Public Lecture on Padre Hugh Gough
Mark Earngey, Head of Church History at Moore College, is giving a free online public lecture for the Evangelical History Association –
“In the 1950s, Hugh Gough emerged as a rising star among British evangelicals. His involvement with the Cambridge Inter-Collegiate Christian Union (CICCU) and his courage in publicly supporting Billy Graham at a time of ecclesiastical controversy won him admiration across the evangelical world. Nowhere was this more evident than in Sydney, where he was elected Archbishop and served from 1959 to 1965. Yet Gough’s relatively brief episcopate, combined with the scarcity of accessible primary sources, has meant that he remains less well known than his predecessor Howard Mowll and his successor Marcus Loane.
Recent archival discoveries, however, have begun to illuminate neglected dimensions of Gough’s life and ministry. Among the most significant is a substantial body of material from his service as an army chaplain during the Second World War, including battlefield photographs from North Africa and personal correspondence written from the front. These sources open a crucial window onto Gough’s formative years as a padre.
This paper traces his wartime ministry from Jerusalem to El Alamein and into Italy, revealing how these experiences shaped the convictions and character of one of twentieth-century evangelicalism’s most significant yet understudied leaders.”
– On Wednesday, 18 March 2026 at 8:00pm AEDT. Free registration to watch online.
Photo: Padre Hugh Gough in North Africa – thanks to Mark Earngey.
Castle Hill’s historic Lober House celebrates a century
An interesting bit of history –
“An historic house in Sydney’s north-west, which went on to become Australia’s first retirement home, is celebrating 100 years.
Lober House, now the social heart of Anglicare’s Castle Hill villages, was built in the 1920s as a private residence by Robert and Eva Dixson and originally known as Elwatan.
Purchased by the Anglican Church in 1958 and opened the following year, it was the launchpad for a new model of retirement living shaped by two influential women — Dorothy Mowll and Dame Pattie Menzies — who pushed for aged care that supported retirees to live independently. …”
– This article at Australian Seniors News has some background on the key building at Anglicare’s retirement villages – otherwise known as Mowll Village – at Castle Hill.
Image: Paintings of Dorothy Mowll (artist unknown), Archbishop Howard Mowll (by Alfred G Reynolds, 1958) – both at one time on display in Lober House – and the plaque commemorating their vision – also at Lober House.
The plaque reads –
“THIS VILLAGE IS ESTABLISHED AS A
DIOCESAN TRIBUTE TO THE LIFE AND WORK
OF
HOWARD WEST KILVINTON MOWLL
C.M.G., DD.BORN 2nd FEBRUARY, 1890 DIED 24th OCTOBER, 1958
ARCHBISHOP OF SYDNEY
METROPOLITAN OF THE PROVINCE OF NEW SOUTH WALES
1933-1958PRIMATE OF AUSTRALIA
1947-1958AND OF HIS WIFE
DOROTHY ANNE MOWLL
O.B.E., F.R.G.S.BORN 18th JUNE, 1890 DIED 23rd DECEMBER, 1957
“Workers together with Him”
2 Cor. 6:1THE MAIN HOUSE WAS OPENED AND DEDICATED
BYTHE MOST REV. HUGH ROWLANDS GOUGH
O.B.E., D.D
ARCHBISHOP OF SYDNEY
ON
24th OCTOBER, 1959.”
Archbishop of Sydney’s Statement on The Abuja Affirmation, Nigeria, 2026
Archbishop of Sydney Kanishka Raffel has released this statement –
Archbishop’s Statement on The Abuja Affirmation, Nigeria, 2026
I have been enormously encouraged by the breadth and vitality of global Anglicanism displayed at the ‘G26’ meeting in Abuja Nigeria and I wholeheartedly welcome the shared commitment of majority-world Anglican provinces to accept the stewardship of the Anglican Communion.
The Abuja Affirmation charts a path forward for global Anglicans faithful to the Lord and his mission and committed to the primacy, sufficiency and trustworthiness of God’s word.
Recognising that our existing structures have failed to uphold Anglican doctrine and discipline, the task of re-ordering the Communion around the Scriptures, begun in Jerusalem in 2008, continues with the formation of the Global Anglican Council.
True to our history, the Council brings together every part of the Church – clergy and laity alongside bishops and senior advisors. We share this stewardship, and we go forward together in prayerful dependence on the Lord.
The Global Anglican Communion is determined to focus on the building of Christ’s church, rather than managing cultural capitulation or accommodating unbiblical beliefs.
I invite all Anglicans, in our own diocese and across the world, to reflect on the landmark Abuja Affirmation, produced by delegates through the collaborative process that has long characterised Gafcon gatherings.
As the statement declares: “At Abuja, we rejoiced in the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ – the good news that God, in his great love for sinners, gave his Son so that, through his death and resurrection, sinners might be forgiven and adopted through the Spirit and live as God’s beloved children forever. Without this gospel, the Church dies.”
