The Sydney Family Album 5 — Frederic Barker

In 2011, Mark Thompson, now Principal of Moore College, published a series of posts, entitled “The Sydney Family Album”, for his website, Theological Theology.

We felt they merit wider distribution, so, with Mark’s kind permission, we are re-posting them on the ACL website, at the rate of one a week.

Here’s the fifth in the series, on Bishop Frederic Barker.

“Barker’s long episcopate (until his death in 1882) saw massive change in the colony. Barker was certainly up to the challenge. He was a gifted administrator and was both visionary and practical.”

Other posts in the The Sydney Family Album series (as we add them) are in our Resources section.

Southern Cross for August – September 2026

The latest issue of Southern Cross, the magazine of the Diocese of Sydney, is now up on their website. Printed copies should arrive in parishes soon, if not already!

Online version available here.

Jono Squire to be Bishop of Wollongong

From SydneyAnglicans.net –

“A church planter from the greenfield suburbs of south-west Sydney has been appointed as the next Bishop of the Wollongong Region.

Archbishop Kanishka Raffel has announced the Reverend Jonathan Squire will follow Peter Hayward who has given significant service as Bishop of Wollongong since 2010. As is required, Mr Squire’s appointment was approved by Standing Committee.

Describing the Bishop-designate as a ‘capable and effective minister of the gospel, and a godly and able pastor and teacher’, Archbishop Raffel pointed to his work as rector of the Parish of Camden Valley, a region he has served for 20 years. …”

– See Russell Powell’s full story.

The Sydney Family Album 4 — William Macquarie Cowper

In 2011, Mark Thompson, now Principal of Moore College, published a series of posts, entitled “The Sydney Family Album”, for his website, Theological Theology.

We felt they merit wider distribution, so, with Mark’s kind permission, we are re-posting them on the ACL website, at the rate of one a week.

Here’s the fourth, a guest post by Peter Bolt on William Cowper.

If you’ve ever been confused about who the two William Cowpers were, this will help!

“Together, the two William Cowpers were largely responsible for the strength and vitality of Evangelicalism in Sydney.”

Other posts in the The Sydney Family Album series (as we add them) are in our Resources section.

The Well prepares Indigenous stream

“The Rev Michael Duckett looks out at the firepit, surrounded by gum trees, at Macarthur Indigenous Church’s ministry centre at Wedderburn.

We’re talking about plans for the first-ever training program designed for Indigenous people in the Sydney Diocese…”

– Russell Powell has this encouraging story at SydneyAnglicans.net.

Diocese of Tasmania recognises the Global Anglican Communion in recent Synod

We missed this news from Gafcon Australia when it came out last month –

“We are delighted by the motion recently passed by the synod of the Diocese of Tasmania. The following was moved by the Venerable Jennifer Hercott:

‘That this Synod:

1. Notes that this Diocese has previously affirmed and assented to the Jerusalem Declaration as a faithful expression of Anglican doctrine and identity;

2. Acknowledges its continued constitutional relationship with the Church of England in England as presently established;

3. Recognises the Global Anglican Communion as a genuine expression of Anglican fellowship, grounded in historic orthodoxy and shared commitment to the authority of Scripture;

4. Declares that this Diocese considers itself to be in fellowship with those Provinces and Dioceses within the Global Anglican Communion that uphold the doctrine and teaching reflected in the Jerusalem Declaration;

5. Encourages the strengthening of relationships, prayer, and mutual support with these Anglican bodies for the sake of the gospel and the unity of Christ’s Church. …’ ”

– Read more at Gafcon Australia, where the question is posed, “Could your diocese propose a similar motion? Or your local church begin by adopting the Jerusalem Declaration?”

The Sydney Family Album 3 — William Cowper

In 2011, Mark Thompson, now Principal of Moore College, published a series of posts entitled “The Sydney Family Album”, for his website, Theological Theology.

We felt they merit wider distribution, so, with Mark’s kind permission, we are re-posting them on the ACL website, at the rate of one a week.

Here’s the third, a guest post by Peter Bolt on William Cowper.

Other posts in the The Sydney Family Album series (as we add them) are in our Resources section.

The Sydney Family Album 2 — Samuel Marsden

In 2011, Mark Thompson, now Principal of Moore College, penned a series of posts entitled The Sydney Family Album, for his website, Theological Theology.

We felt they merit wider distribution, so, with Mark’s kind permission, we are re-posting them on the ACL website, at the rate of one a week.

Here’s the second, a guest post by David Pettett on Samuel Marsden.

Sunday sermons shed light on pioneer – SydneyAnglicans.net, December 2016.

The Sydney Family Album 1 — Richard Johnson

In 2011, Mark Thompson, Principal of Moore College, penned a series of posts entitled The Sydney Family Album, for his website, Theological Theology.

