What question did this study set out to answer?

The aim is to analyze the transformation of Anglican identity through the activism of George Armstrong during the 1970s and 1980s in New Zealand.

April 19, 2026

In Service of an Anglican Pākehā Identity: George Armstrong’s Priestly Activism, 1970s to 1980s

Key Points

The aim is to analyze the transformation of Anglican identity through the activism of George Armstrong during the 1970s and 1980s in New Zealand.
Examined key events related to Anglican activism in Aotearoa from the 1970s to 1980s.
Focused on George Armstrong’s protests against nuclear warships and apartheid.
Analyzed the impact of political activism on liturgical practices within the Anglican Church.
Armstrong emerged as a leading figure in Anglican activism during decolonization.
His actions influenced public perceptions of the Anglican Church's role in society.
The study highlights the interplay between liturgy and activism against settler colonialism.

Abstract

Abstract This paper examines the transformation of Anglican identity during a particularly intense period of decolonisation and political activism in Aotearoa New Zealand: 1970s to 1980s. Particular focus is given to the Revd Dr George Armstrong, an icon of Anglican activism in this era. Being at the forefront of demonstrations against nuclear warships, the apartheid-era Springbok Rugby Tour, and racism against Māori, Armstrong redefined his priestly role and the place of liturgy through public resistance. I argue that Armstrong’s emergence as the nation’s foremost priestly activist is best understood within the context of a decolonising New Zealand with implications for how the broader Anglican Church was renegotiating its role with the nation. This paper explores the key events and theological influences shaping Armstrong’s witness, including the role of protests, liturgy, and shifting assessments of settler colonial Anglicanism.

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