Vincent Gerard (bishop)


George Vincent Gerard, was the seventh Anglican Bishop of Waiapu, serving from 1938 to 1944. He served with distinction in both World Wars.
Gerard was educated at Christ's College, Christchurch. He came to England in 1917 and joined the Inns of Court Regiment and was soon offered a commission with the East Kents. He served in France and earned a Military Cross. He then obtained a degree at Brasenose College,Oxford and was ordained in 1923 He returned to New Zealand and embarked on his ecclesiastical career with a curacy in Timaru. Later he was Vicar of Pahiatua then Petone and finally of St Matthew, Auckland. He served as Senior Chaplain to the NZ forces when the Second World War broke out but was taken prisoner in 1941 and repatriated in 1943. He was appointed CBE in 1944. He was then Senior NZ Chaplain in the South Pacific until the War ended.. By 1945 he had renewed his acquaintance with Leslie Hunter,by then Bishop of Sheffield,with whom he had worked in Barking in the 1920s. Gerard was appointed Vicar and Rural Dean of Rotherham and,in 1947,Assistant Bishop of Sheffield. He became 'a loved and honoured figure throughout the diocese'. Gerard remained Assistant Bishop until 1971 and was Chairman of the Home Clergy,Church Assembly,1965 to 1970. He died in 1984.