We felt they merit wider distribution, so, with Mark’s kind permission, we are re-posting them on the ACL website, at the rate of one a week.

Here’s the first, starting at the beginning with Richard Johnson.

How Katoomba shaped a generation of Sydney Evangelicals with Phillip Jensen, David Cook and Al Stewart

From The Pastor’s Heart –

“For a generation of Sydney evangelicals, the Katoomba Christian Conventions weren’t just events in the calendar – they shaped church programs across the city.

In the 80s, 90s and early 2000s, thousands gathered under the circus tent and then later in packed auditoriums to hear the Bible taught, sing with conviction and be raised up for ministry.

But how did Katoomba become such an influence in Sydney evangelicalism? What decisions shaped its extraordinary impact? And what lessons are there for today.

We start a new occasional oral history series on the Pastor’s Heart, with former Katoomba Chairs Philip Jensen, David Cook and Al Stewart, reflecting on Katoomba’s phenomenal influence, the priority of expository preaching, the importance of guarding the platform and why ‘we teach the Bible’ became a defining conviction.”

– Watch here.

Much cause for thanksgiving, as well as some sobering memories, and a reminder to pray for the continued work of the Katoomba Christian Conventions.

23 volunteers, five languages, one mission

From Russell Powell at SydneyAnglicans.net –

“Peter Au knows the stones and stories of St Andrew’s Cathedral better than almost anyone. But for him and his team of 23 welcomers, a visit is never just about the architecture – it’s about the Architect.

Earlier this year, The Daily Telegraph newspaper recommended that people visit the Cathedral, on the corner of George and Bathurst streets. ‘Plenty of history in this place as the host of countless state funerals and royal visits,’ the paper said. ‘Pop in when you’re next in the city. Soul-cleansing stuff.’

The writers may not have realised just how literally the welcomers take that description. …”

– Read about this strategic ministry.

St. Andrew’s Cathedral history.

The Sydney Family Album – 8, Howard Mowll – Dr Mark Thompson.

ACL AGM Address 2026 — Dr Lionel Windsor

The Rev Dr Lionel Windsor, New Testament Lecturer at Moore Theological College and ACL Council Member, gave the occasional address at the Anglican Church League’s 2026 Annual General Meeting.

His topic was: “Built on the foundation, joined together: Does God care about inter-church organisations?” A talk on Ephesians 2:20–22.

“How do we define who the ACL is from a theological point of view? There are two dangers when we attempt to define ourselves theologically. At one end of the spectrum, we create too grand a vision and start believing church political networks like the ACL are central to God’s purposes in the universe. Yet at the other end, there is the danger that we become purely pragmatic, seeing the ACL as exclusively a human organisation. …”

– Listen to the full 19 minute talk here:

Or download the 19MB mp3 file at this link.

Bishop Richard Condie’s 2026 Presidential Address to the Synod of the Diocese of Tasmania

Bishop of Tasmania Richard Condie delivered his Presidential Address at the 2026 earlier this month.

It’s now on the diocesan website –

“Synod is about partnership. We each have our roles to play, as we bring our spiritual gifts to bear on our ministry and leadership. Each Parish and sector ministry, each chaplaincy and school has a unique context with unique mission challenges. But Synod reminds us that we do not labour alone, but alongside each other in partnership in the gospel. Paul was very aware of this as he wrote to the Philippian church. He was not a solo missionary, nor was the church in Philippi all on its own. Rather, Paul gives thanks to God for their partnership, their fellowship, their communion in the Gospel, right through his association with then. They were in this together, and so are we.

I am so thankful for your partnership and prayers and give thanks to God for them. I have been especially aware of this in recent days as we have begun to address our challenges around redress, but also in the development of our renewed shared Vision that we will launch at this Synod. We genuinely do this work together and it is a great joy. …”

Bishop Condie speaks around three points –

Where we have come from
Where we are now – redress
The Future – Launching Tasmanian Anglicans 2031.

Under the third heading, he outlines –

Core Convictions
Our Mission
Our Strategic Priorities.

– Read it all here.

Plenty of food for prayer for our brothers and sisters and the progress of the gospel in Tasmania.

Image thanks to the Diocese of Bathurst.

Letters that touched my heart

Archbishop Kanishka Raffel shares –

“In October of last year Cailey and I had the great privilege of visiting the Billy Graham Library in Charlotte, North Carolina, USA. Although it is called a ‘library’, it is what we would usually call a museum – although that is too tame a description for the 14 galleries recording the remarkable ways in which the Lord used William Franklin Graham Jnr (known to the world as Billy Graham) to preach the gospel to more people in more places across the globe than anyone else before or since.

Attached to the Billy Graham Library is a research archive, which houses an enormous collection of papers, recordings, journals, campaign and other materials from Billy Graham’s more than 60 years of public ministry. …”

– Read it at SydneyAnglicans.net.

Also published in the current edition of Southern Cross magazine.