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

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.