Richard Johnson’s Address to the Inhabitants of New South Wales

 

This Australia Day, give thanks for the Rev. Richard Johnson, Chaplain to the First Fleet and first Chaplain to the Colony of New South Wales.

In 1792, Johnson wrote a tract designed to be distributed widely in the Colony. He gives his reasons for doing so:

“My Beloved,

I do not think it necessary to make an apology for putting this Address into your hands; or to enter into a long detail of the reasons which induced me to write it.

One reason may suffice. I find I cannot express my regard for you, so often, or so fully, as I wish, in any other way.

On our first arrival in this distant part of the world, and for some time afterwards, our numbers were comparatively small; and while they resided nearly upon one spot, I could not only preach to them on the Lord’s day, but also converse with them, and admonish them, more privately.

But since that period, we have gradually increased in number every year (notwithstanding the great mortality we have sometimes known) by the multitudes that have been sent hither after us. The colony already begins to spread, and will probably spread more and more every year, both by new settlements formed in different places under the crown, and by a number of individuals continually becoming settlers. Thus the extent of what I call my parish, and consequently of my parochial duty, is enlarging daily. On the other hand, my health is not so good, nor my constitution so strong, as formerly. And therefore I feel it impracticable, and impossible for me, either to preach, or to converse with you so freely, as my inclination and affection would prompt me to do.

I have therefore thought it might be proper for me, and I hope it may prove useful to you, to write such an address as I now present you with…”

Johnson’s warm pastoral tone, and his urgent call to trust Christ and to turn from sin, are clearly evident in this Address.

Download An Address to The Inhabitants of The Colonies Established in New South Wales and Norfolk Island as a PDF file here.

(Photo: Richard Johnson’s Address – copy held by Moore College.)

Expository Preaching Trust Activities 2025

The Expository Preaching Trust has published some details of its planned activities for 2025, including events at Armidale Anglican Cathedral as well as meetings at Sutherland, Abbotsford, Wahroonga, and Drummoyne.

Much encouragement for preachers.

See all the details at their website.

Mothers Union Sydney annual seminar 2025

Mothers Union Sydney has details of their 2025 Annual Seminar coming up on Friday 28th February.

Speakers and topics:
Shining Like Stars – Anna Brotherson
Living in a Secular Age – Steve McAlpine
Equipping Our Children – Al James and Beth Braga

It’s free, but registration is required. Read about it and register here.

William Taylor: ‘Give yourself wholly to the work of the Lord’

From The Pastor’s Heart:

“What is the work of the Lord? What is in vain if the resurrection is not true? What truly lasts and what does gospel work looks like in our daily lives?

The debate over eschatology and one’s view of the new heavens and new earth.   Will there be a Sydney Harbour Bridge in the new creation?

And in the meantime, what should be our priorities?

William Taylor is the rector of St Helen’s Church in London, where he is engaged in ministry to city workers.

He has written the book ‘Revolutionary Work’ to address these issues.”

– Watch or listen here.

A reminder to pray for those in authority

As we think of Australian leaders responding to anti-Semitism, or the new Administration in the USA, it’s good to remember these words from 1 Timothy 2:1-4:

“First of all, then, I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all people, for kings and all who are in high positions, that we may lead a peaceful and quiet life, godly and dignified in every way.

This is good, and it is pleasing in the sight of God our Saviour, who desires all people to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.” – ESV.

Related: Dr Albert Mohler shares his take on the events of the Inauguration early today Australian time. (Link corrected.)

How to Choose a New Church

“The start of the year is often a time when Christians move to new places and so need to find a new church. Is that you? If so, for what it’s worth, here are my tips on how to go about it.

What should you look for in a church? At least three characteristics. …”

– Des Smith, at Trinity Church Lockleys in Adelaide, has some advice you may find helpful. At The Gospel Coalition Australia.

Photo: Christ Church Cathedral, Darwin.

New Year, New Habits?

“We are creatures of habit. Our bodies thrive on routine—we get hungry at roughly the same times, we generally like routines, and we naturally form habits. This is by God’s design. Neuroscience confirms that repetition ingrains behaviours, creating neural pathways that make actions automatic.

While we wait for our eternal home in the new creation, we want to harness our natural habit-forming tendency—for good. …”

– At The Australian Church Record, Bronwyn Windsor writes to encourage us to consider what sort of people we should be.

Indigenous Australians and the Christian Gospel – with Michael Duckett

From The Pastor’s Heart:

“As we approach ‘Aboriginal Sunday’ (19 January) we focus on the progress of the gospel among the indigenous in Australia.

