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.
Andrew and Anne Campbell — 100 Ministry Stories from Moore College
From Moore Theological College, here is the latest in their “100 Ministry Stories’ videos.
This interview with Andrew and Anne Campbell is a real cause for thanksgiving to the Lord. Andrew was called home late last year.
“Andrew Campbell, a long time Presbyterian minister, trained at Moore College from 1975 – 1977. Andrew, now in glory with our Lord and Saviour, has left both an example and a legacy of service.
Together with his wife Anne, the Campbells shared their love of Christ and the gift of grace in a variety of parishes.
In the earlier days their mission to the youth of Sydney was a focus and passion, but from Mt Druitt God took them to regional Australia where they have served together until late in 2025.
Please pray for the churches of Gyra and Glen Innes where the Campbells have been serving most recently. Please pray that God will raise up willing workers for the harvest to serve remote regional centres, to look after God’s people in the country. That was Andrew’s heart, a reflection of the heart of our Lord and Saviour.
This interview was recorded when Andrew and Anne visited Moore College for their 50th Alumni Reunion in mid-2025.”
– Watch here – and to be moved to give thanks and to pray.
Patricia Weerakoon — God has equipped me to serve His Church at this Cultural Moment
The Gospel Coalition Australia asks Christian writer Patricia Weerakoon to share something of her story –
“How does a socially and theologically conservative Sri Lankan Tamil Christian end up a sexologist writer and speaker in Australia?
I was born in the tea plantations of Sri Lanka during the dying days of British imperial rule. My Christian parents brought me up to be a good traditional housewife. But they also valued education so they sent me to a Christian boarding school in the capital city Colombo and encouraged me to pursue a medical degree in university, which laid the foundation for my secular career and Christian ministry. …”
Jack Day to join MTC Old Testament Department
From Moore Theological College:
“We are delighted to welcome Jack Day to Moore College as a Faculty member in the Old Testament Department.
A Moore graduate, Jack is returning to College while completing his PhD in Old Testament at the University of Cambridge. He brings with him both academic depth and pastoral experience, and a deep desire to help students trust and treasure God’s word. …”
Uganda and Australia in partnership with Bishop Alfred Olwa
From Moore College’s Moore in the Word podcast:
“In this episode, we are pleased to bring you an interview recorded in September 2025 between Simon Gillham, Vice Principal and Head of the Mission Department at Moore Theological College, and Alfred Olwa, Bishop of the Lango Diocese in Uganda, chairman of Uganda Christian University and Moore Theological College graduate.
Alfred tells the stories of how he came to study at Moore College, the relationship of mutual ministry between Uganda and Australia, and the history of theological training in Uganda and the impact that is having on the country.”
– A cause of much thanksgiving.
Bishop John Guernsey Appointed Chairman of Chairman of the Global Fellowship of Confessing Anglicans
Prayer request from Gafcon:
“Give thanks to God for the appointment of The Rt. Rev. John A. M. Guernsey as the new Chairman of the Global Fellowship of Confessing Anglicans, whose Trustees faithfully govern and support the ministry of Gafcon and the Global Anglican Communion.
We praise the Lord for Bishop Guernsey’s deep and longstanding commitment to Gafcon: a delegate at GAFCON 2008, Chair of the Statement Committee in Nairobi 2013, and Worship Coordinator in Jerusalem 2018. His decades of faithful leadership in the Anglican Church in North America (ACNA) have strengthened our global fellowship.
Pray for Bishop Guernsey and his wife, Meg, asking that God grant him wisdom, humility, and joy as he helps guide our movement to have the Bible at the heart of the Anglican Communion.”
– Source. (Background: Bishop Guernsey Wikipedia entry.)
From the Nuba Mountains of Sudan to the suburbs of Perth, the story of Mekyal Keira: the Diocese of the Southern Cross’ first clergy ordination
“Last month, Mekyal Keira was ordained as a deacon in the Diocese of the Southern Cross, and commissioned as pastor of the Kush church in Perth. The Diocese of the Southern Cross is a theologically conservative Anglican body that operates in progressive dioceses in Australia.
The Kush church is an English-Arabic speaking church that meets on Sundays at noon, at 160 Dampier Avenue, Kallaroo, a suburb of Perth. It is one of eight churches in the Diocese of the Southern Cross.
I am Mekyal Keira. When I was 11 years old, I accepted the Lord Jesus Christ in the Nuba Mountains through missionaries from Australia. In 1978, war broke out in the region between the Islamic government and the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement (SPLM). The main reason was the Christian minority living in the area.
In 1989, I migrated to Khartoum with my family. …”
– Read it all, thanks to John Sandeman at The Other Cheek.
Gafcon photo.
What we believe
The message at the heart of Christianity is really quite simple…