This gospel is our precious and powerful message, our task for the future, and our one hope.
Archbishop Kanishka Raffel
8 March 2026.
Source: SydneyAnglicans.net. (PDF file.)
Image: Archbishop Kanishka Raffel interviewed in Abuja by The Pastor’s Heart.
No such thing as an ordinary ordination!
Tara Sing reports on this morning’s ordinations at St. Andrew’s Cathedral.
“In some ways, this year’s ordination was delightfully routine. It was another very warm February morning, there were a bunch of eager (and slightly nervous) ordinands preparing to make lifelong promises to the Lord, and the pews were, once again, filled to the brim with family, friends and church communities ready to pray with them and cheer them on.
However, there is nothing ordinary or mundane about an ordination ceremony! …
This year’s ordination also saw the Rev Robert Nichols ordained for ministry into a diocese outside of Sydney. The Bishop of Bathurst, Mark Calder, also stood alongside Sydney’s Archbishop and bishops to lay hands and pray for the new deacon.
‘He will be serving in the parish of Cudal-Molong,’ said Mr Calder. …”
– See the full post at SydneyAnglicans.net.
Photos thanks to the Diocese of Bathurst.
Archbishop of Sydney: “We must reject hateful words and threats of violence”
Archbishop Kanishka Raffel has today issued this Public Statement:
“Public Statement
“We must reject hateful words and threats of violence”Recent remarks by Senator Pauline Hanson that there are ‘no good Muslims’ are foolish and dangerously divisive. They have been roundly and rightly rejected by leaders across the political spectrum.
Moreover, threats of violence against the Lakemba mosque are grotesque and must be rejected by all Australians of good will.
Christians believe that all people fall short of God’s good standard. The Bible says:
‘There is no one righteous, not even one; … there is no one who seeks God. All have turned away…there is no one who does good, not even one.’ (Romans 3:10-12)
It is a devastating diagnosis of the desperate state of all humankind apart from the merciful intervention of God to rescue and redeem us. Christians believe that God’s rescue comes through Jesus Christ, the unique and only Saviour of the world.
Christians, Muslims and Jews disagree about the nature of God, the person of Jesus and the way of salvation. We disagree about things that we think of as being of first importance.
But Christians will reject hateful words about entire communities of Australians on the basis of their religion or culture.
As Sydney Anglicans, we champion the freedom of all communities to practice their faith (or lack of faith) free from threat and intimidation – even when as Christians, we conscientiously differ in our beliefs.
‘All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God’ (Romans 3:23), so Christians gratefully rejoice in the ‘free gift of God’ and will offer hope in Jesus to all people, ‘with gentleness and respect’ (1 Peter 3:15).
Archbishop Kanishka Raffel
20 February 2026”
– Source: SydneyAnglicans.net.
Authentic Anglicanism: Interview with Ed Loane
From The Australian Church Record, here’s an interview with Ed Loane first published in their Synod 2025 Journal:
“ACR: Ed, thanks for chatting with the ACR in your role as a member of the Sydney Diocesan Doctrine Commission.
In his presidential address to the Brisbane Synod on the 25 June 2022, Archbishop Philip Aspinall made comments that caused the Sydney Diocesan Standing Committee some concern. What were these comments?
EL: The Archbishop spent a large section of his speech focused on the Diocese of Sydney, and particularly its advocacy of the traditional Christian position in relation to human sexuality. He sought to downplay the seriousness of fundamental differences in theology by portraying them as simply typical of Anglicanism throughout its history. …”
– What’s authentic Anglicanism, and how is it different from “comprehensive” Anglicanism?
“Supercharging” faith for 20 years
“As Year 13 celebrates its 20th birthday this year, there is rejoicing at the number of students who have taken a gap year to get equipped for life and strengthen their spiritual foundations.
Since beginning with 16 students in 2006, over 1200 young people have been through the program.…”
– A most encouraging report from Tara Sing at SydneyAnglicans.net.
Anglicans honoured in larger Australia Day awards
“A number of Sydney Anglicans have been acknowledged for their contributions to church and community in the Australia Day honours list, which expanded by 200 places this year.
Among the 2026 honourees was Emeritus Professor Christopher Bellenger, who was made a Member of the Order of Australia. …”
– Russell Powell reports at SydneyAnglicans.net.
Recognition on Australia Day 2026
Spotted in today’s Australia Day Honours List:
Appointed as Officers of the Order of Australia (AO) –
“Mrs Jocelyn Kathleen Edna ELLIOTT
WA
For distinguished service to international relations through humanitarian medical care in remote regions of Burkina Faso.Dr Kenneth Arthur ELLIOTT
WA
For distinguished service to international relations through humanitarian medical care in remote regions of Burkina Faso.”
