“The most important Englishman who has ever lived”? — William Tyndale’s Life and Legacy, part 2

From Tyndale House, Cambridge:

“This is the second episode in our series exploring William Tyndale’s life, Bible translation, and legacy.

In this episode, Tony Watkins interviews experts in the sixteenth century and the history of the Bible to explore William Tyndale’s life leading up to the publication of his New Testament in 1526.

This was the first to be translated directly from Greek into English, and the first New Testament to be printed in English.”

– Watch here – or direct on YouTube.

(Part 1 is here.)

Richard Johnson: The first chaplain of New South Wales

From Moore College’s Moore in the Word podcast –

“In this episode and in honour of Moore Theological College’s 170th anniversary, we bring you a special episode taken from the 2025 Donald Robinson Library lectures on the topic of ‘The Clapham Sect and their influence on Sydney’.

Mark Thompson, Principal of Moore Theological College, introduces us to Richard Johnson and the story of how he ended up becoming the first chaplain to the fledgling colony in New South Wales, laying the spiritual foundations of Christian witness. Drawing on personal letters and historical records, Mark traces Johnson’s courage, hardship and lasting legacy in shaping gospel ministry in early Australia.”

– Listen here – or on the Moore in the Word page.

If you would prefer watch, rather than just listen, you can watch all eight talks from the Library lectures at this playlist.

The First Evangelical Minister

Thanks to Moore Theological College for producing this graphic to remind us of John Newton and how he came on the First Fleet.

170 Years of Moore Exhibition

From Moore Theological College:

“The Donald Robinson Library is celebrating the College’s 170th anniversary with a special exhibition on the Lower Ground Floor, featuring archival items from across the College’s history.

The display starts with Thomas Moore and the College’s early days in Liverpool, followed by items showcasing its growth and expansion.

The second part of the exhibition features documents from the lives of three key Principals (Nathaniel Jones, T.C. Hammond and D.B. Knox), alongside informal photographs and student-led publications giving an insight into the College’s communal life.

On display now until 19th June.”

Source: Moore College.

The Long Road to the English Bible: William Tyndale’s life and legacy, part 1

A new resource from Tyndale House.

Tony Watkins hosts a new Tyndale House Podcast series as 2026 marks the 500th anniversary of the publication of William Tyndale’s New Testament.

“This is the first episode in our new series exploring William Tyndale’s life, Bible translation, and legacy. Tony Watkins interviews experts in the sixteenth century and the history of the Bible. In this first episode, they explore the history of Bible translation prior to William Tyndale and the cultural context in which he lived and worked.”

– See it here – or direct on YouTube.

How did we get here? How 1776 culturally and intellectually shaped the post-Christian West

From The Pastor’s Heart –

“Wisdom for pastors seeking to preach and lead well in a post-Christian age.

So much of our culture judges events in isolation — a single moment, a single failure, a single decision — detached from what led to it and what flows from it. But history doesn’t work like that. Events emerge from long trajectories, and they reshape the future in ways no one fully controls or intends.

We’re joined by Archie Poulos, Head of the Ministry Department at Moore Theological College, to reflect on Remaking the World: How 1776 Created the Post-Christian West by Andrew Wilson.

Wilson’s argument isn’t that everything changed overnight in 1776, but that the events clustered around that year give us a window into the forces that have shaped the WEIRDER world we now inhabit — Western, Educated, Industrialised, Rich, Democratic, Ex-Christian and Romantic.

We explore why reading history as an ecosystem rather than isolated episodes matters, why Romanticism isn’t just a past movement but our present operating system, and how Christian faith — offers a deeper, more hopeful way to understand our moment.”

– Watch or listen here.

Anglican Heroes: Josephine Butler — Church Society Podcast

From Church Society:

“Ros Clarke talks to Sarah Allen about the life, faith and work of 19th century social reformer Josephine Butler.”

– Listen here.

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

 

This Australia Day, give thanks once more 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.)

Corinth Archaeological Site with photos

Moore College’s Dr Lionel Windsor is continuing to post fascinating photos –

“In July 2025, I visited ancient Corinth with my wife Bron and daughter Ellie. We went to see archaeological remains associated with the Apostle Paul.