What are the cultural changes and what openness to Jesus Christ among Indigenous Australians?

Where are we seeing growth? What are the roadblocks and opportunities for the growth of the gospel among the indigenous communities? How much has to do with the soil.  How much has to do with things that we can change?

Michael Duckett leads the Anglican Indigenous Ministry at Macarthur/Campbelltown in the far south west of Sydney and Chairs the Sydney Anglican Indigenous Ministry Committee.”

– Watch or listen here. Food for your prayers!

Related:

William Cooper – Wikipedia article.

Anglican Aid’s 2025 Prayer Diary

Anglican Aid have published their 2025 Prayer Diary as a PDF file on their website.

If you don’t receive a printed copy at church, this is a great alternative.

And don’t forget that you can also subscribe to Anglican Aid’s feed in the PrayerMate app for the content from the Prayer Diary.

Justin Welby: a professional obituary

“Monday 6 January marked the last working day of Justin Welby as Archbishop Canterbury.

His resignation was forced on him after his failure to act competently in the oversight of a devastating sexual abuse scandal. But it would be unfair to take that single act of incompetence and use it as a lens to judge his entire performance as Archbishop. Tragic though the end of his tenure was, we need to look at the other elements of the way he held office in order to assess it fairly. …”

– Gavin Ashenden – former Anglo-Catholic bishop and now member of the Roman Catholic Church – shares his personal evaluation of Justin Welby’s tenure as Archbishop of Canterbury. At Christian Today.

Photo: Archbishop of Canterbury’s website.

Dyslexia-Friendly Bibles now available in ESV & CSB

This video from Tim Wildsmith (who makes videos about Bible design) highlights the arrival of “Dyslexia-Friendly Bibles”.

These are typeset by 2K/DENMARK, who are well-known for their experience in Bible typesetting.

Here’s a promotional video from Crossway about their ESV Holy Bible: Dyslexia-Friendly Edition, due to be published in March 2025. (It can be pre-ordered from Reformers in Sydney, and, doubtless, other Christian bookshops.)

From Crossway:

“Approximately 17 percent of the global population has dyslexia, yet many do not have the proper resources to easily read God’s Word. The ESV Holy Bible: Dyslexia-Friendly Edition features a specialized typeface and typesetting to help those with dyslexia read the Bible with more clarity and comfort.”

(No, this is not an advertisement. Many people will benefit from these Bibles.)

‘The Woke Will Regroup’ — Albert Mohler interviewed on Dual Citizens

In the latest Dual Citizens podcast from David Ould and Stephen McAlpine –

“Steve and Dave speak with Dr. Albert Mohler to explore the implications of Trump’s re-election on American Christianity. He candidly shares his evolving stance on Trump, the persistence of ‘woke’ ideology, and the role of American evangelicals during a time of societal upheaval. He navigates the complexities of faith in a politically charged era, offering a beacon for Evangelicals in a changing landscape.

Dr. Mohler also engages with Christian nationalism, examining how faith and national identity can coexist without overshadowing the Gospel’s universal message. He invites us to ponder our dual citizenship, emphasising the eternal over the temporal.”

– Watch or listen here.

Growth and Change and Preaching (Part 2)

“Heard raises a valid concern—that a ‘just be faithful’ ministry mindset for preachers and church leaders might excuse some preachers for sermons that are poorly prepared and regularly fail to connect with the lives, hearts and wills of their congregations.

To address this in ministry more broadly, Heard points to the creational norms expressed in wisdom literature which operate outside and inside the church. For example…”

– The Expository Preaching Trust has published Part 2 of David Burge’s reflections from Andrew Heard’s book Growth and Change (Matthias Media, 2024).

See Part 1 here.

2025 Summer Reading Guide

From SydneyAnglicans.net –

“Sunshine, salty air and waves crashing – we’re diving into summer! Here’s a list of books we’ve reviewed over the past year you could read on those lazy days by the water (or hot afternoons hiding inside with air conditioning!). …”

– See the reading guide here.

Reflections on Preaching at a funeral

“In 2024 I attended some evangelical Christian funeral services; an unevangelical Christian funeral service; a Greek Orthodox funeral service; a secular funeral service.

There is no doubt that the blessings of our faith are most obvious at our funeral services.

In a previous blog I have written about planning for one’s own funeral, but now I want to address the subject of the funeral sermon. …”

– Here’s some help and encouragement from David Cook at The Expository Preaching Trust.

(Photo: Funeral procession in Queen Street, Chippendale, late 19th Century.)

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