The Sydney Family Album 9 — T.C. Hammond

Posted on August 30, 2026
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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 ninth and last in the series, on T.C. Hammond, Principal of Moore College, 1935 – 1953.

One of the most important of Howard Mowll’s many influential appointments was that of Thomas Chatterton (T. C.) Hammond as Principal of Moore College.

Appointed at a time when the College seemed to be shifting its theological position, Hammond, who already had a worldwide reputation as an evangelical preacher, teacher and apologist, would be, it was hoped, precisely the kind of leader who would strengthen the College and set its course firmly in the mainstream of evangelical Anglican theology. He would meet all of these expectations and surpass them.

Other posts in the The Sydney Family Album series are in our Resources section.

Photo: T.C. Hammond standing at the Moore College gate on Carillon Avenue, Newtown. Frame from late 1940s movie film digitised by the Moore College Archives.

A Home for the Global Anglican Communion

Posted on August 29, 2026
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A Communique from Archbishop Dr Laurent Mbanda, Chairman of the Global Anglican Council –

“Dear brothers and sisters in Christ,

I am delighted to announce that the Global Anglican Council has agreed that the headquarters of the Global Anglican Communion will be established in Abuja, Nigeria.

This decision was made at our meeting in Recife, Brazil, on Saturday 22 August 2026, as we considered how best to strengthen and support the future life and ministry of our global fellowship.

Abuja already holds a significant place in our history — it was there at G26 earlier this year that the Abuja Affirmation declared that Gafcon has reordered the Anglican Communion into a truly Global Church.

As the Global Anglican Communion, it is fitting that the city where this new chapter was so clearly articulated should also become a physical home from which we serve Global Anglicans throughout the world.

While modern technology enables us to work together across nations and continents, we believe there is great value in a physical home and administrative hub for our shared life and mission.

In time, we hope this may become more than that — a place for gathering, training, and equipping leaders as together we seek the proclamation of the gospel and the building up of Christ’s Church.

Much work remains in shaping this new home, and we are grateful for the enthusiasm of the Church of Nigeria (Anglican Communion) as we begin exploring these possibilities together.

We pray that from Abuja we may serve Anglicans in every part of the world, giving thanks for the remarkable ways God is growing and strengthening his Church across the nations.

We ask for your prayers as we seek his wisdom for all that lies ahead.

Yours in Christ,

The Most Revd Dr Laurent Mbanda
Chairman of the Global Anglican Council
Saturday, 29th August, 2026.”

– Source: Gafcon.

Learning from the Jason Arday Tragedy

Posted on August 29, 2026
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Presbyterian minister David Robertson shares some helpful thoughts on how we might learn from the tragedy in Cambridge –

“As a Christian pastor who reads and engages widely, I regularly come across what I would call serial fantasists – people who are so good at spinning lies that eventually they get caught in the web of their own deceit and come to believe their own lies. The man who can’t string two words together but believes he has a special ‘anointed preaching’ from God. The woman who can’t sing but was told by a couple of friends that she has the voice of an angel. The numerous ‘apostles’ who want to be my Facebook friends. …

Sadly, the whole question of how we deal with those who provide an invisible set of clothes for the Emperor, which only the enlightened can see, has come to the fore with the tragic death of Professor Jason Arday of Cambridge University. …”

– At The Wee Flea.

A reminder to pray for Nungalinya College Darwin — and for BCA

Posted on August 28, 2026
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Nungalinya College in Darwin reports that Bush Church Aid’s National Director, Greg Harris, visited the college yesterday.

It’s a good reminder to pray for Nungalinya College in their key role of equipping indigenous men and women for gospel living and leadership.

It’s also a good reminder to pray for the strategic ministry of the Bush Church Aid Society.

Top photo: Greg Harris speaks at the college.
Second photo: Greg is welcomed by Nungalinya Principal Dr Yane Damanik.

Photos via the college Facebook account.

BCA says farewell to long-term Field Staff – by National Director Greg Harris

“It’s with a heavy heart that I write to let you know that David & Lauren Horne and James & Brittany Daymond are set to conclude their service with Bush Church Aid. …”

That news about the Daymonds is also a reminder to continue to pray for gospel ministry in the Diocese of Bathurst.

A prayer for Nepal

Posted on August 27, 2026
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Archbishop Kanishka Raffel has released this prayer for all affected by the disaster in Nepal yesterday –

“Sovereign Lord and heavenly Father, in whose hands are life and death,

Our hearts ache for the families waiting for news of loved ones caught in the Nepal flash floods.

Preserve life, O Lord. May many of the missing be found safe and returned to their homes.

Grant strength, endurance and skill to emergency workers and search teams. May they reach many who are still alive.

We pray especially for Australian tourists caught up in this disaster, and for Nepali Australians with loved ones in the affected areas.

In the midst of uncertainty, grant them courage. Be their refuge and strength in this time of distress and sorrow, O Lord.

Amen.

Archbishop Kanishka Raffel
August 27 2026.”

– Via Anglican Media Sydney, where there is also a link to the prayer focus at the Archbishop of Sydney’s Anglican Aid.

Silicon Spiritualities podcast with Chris Watkin

Posted on August 27, 2026
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At The Gospel Coalition, since early July, Christopher Watkin has been hosting a podcast about Artificial Intelligence –

“Introducing Silicon Spiritualities, a podcast from The Gospel Coalition exploring the deeper questions artificial intelligence raises about work, worship, truth, power, and what it means to be human.

Host Christopher Watkin helps thoughtful Christians move beyond hype and panic toward a wise, hopeful, and biblically grounded understanding of the technologies shaping our world.”

– Check out the episodes already online.

