The Sydney Family Album 2 — Samuel Marsden

In 2011, Mark Thompson, now Principal of Moore College, penned a series of posts entitled The Sydney Family Album, for his website, Theological Theology.

We felt they merit wider distribution, so, with Mark’s kind permission, we are re-posting them on the ACL website, at the rate of one a week.

Here’s the second, a guest post by David Pettett on Samuel Marsden.

Related:

Sunday sermons shed light on pioneer – SydneyAnglicans.net, December 2016.

In the Library: Books and Reading with Peter Adam

The Gospel Coalition Australia has republished this 2016 interview with Peter Adam on reading and Christian books –

“I remember my first day at Sunday School at the age of 11. The teacher told us that God did not like new clean Bibles: he much preferred Bibles which looked well-used. So when I got home I got out my new Bible, scribbled in the margins, and loosened some pages. Surely God would approve! …”

– Read it here.

Mark Earngey’s New Book

From Moore College –

“A recent book by Moore College faculty member, Dr Mark Earngey, offers a major new study of John Ponet (1516-1556), one of the most significant yet often overlooked figures of the early English Reformation.

John Ponet (1516-1556): Scholar, Bishop, Insurgent (Brill) draws on newly discovered archival material and a reconstructed catalogue of Ponet’s personal library to provide the most comprehensive account of his life and thought to date.

Earngey first encountered Ponet while undertaking postgraduate research at Oxford into the life and theology of Thomas Cranmer.

‘I realised that the little-known but prodigious Ponet was patronised by Cranmer and became his right-hand theologian,’ he says. ‘When I began work on Ponet an avalanche of new manuscript material came to light, and the project in recovering his story began!’

The book presents Ponet as a leading scholar, bishop and reformer whose influence extended across theology, church leadership and political thought. Earngey traces Ponet’s role in advancing evangelical reform during the reigns of Henry VIII (as Cranmer’s chaplain) and Edward VI (as Cranmer’s theological advisor) and examines his later writings during the reign of Mary I, in which he became one of the earliest English Reformation voices to argue for a limited monarchy and resistance to tyranny.

The research also uncovered a number of significant discoveries about Ponet and his influence.…”

– Read the full article here.

William Tyndale: The most important Englishman in history?

“William Tyndale was the first person to translate the New Testament into English from Greek, and this was the first NT printed in English. It had an immense impact on the English-speaking world, which reverberates down into our own time. …”

– Tony Watkins at Tyndale House in Cambridge has this sketch of the life and importance of William Tyndale.

“In 2026, Tyndale House [celebrates] the 500th anniversary of the Tyndale New Testament (1526).

This anniversary marks a turning point in the history of the English Bible and an enduring reminder of why William Tyndale matters today: he placed the word of God into the hands of ordinary people, doing so with attention to the original languages and giving his life for this mission.”

Click this link for more.

Anglican Heroes: Katherine Brandon — Church Society podcast

From Church Society –

“Clare Heath-Whyte tells the story of Katherine Brandon’s life through 16th century England and Europe.

Born Katherine Willoughby, she first married Charles Brandon, one of Henry VIII’s closest friends, and later Richard Bertie, her Master of the Horse.”

– Listen here.

See a portrait by Hans Holding the Younger.

Ben Kwashi appointed Bishop of Chad

“The Most Rev. Benjamin Argak Kwashi, the retired Archbishop of Jos and former General Secretary of GAFCON, has been installed as Area Bishop for Chad in the Diocese of North Africa in the Episcopal/Anglican Province of Alexandria.

The Rt. Rev. Dr. Ashley Null, Bishop of North Africa, told Anglican.Ink that Archbishop Kwashi was installed on 6 June 2026 ‘at my request of the Archbishop and the Province’ to serve as his Area Bishop for Chad. ‘So yes, Ben is my suffragan,’ Bishop Null said.

The installation was held in Cameroon, rather than Chad, at the invitation of Bishop Dibo Elango. Bishop Null said the venue was chosen because American clergy in the diocese, including the bishop, are not presently able to enter Chad, while Chadian clergy can face difficulty obtaining visas for other countries in the diocese. …”

– Report by George Conger at Anglican.Ink.

