Our History
BAF, or the Bishop’s Action Foundation has been a long-standing leader in the Taranaki Church and wider community. Our history began when the Bishopric of Taranaki was established in 1998 under the Diocese of Waikato. On Valentine’s Day, February 1999, at an Electoral Synod held in Stratford, Philip Richardson was elected as Bishop of Taranaki. At the time of his nomination Philip Richardson was the Warden of Selwyn College at the University of Otago.
On 10 July 1999, he became Bishop Philip Richardson at a consecration service at St Mary’s Church in New Plymouth. His best friend from Dunedin, a Roman Catholic priest called Peter Norris, preached at the consecration.This was believed to be only the second time since the Reformation that a Catholic priest preached at an Anglican Episcopal ordination.
When Philip Richardson achieved the Taranaki bishopric, it was envisaged that he would be the Assistant Bishop to David Moxon, the Bishop of the Waikato Diocese. Bishop David gave the younger man total control of Taranaki. After nine years of co-collaboration, the co-relationship was officially sanctioned by the Anglican Church, a Dual Episcopacy – two Bishop’s as co-equals in the one diocese.
When Philip was elected and came to Taranaki he found little there. The available resources were just enough to pay his expenses, stipend and a part time secretary. There was no resource to take any kind of initiative. Philip was determined to find a way to release resources if he was going provide the community with real outcomes.
It is here in 1999, that Stuart Trundle held a meeting of Anglican clergy about the regional economy and how the Church in Taranaki should have a leadership role to play driving the region forward.
The Most Reverend Philip Richardson
The Most Reverend Philip Richardson is the Bishop of The Anglican Diocese of Waikato and Taranaki. He studied at University of Otago from 1976, completing a BA in 1978, a BTheol 1982 and a Post Graduate Diploma in Theology in 1989.
Married to Belinda Holmes in 1982 he was ordained priest in the same year. He undertook pastoral ministry in Auckland City, Whangarei and Dunedin then was appointed head of Selwyn College at Otago University completing post graduate study and teaching.
Bishop Philip has focused on finding creative ways for the Church to contribute to the building of healthy and sustainable communities. He has written and spoken widely on the principles of working for the Common Good. This thinking has always been rooted in practical experience and initiatives.
He was appointed as the Bishop of Taranaki in 1999 and became Co-Diocesan Bishop of the Diocese of Waikato and Taranaki from 2008, Tikanga Pakeha Archbishop of New Zealand from 2013-2023 and has been the sole Diocesan Bishop in Waikato and Taranaki since 2018.
His leadership of the Anglican Church in Aotearoa, New Zealand and Polynesia was alongside the Archbishop of Tikanga Māori and the Archbishop of Polynesia. Nationally he has roles in leading the Church in social justice and social service delivery, elder care, education and financial and investment governance and has had a key leadership role in our Church’s response to The Abuse in Care Royal Commission of Inquiry.
“I am grateful to have the opportunity to maintain an ongoing relationship with a group of people and an organisation who’s ability to make a transformative difference in Taranaki is both proven and ongoing.”
Prior Trust Member Stories
Below you will find a selection of changemaker stories that showcase the great work of people in our communities and help to demonstrate the impact BAF’s role can achieve.
Help us bring communities together
Do you have valuable experience to offer or funding capability to help us enable our changemakers to create thriving Taranaki communities?