The Joy of William Wilberforce

Posted on August 26, 2026
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Paul Barnes reminds us of a key man in recent world history, and of some who influenced him –

“In 1786 Edmund Burke, the renowned orator and politician, was sure that the abolition of the slave trade was a fantasy – that it stood no hope of being accomplished. We might find this surprising, and think it would be obvious that something as horrendous as the capturing and selling of people should be abolished. Thus, it is difficult for us to understand just how impossible the abolition of the slave trade looked.

Although he was certainly not the only one against the Slave Trade, William Wilberforce has rightly taken primary place as the man who achieved the impossible. But how did Wilberforce achieve the impossible in a world that looked down on his faith and what he was trying to achieve? …”

– Read the full essay at AP, the national Presbyterian journal.

Image: Painting of Wilberforce by Anton Hickel.

Phillip Jensen on the Ten Commandments — The Pastor’s Heart

Posted on August 25, 2026
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Phillip Jensen has a new book out – Written on Our Hearts – The Ten Commandments and the radical life of grace.

Dominic Steele speaks with him about the book, and about The Ten Commandments – at The Pastor’s Heart.

– Watch or listen here. Very much worth hearing and pondering.

And the book is available from Matthias Press.

Love in Action

Posted on August 25, 2026
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From Phillip Jensen –

“Chapters 12-14 of 1 Corinthians are a unit. Paul uses one long argument that Paul is using.

Most people think it is about spiritual gifts, but it’s much more about what he calls “the spirituals”, whereas chapter 13 on the topic of love seems to have moved off topic. Chapter 14 brings us right back into the pointy end of the debate that Paul addresses. What of speaking in tongues? What of prophecy? What is the greater or higher gift?

I hope you enjoy this chapter as Peter and I discuss it.”

– Listen here.

God’s Faithfulness in Brazil — Gafcon Communique

Posted on August 25, 2026
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From Archbishop Dr Laurent Mbanda, Chairman of the Global Anglican Council –

“Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

Greetings in the name of our risen Lord Jesus Christ.

It has been a great joy to gather this weekend in Recife, Brazil, with leaders of the Global Anglican Communion to celebrate the installation of the Very Revd Gabriel Moreira Uchoa Cavalcanti as Dean of the Catedral Anglicana do Espírito Santo.

The service was filled with joy and hope as Archbishop Miguel Uchoa Cavalcanti passed the mantle of leadership of the Cathedral to his son, Gabriel.

This celebration also marked 30 years since Archbishop Miguel planted the church in 1996 with just 30 or so people.

We give thanks to God for all that has grown from those humble beginnings, as churches have been planted, leaders raised up, dioceses multiplied, and the Anglican Church in Brazil established as a faithful and growing province.

Yet amidst the joy of our celebrations was a recognition that these 30 years also tell a story of hope through significant trials. …”

– Read it all here.

Gafcon photo.

The Sydney Family Album 8 — Howard Mowll

Posted on August 23, 2026
Filed under History, People, Sydney Diocese Comments Off on The Sydney Family Album 8 — Howard Mowll

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 eighth in the series, on Howard Mowll, Archbishop of Sydney, 1934 – 1958.

It really is rather hard to overplay the contribution of Howard Mowll to the shape and character of the contemporary Anglican Diocese of Sydney.

His election as Archbishop in April 1933 was a critical moment in the diocese’s history, a decision for its evangelical heritage rather than the more eclectic theology others were advocating at the time. His tenure of the office during World War II and the equally critical post-war years set directions, embedded principles and fostered a new generation of leaders who enabled Sydney Anglicanism to remain unambiguously Protestant and evangelical while engaging seriously with the challenges of a new era.

Among so many other things gifts to the diocese, he was the driving force behind the invitation to Billy Graham to come to Sydney in 1959, though Mowll died six months before the Crusade began.

Other posts in the The Sydney Family Album series (as we add them) are in our Resources section. There is still one more to go!

Photo: Archbishop Howard Mowll, from his biography by Marcus Loane.

Päivi Räsänen’s address to the Bangor Worldwide Missionary Convention

Posted on August 22, 2026
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Member of the Finnish Parliament Päivi Räsänen, who was banned from travelling to the UK to be at the Bangor Worldwide Missionary Convention addressed the gathering via video on Thursday.

Her 14 minute address is important viewing – and also most encouraging for her clear testimony.

Update:

It seems she has now been given permission to travel – just after the event took place.

God’s Very Special Letters: The Epistles for Kids — 2026 Australian Christian Book Of The Year

Posted on August 21, 2026
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The Australian Christian Book of The Year has been announced –

“God’s Very Special Letters: The Epistles for Kids – Philippians, Colossians & Philemon, 1 Peter – Matt Dodd and Thom Bransdon

Four New Testament letters have been brought to life for readers of all ages. This new translation uses direct and plain language and is a joy to read. The text is complemented by illustrations that advance the narrative, remind us of the culture and fortunes of the original readers, and ensure that people remain the focus of complex theological ideas.

This unprecedented and wonderful initiative makes these epistles accessible to children and offers older readers a fresh encounter with familiar and favourite parts of Scripture. Why hasn’t this been done before?”

Details at the Sparklit website.

Bookings now open for the 2026 ACL Synod Dinner

Posted on August 21, 2026
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The Anglican Church League invites all members of Sydney Synod to the 2026 ACL Synod Dinner. (Pre-booking essential.)

Monday 14th September, 5:30pm (or when Synod rises)

At Bishop Barry Centre,
51 Druitt Street, Sydney.

Hear The Rev Toby Neal speak on From Plant to Parish – The Joys and the Pains.

Toby Neal is the Lead Pastor at Vine Church in Surry Hills, which began in 2011 with 16 friends and has grown into a vibrant inner-city church.