The Right Reverend Peter Falconer Hansen

The Reverend Canon Peter Falconer Hansen was elected Coadjutor Bishop in 2021. He was consecrated Bishop Suffragan of the Diocese of the Western States in Tulsa, Oklahoma, on September 21, 2017 by The Most Reverend Frederick G. Morrison, The Right Reverend Donald M. Ashman, the Right Reverend Doctor John E. Upham, and The Right Reverend Frank W. Brulc, to serve in the Diocese of the Western States (DWS), Anglican Province of Christ the King (APCK).

In 1967, Peter Hansen thought he would train to be an architect, so he obtained a Bachelor of Architecture degree from U.C. Berkeley in 1972, only to wind up an estimator and project manager for three industrial special coatings contractors for 16 years.

God had other ideas. Called to be an Anglican priest, Peter Hansen received a seminary degree from St. Joseph of Arimathea Anglican Theological College in Berkeley and was ordained in 1985, serving churches in Sacramento and Chico, California. He has served as Rector of St. Augustine of Canterbury Church, Chico since 1991.

Father Hansen was called to be priest to his congregation and to his city as well. In the last 26 years, he created and directed a pro-life ministry, ChicoLife; trained for and served the Chico Police Department as President of the Chico Police Chaplains Association (1999 to 2016 and three-time Chaplain of the Year); led his congregation to purchase and renovate a historic church building at 3rd & Salem Streets in downtown Chico; served with Care Enough to Act suicide prevention, tutored with Reading Partners; helped launch Street Pastors of Chico; sat on the Enloe Hospital Bio-Ethics Committee; served on the Inspired Productions advisory board; was group leader and clergy counselor at The Growing Place counseling center.

In the APCK, Canon Hansen has long served as DWS and APCK Treasurer and DWS Canon to the Ordinary, as well as Secretary of the American Church Union. In spring of 2017, Hansen was elected to serve as Bishop Suffragan by the Diocese of the Western States and consecrated that Fall.

Bishop Hansen lives in Chico with his wife, Giti Zarnegar Hansen, married since 1973. They have one son and four grandchildren who live in Texas. Bishop Hansen is also a fair hand at singing, guitar, and songwriting. He has published I WAS THERE, Eyewitnesses at the foot of the Cross (Westbow Press, 2014). He is writing for publication a series of mystery novels with a police chaplain and Anglican priest as the central character.