Penny Jamieson

Born in Chalfont St Giles, Buckinghamshire, England in 1942, Jamieson attended Wycombe High School and studied linguistics at the University of Edinburgh, before moving to New Zealand, her husband's country of birth. She worked at the Wellington Inner City Mission while completing her doctoral thesis at Victoria University.

In 1982, she is ordained a deacon then a priest in 1983[3][4] and was assistant curate of St James’ Lower Hutt from 1982 to 1985.[4] In 1985, she was vicar of Karori West with Mākara in the Diocese of Wellington.[5]

In 1990 she was elected to head the country's southernmost diocese, the Diocese of Dunedin. She was consecrated a bishop on 29 June 1990.[6] She was challenged by the power-structures of a predominantly male institution and spoke publicly about the difficulties of being the world's first woman diocesan bishop.[7] For instance, her ordination as bishop was not attended by the Anglican Bishop of Aotearoa, Whakahuihui Vercoe and the Catholic Bishop of Dunedin, Leonard Boyle.[5]

On 15 march 2004 she announces her retirement.[8] At her retirement, after 14 years as Bishop of Dunedin, Jamieson expressed her regret that no other woman had been elected a bishop in New Zealand.[2]

She is married to Ian Jamieson.[9]

In the 2004 Queen's Birthday Honours, Jamieson was appointed a Distinguished Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit, for services to the community.[10] In 2009, following the restoration of titular honours by the New Zealand government, she declined redesignation as a Dame Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit.[11]

• "Living at the Edge: sacrament and solidarity in leadership" Jamieson, P.A.B London, Mowbray 1997 ISBN 0-264-67439-1

• Crockfords (London, Church House, 1995) ISBN 0-7151-8088-6
• Who's Who 2008: London, A & C Black, 2008 ISBN 978-0-7136-8555-8

• Monumental Studies biography
• New Zealand Herald article
• New Zealand honours