Greg Harris — Moore College 100 Ministry Stories
From Moore Theological College –
“Serving as National Director of Bush Church Aid, Greg Harris is passionate about seeing the gospel reach rural, regional and remote Australia. With a heart shaped by years of ministry in country contexts, Greg leads and partners with churches and organisations across the nation to support gospel work where it is often hardest.
Greg’s time at Moore College helped equip him to return to regional ministry with clarity and conviction. Today, he sees one of the greatest needs not just in resources, but in people—workers willing to go the distance. His prayer is that God would raise up many to serve, and that more would partner in prayer and support for this vital work.”
– Watch the brief video – and learn about Bush Church Aid from their website.
Greg took up the reins from Mark Short (now Bishop of Canberra and Goulburn) who was National Director 2011 – 2019.
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.”
Lord, Open the King of England’s Eyes – William Tyndale’s Life and Legacy, part 3
Just released – Part 3 of the Tyndale House podcast on William Tyndale –
“In this series we are exploring William Tyndale’s life, Bible translation and legacy, including interviews experts in the sixteenth century. In this third episode, we explore William Tyndale’s life after his publication of his translation of the New Testament into English in 1526.
We’re very grateful for contributions from:
Bruce Gordon, the Titus Street Professor of Ecclesiastical History at Yale Divinity School …
Alec Ryrie, Professor of the History of Christianity at the University of Durham …
Simon Burton, John Laing Senior Lecturer in Reformation History at the School of Divinity at the University of Edinburgh …
Karl Gunther, historian of the Reformation from the Hamilton School for Classical and Civic Education in the University of Florida.”
– Watch here.
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.
“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.
New Rector commissioned for Parkes
From the Diocese of Bathurst yesterday:
“This morning In God’s great kindness, we commissioned the Rev’d Steve Cimarosti as Rector of St George’s Parkes and Peak Hill, and welcomed Louise and their family.
Steve and Louise come to us from Armidale Diocese and Bishop Rod Chiswell joined us to commend Steve and Louise and ‘release’ them [from Warialda] to us. Thanks be to God.”
– News from the diocesan Facebook page.
Photo with thanks to Parkes Deputy Mayor Marg Applebee.
And video of the service here.
A great reminder to pray for the churches across the Dioceses of Bathurst and also Armidale, and the people with whom they strive to share the gospel.
“YouTube sermons helped bring me to Christ”
“I was 28 years of age and living in Darwin. Despite growing up in a Christian family, and calling myself a Christian whenever I had to identify with a religion, I never went to church, read the Bible or prayed at all.
My sister had given me an old laptop. On it, she was signed into her YouTube account.…”
– Dave Jensen shares wonderful encouragement – at SydneyAnglicans.net.
Two long-term governors of Moore College called home
“Over its 170 years Moore College has been served by a faithful succession of wise and godly governors. These men and women have overseen the work of the College, at least at two points in its history have helped to rescue the College when it was going through hard times, and have ensured that the College’s fundamental mission of preparing godly ministers of the word of God for Sydney and the world remained unwaveringly central to all we do.
We have very great cause to thank God for those who share in the governance of our College. …”
– Moore College gives thanks for Neil Cameron (pictured) and Professor Keith Watson.
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.
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.
Memorial Service for Neil Cameron
A Memorial Service Neil Cameron was held at St. Andrew’s Cathedral in Sydney yesterday (13th January 2026).
Many give thanks to the Lord for Neil.
A video recording of the full service can be seen here.
Photo: Neil Cameron, circa 1999, from an Anglican Church League publication.
John Piper on his 80th birthday
“In July of 1980, 34-year-old John Piper preached his first sermon as pastor of Bethlehem Baptist Church on the eastern edge of downtown Minneapolis.
Surveying a sea of gray hair, he retained traces of South Carolina lilt in his tenor voice as he said, ‘I have nothing of abiding worth to say to you. But God does. And of that Word I hope and pray that I never tire of speaking. The life of the church depends on it.’ …”
– At Christianity Today, Justin Taylor thanks God for John Piper, who has just turned 80.
Link thanks to Tim Challies. Image: The Gospel Coalition.
What we believe
The message at the heart of Christianity is really quite simple…