You will remember that ten years ago, after serving in Burkina Faso since 1972, Christian medical missionaries Dr. Ken Elliott and his wife Jocelyn, were kidnapped by al-Qaeda-linked jihadists. (Previous posts here.)
Related:
How Ken Elliott survived seven years in the desert as a prisoner of Al Qaeda – ABC News, 29 August 2024.
Meeting Dr Ken and Jocelyn Elliott – Government House, Western Australia, 18 November 2024.
And, appointed as a Member of the Order of Australia (AM) in today’s honours list –
“Emeritus Professor Christopher Raymond BELLENGER
NSW
For significant service to veterinary science, to tertiary education, and to the Anglican Church of Australia.”
In addition to Professor Bellenger’s much-valued service in the Diocese of Sydney, he has had a long association with university student Christian ministry in Australia and internationally.
Southern Cross February – March 2026
Anglican Media Sydney has posted the February – March 2026 edition of Southern Cross magazine online. (Printed editions will also appear in parishes.)
Many encouraging stories, including this one about new studios for Global Recordings Network Australia –
You may be familiar with GRN as the producers of the wonderful 5fish resource with the Story of Jesus in 7,000 languages and dialects – 5fish website – app download.
Learn more about the new studios on the Global Recordings Network Australia website – via this video – and in this radio interview on Vision Radio.
Please pray for 2026 Ordinands
SydneyAnglicans.net has published a list of those to be ordained next month –
“Please pray for these candidates as they prepare for ordination on February 21, 2026 and for taking up positions at the following parishes …”
Anglican Aid’s 2026 Prayer Diary
Anglican Aid’s Prayer Diary for 2026 is now available for download.
Tim Swan, CEO of Anglican Aid, writes,
“Our 2026 Prayer Diary includes 31 days of prayers and prayer points for a range of partners providing emergency aid and relief, ministry training, food security, clean water, education, and more.”
– Read his full letter, and download the Prayer Diary, at Anglican Aid’s website. There’s also an option to request printed copies.
Archbishop of Sydney supports calls for a national inquiry into the Bondi Massacre
Here’s a Media Statement from the Archbishop of Sydney:
Media Statement
“This act of evil … deserves the most thorough investigation and response”
The terrorist attack on Jewish Australians celebrating Chanukah at Bondi Beach on 14 December 2025, has produced an outpouring of grief, prayer and support for our fellow Australians in the Jewish community.
This act of evil is an extraordinary event in our history, which has ongoing impacts for all Australians, and therefore deserves the most thorough investigation and response.
Since the attack, the solidarity of communities of faith with the Australian Jewish community has demonstrated our unanimity that all Australians, whatever their faith or cultural background, are entitled to live free from the threat of violence. Our own Christian response is informed by the biblical commands to ‘live peaceably with all, as far as it depends on you’ and to ‘overcome evil with good’ (Romans 12:18, 21).
I commend the State and Federal governments for their actions so far, including the announcement of the Richardson Review into the performance of Australia’s federal intelligence and law enforcement agencies. It will be important to identify any gaps or obstacles to the effective discharge of their duties that may exist.
However, we must go further. I urge our national government to acknowledge the voice of those directly impacted – the families of the victims and the survivors of the attack – and to heed their calls for a national inquiry.
The attack at Bondi represents the culmination of a period of rising antisemitism across the nation, including the firebombing of places of worship, education and commerce, as well graffiti attacks, and destruction of property including in residential areas.
Antisemitism, with its long, tragic and unique history is a threat to all Australians because it suggests that one part of the community is less entitled to the safety and respect that should be enjoyed by all and protected by all.
A national inquiry is an appropriate and essential part of a comprehensive response and recognises the singular and ignominious place that this horrific event now holds in our national life. The lives of 15 innocent Australians demand nothing less.
Archbishop Kanishka Raffel
7 January 2026.
– Source: SydneyAnglicans.net
Image: Archbishop Raffel at the Great Synagogue in Sydney, 18 December 2025.
Christmas morning service from St. Andrew’s Cathedral Sydney
Here’s this morning’s service from St. Andrew’s Cathedral Sydney. On YouTube.
Or go straight to the Archbishop’s sermon.
The Light of Christmas shines in our darkness — Christmas 2025
From Russell Powell at SydneyAnglicans.net, the Archbishop’s Christmas message –
“The Archbishop of Sydney Kanishka Raffel says the message of Christmas will be felt more deeply amid the horrific events at Bondi less than two weeks before Christmas.
‘This year, a pall of darkness was cast over Hanukkah, the Jewish festival of lights,’ the Archbishop said. ‘The attack that brought that darkness targeted the Jewish community — our fellow Australians.’
The Archbishop said it was understandable that people will have mixed feelings approaching Christmas. …”
Also, watch (and share) the video –
and download the Archbishop’s message as a PDF file.
Full text: Read more
What we believe
The message at the heart of Christianity is really quite simple…