Photo: Anglican.ink.

Letters that touched my heart

Archbishop Kanishka Raffel shares –

“In October of last year Cailey and I had the great privilege of visiting the Billy Graham Library in Charlotte, North Carolina, USA. Although it is called a ‘library’, it is what we would usually call a museum – although that is too tame a description for the 14 galleries recording the remarkable ways in which the Lord used William Franklin Graham Jnr (known to the world as Billy Graham) to preach the gospel to more people in more places across the globe than anyone else before or since.

Attached to the Billy Graham Library is a research archive, which houses an enormous collection of papers, recordings, journals, campaign and other materials from Billy Graham’s more than 60 years of public ministry. …”

– Read it at SydneyAnglicans.net.

Also published in the current edition of Southern Cross magazine.

John Lennox interviewed on The Diary of a CEO with Steven Bartlett

Oxford mathematician and Christian apologist John Lennox in a brilliant interview –

“A powerful conversation on AI, God, hell, truth, and more.

John Lennox sat down with Steven Bartlett to discuss his life, his faith and his insights on what it means to be human in the age of AI on one of the biggest podcasts in the world.”

– Posted last week, and already seen by two million viewers, this interview with John Lennox is very much worth your time.

It’s 86 minutes long, so set aside the time. (Direct link on YouTube.)

Consider how you might share it with others – whether Christian or not.

Faithful service recognised in King’s Birthday Honours list

“A prominent educator and a husband and wife from the Northern Beaches are among Sydney Anglicans honoured in the King’s Birthday Honours list. …”

– Russell Powell has the story at SydneyAnglicans.net.

Two to remember

“It was 1856, and the new Reformed Evangelical bishop, Frederic Barker, had arrived in Sydney with his wife Jane the year before.

The bishop was responsible for most of NSW – a huge burden. He and his wife immediately saw three great needs and took action to meet them.…”

– At SydneyAnglicans.net, Peter Jensen commends a soon-to-be-published book on Bishop Barker by Dr. Grant Maple.

He reminds us that it is “so easy to forget our history and that impoverishes us”.

Moore College 100 Ministry Stories — Rob Llewellyn

In the latest of their 100 Ministry Stories, Moore College has this short profile of Rob Llewellyn, Dean of Christ Church Cathedral Darwin.

It’s also a great reminder to pray for gospel ministry in the Top End, including that of Nungalinya College.

The Remarkable Story of Ayaan Hirsi Ali

A recommendation from AP, the Australian Presbyterian journal –

“If you’ve never heard the story of how Ayaan Hirsi Ali, a former Muslim from Somalia and subsequently outspoken atheist who then became a Christian, then you’re in for a treat. Focus on the Family has recently published a short fourteen minute summary of her conversion. …”

– Read here.

Peter Hollingworth dies at 91

Report from ABC News –

“Retired Anglican bishop and former governor-general Peter Hollingworth, who resigned in 2003 amid controversy over his handling of child abuse in the church, has died, aged 91.

Born in Adelaide in 1935 and raised in Melbourne, Dr Hollingworth was ordained in 1960 after studying theology.

Once described as ‘Australia’s foremost spokesman for social justice’, he joined the Brotherhood of St Laurence in 1964, serving 25 years with the Anglican welfare agency, including as executive director. …”

– Read here.

Photo with thanks to Ramon Williams, Worldwide Photos.

In the Library: Joel Beeke in conversation with Albert Mohler

In the latest edition of his “In the Library” videos, Albert Mohler, President of the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, speaks with Joel Beeke, Chancellor of Puritan Reformed Theological Seminary.

At 70 minutes, it’s an interesting conversation, covering a wide range of topics – including the Dutch Reformed movement in the USA, theology, the Puritans (and the way they have been misrepresented), the importance of reading books, publishing, and more. Watch here.

Anglican Heroes: John Stott — Church Society Podcast

From Church Society –

“Mark Meynell talks to Ros Clarke about ‘Uncle John’, his life, ministry and ongoing legacy around the world.”

– Listen here – with links to various resources.

Photo: Langham Partnership.

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