Priest finds love with bride half his age

Photo: Jesse Chester

Reverend Warner Wilder with his new bride Mervis Phiri.

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King's College chaplain Reverend Warner Wilder travelled to Zambia on a sponsored trip to teach in the southern African country. What he got was a lesson in love.

The 62-year-old met the 31-year-old receptionist at his hotel, and they married yesterday in the grounds of the prestigious Auckland school.

Warner was sponsored to Zambia in June by Child Fund New Zealand, to teach at Mutombe School. He stayed at Suwilanji Gardens lodge, where he met Mervis Phiri.

"She was working there as a receptionist and she saw my registration which said I was a chaplain, we both realised we were Anglicans and the next day we went to church," Warner told Sunday News.

"Right away we knew our mate God had got right behind us. It was fate, it was destiny. We had to be together."

But it wasn't easy getting Mervis to New Zealand. Warner returned on his own and hired an immigration lawyer to help. After three months, Mervis was granted a six-month visa. She arrived in Auckland three weeks ago and Warner proposed within 24 hours.

"I got down on one knee, the traditional way," he said.

Mervis is one of eight children, who has cared for her siblings since her mother died in 2001..

Warner said "one or two" friends asked him if he was sure he knew what he was getting himself into when he announced the speedy marriage plans.

"But that was before they met my darling, everyone who meets her falls in love with her."

Saturday's $15,000 wedding was attended by around 100 students and 70 friends.

Warner said although he had married around 550 couples he believed his special day was right up there.

"People came up to me and said it was the most special service they had ever been to," he said.

"Life could not be any better. In fact, people have been saying that I'm looking younger and having someone to laugh with does that to you."

At 62, Warner has never been married.

He said: "I was in no real rush to find a wife, it had to be someone special."