synod to be allowed full control of its own church property.

Harper's opening addresses at the synods were marked by practical common-sense. In 1867 and 1878 he attended the Lambeth conferences. With the resignation of Selwyn, he was elected to the primacy of New Zealand, but he declined to enter upon it until he was informed by Selwyn that he had laid down the office of Metropolitan (Jul 1869). Harper's first general synod was at Dunedin. Several new bishops he consecrated personally, including J. R. Selwyn (son of the bishop) as bishop of Melanesia (1877). In the same year at Napier he consecrated E. C. Stuart as bishop of Waiapu. The twenty-fifth year of his episcopate was marked (on 1 Nov 1881) by the consecration for public worship of the fine Christchurch Cathedral. In 1887 Harper announced his intention of laying down his episcopate at the earliest convenient moment, and on 26 Sep 1889 the diocesan synod was informed that his resignation had been accepted. On the following day Archdeacon Julius, of Ballarat, was elected to the see, and on 13 May 1890 Bishop Harper consecrated him. Meanwhile Hadfield was elected primate.

Harper was a member of the first N.Z. University senate, and had some influence in the formation of its policy. He married in 1829, Emily, daughter of Charles Wooldridge, registrar of the diocese of Winchester. She died on 10 Jun 1888. Harper died on 28 Dec 1893. (See SIR GEORGE Harper, J. B. ACLAND, C. R. BLAKISTON and C. G. TRIPP.)

Cycl. N.Z., iii (p); Cox; Purchas (p); Wigram; Beaglehole; Cant. O.N.; The Press, 29 Dec 1893, 7 Jun 1930 (p).

Reference: Volume 1, page 197

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