Here are some photos of the site and museum exhibits. They help to provide context for New Testament texts associated with Corinth. Enjoy!”

– See them at Forget the Channel.

500 Years of Books — at Moore College

“During Sydney Rare Book Week, the Donald Robinson Library hosted ‘500 Years of Books,’ an evening that allowed attendees to handle and closely examine significant works from the library’s rare books collection.

The response in the room was remarkable. As each volume was introduced, guests leaned forward, eager to see the fine details, bindings, illustrations, marginal notes, early type, and the physical evidence of centuries of use. Many found themselves leaving their seats repeatedly, drawn toward the tables to observe the craftsmanship up close. …”

– Erin Mollenhauer Senior Archivist & Special Collections Librarian at Moore Theological College shares highlights of the event.

Anglo-Catholicism — Church Society podcast

From Church Society:

“Lee Gatiss and Ros Clarke discuss the ongoing influence of Anglo-Catholicism, co-belligerence and doctrinal differences.”

Lee Gatiss observes, “Ironically, since they started as an anti-liberal movement, the Oxford Movement / Anglo-Catholicism helped to pave the way for liberalism in the Church of England by making it possible to ignore and sideline other doctrines and practices and get away with it.”

An introduction to what Anglo-Catholicism is and how it affects the Church of England today – well worth your time.

See also their previous podcast – on Roman Catholicism.

J. C. Ryle, “the Prince of Tract Writers”

“John Charles Ryle (1816–1900) was one of the most popular theological writers of the Victorian period, and the most prominent evangelical clergyman in the Church of England.

His ministry almost exactly spanned the reign of Queen Victoria – he was converted to Christ in 1837, just a few months after the young Queen’s accession to the British throne, and died at the dawn of the new century in 1900, just a few months before the monarch’s own death. …”

– Crossway has published this article adapted from Andrew Atherstone’s Ryle on the Christian Life: Growing in Grace. 

Anglican Heroes: J. C. Ryle — Church Society podcast

From Church Society:

“Andrew Atherstone talks to Ros Clarke about the life, ministry and legacy of J. C. Ryle, the first Bishop of Liverpool.”

– Listen here.

Related:

His Sermons Roused a Sleeping Church – article by John Piper.

Evangelical Religion — Bishop J.C. Ryle.

Why were our Reformers burned? — Bishop J.C. Ryle (republished by Church Society in 2017).

What Happened on Reformation Day?

“On October 31, much of the culture will be focussed on candy and things that go bump in the night. Protestants, however, have something far more significant to celebrate on October 31.

It’s Reformation day, which commemorates what was perhaps the greatest move of God’s Spirit since the days of the Apostles.

But what is the significance of Reformation Day, and how should we consider the events it commemorates? …”

– At Ligonier Ministries, Robert Rothwell writes about the significance of Reformation Day.

Image: Martin Luther in 1532, by Lucas Cranach the Elder.

Betrayed by my King

From The Pastor’s Heart –

“Marcus Loane said no. The King said yes.

For the first time in more than 800 years, an English monarch has prayed publicly with the Pope.

King Charles III — the Supreme Governor of the Church of England — joined Pope Leo XIV in the Sistine Chapel in a highly choreographed moment of unity. But for many Protestants, this was not a moment to celebrate, but to grieve.

The Reformation was born out of deep conviction that Rome had departed from the apostolic gospel — that salvation is by grace alone, through faith alone, in Christ alone. Those convictions have not changed. And yet, the sight of a Protestant king kneeling in prayer beside the Pope suggests that they believe these dividing lines no longer matter, that the Reformation is no longer relevant.

Half a century ago, in 1970, when Pope Paul VI visited Australia, Sydney Anglican Archbishop Sir Marcus Loane — refused to pray with the Pope, saying shared prayer implied shared faith, and that the great truths of the Reformation still mattered: salvation by grace alone, through faith alone, in Christ alone.

Loane’s grandson, Dr Stephen Tong, joins Rachel Ciano, Lecturer in Church History at Sydney Missionary and Bible College, and Dominic Steele on The Pastor’s Heart to discuss what’s happened in Rome this week – as the leaders of the Roman Catholic and Church of England Churches downplay the Reformation’s significance.”

– Watch or listen here.

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