In 1839 Selwyn married Sarah Richardson, daughter of Sir J. Richardson, a judge of the Court of Common Pleas, in whom he found a companion ready to share with him all the risks and difficulties of an adventurous life. At the time of his marriage there seemed no prospect before him beyond that of a successful ecclesiastical career in England. Full of work, full of zeal, with many friends, living in a place that he loved, and now with a happy home of his own, he was absolutely content with life. But it was ever his firm conviction that an officer in the Church was as much bound as an officer in the army, to obey the command of his superior and to go wherever he was sent. On his marriage he asked his wife never to oppose his going wherever he might be ordered on duty. At that time the authorities of the Church were seriously considering the need of increasing the number of bishops in the colonies, since every year more emigrants left England for the newly settled lands beyond the seas. Amongst the leaders of the Church there were men who were determined that there should be no repetition of the past shameful neglect which had left the American colonies so long without a bishop of their own. The matter was brought forward by Bishop Blomfield of London, and a Colonial Bishoprics Fund was started. Thirteen countries were named as most urgently in need of Bishops, and amongst these New Zealand stood first. The Church Missionary Society had had missions established there since 1814, and Bishop Broughton of Australia had once been able to visit them, but could not do so again. The most experienced of the New Zealand missionaries, Henry Williams, wrote in 1841 “Many questions of moment frequently present themselves, on which we possess no authority to enter. We much hope that a Bishop for this colony will soon make his appearance.” The formation in 1839 of the New Zealand Company, with the object of buying up land from the natives and encouraging settlers, had brought with it many new problems and difficulties. The need for a Bishop as head of the Church which was called to minister both to Maoris and settlers was recognized by all. The Church Missionary Society promised £600 a year for his support and it was hoped that the Government would give a like sum. The Crown was to appoint the Bishop. The first name suggested was that of Professor Selwyn, George Selwyn’s elder brother, but he felt unable to leave his Cambridge professorship. The bishopric was then offered to George Selwyn in a letter from the Bishop of London to which Selwyn, who had no personal desire for such an office and who had no wish to change his actual work, answered as follows: