Anglican Diocese of Brisbane facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Diocese of Brisbane |
|
|---|---|
Coat of arms
|
|
| Location | |
| Country | Australia |
| Territory |
|
| Ecclesiastical province | Queensland |
| Metropolitan | Archbishop of Brisbane |
| Headquarters |
|
| Information | |
| Denomination | Anglican |
| Rite |
|
| Established | 1858 |
| Cathedral | St John's Cathedral, Brisbane |
| Language | English |
| Current leadership | |
| Parent church | Anglican Church of Australia |
| Archbishop | Jeremy Greaves |
| Dean |
|
The Anglican Diocese of Brisbane, also known as Anglican Church Southern Queensland, is a large church area in Queensland, Australia. It is part of the Anglican Church of Australia. The main church for the bishop is St John's Cathedral, Brisbane.
This diocese covers a big area. It goes from the south-eastern coast of Queensland. It stretches down to the New South Wales border. It also reaches west to the Northern Territory and South Australian borders. The church often calls itself "Anglican Church Southern Queensland" (ACSQ). It also promotes its charity arm, "Anglicare Southern Queensland".
The main leader of the diocese is the Archbishop of Brisbane. The current Archbishop is Jeremy Greaves. He was chosen as archbishop on 1 September 2023. He officially started his role on 16 December 2023.
The diocese also has several assistant bishops. These bishops help the Archbishop with different parts of the region. Currently, they include Cameron Venables (for the Western Region since 2014), John Roundhill (for the Southern Region since 2018), and Sarah Plowman (for the Northern Region from 2024).
Contents
History of the Brisbane Diocese
How the Diocese Started
The Brisbane diocese was created in 1858. Before this, the area was part of the Diocese of Newcastle. William Tyrrell was the Bishop of Newcastle at that time.
In 1859, Queen Victoria chose the first bishop for Brisbane. His name was Edward Tufnell (1814–1896). Bishop Tufnell made St John's Cathedral in Brisbane the main church. He also gave the beautiful stained glass windows in the church's apse.
Bishops' Homes: Bishopsbourne
A special house for the bishops was built around 1865. It was called Bishopsbourne (now Old Bishopsbourne). This house was in Milton. Many bishops and archbishops lived there.
In 1964, Archbishop Philip Strong bought a new house. It was in Hamilton and he also named it Bishopsbourne. Later, in 2007, Archbishop Phillip Aspinall sold this house. He moved to a new home in Ascot, which was also named Bishopsbourne.
Becoming a Metropolitan See
In 1905, the Province of Queensland was formed. This made the Diocese of Brisbane the main church area (metropolitan see). Its bishop became the metropolitan archbishop.
Leaders of the Diocese
Archbishops of Brisbane
Assistant Bishops
The first assistant bishop for Brisbane was John Francis Stretch. He became a bishop in 1895. He was the first Australian to be made a bishop for ministry in Australia.
Many other assistant bishops have served the diocese over the years. These include Henry Le Fanu, De Witt Batty, and Horace Henry Dixon. More recently, bishops like Cameron Venables, John Roundhill, and Sarah Plowman serve in this role.
| Bishops Coadjutor and Diocesan-wide Assistant Bishops | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| From | Until | Incumbent | Notes |
| 1889 | 1892 | Nathaniel Dawes | Assistant Bishop for Brisbane; Later moved to Rockhampton. |
| 1895 | 1900 | John Francis Stretch | Assistant Bishop for Brisbane; Later moved to Newcastle. |
| 1915 | 1929 | Henry Le Fanu | Assistant Bishop for Brisbane; Later moved to Perth. He also became the main leader of the Anglican Church in Australia. |
| 1930 | 1931 | Francis De Witt Batty | Assistant Bishop for Brisbane; Also the main priest of St John's Cathedral from 1925 to 1931; Later moved to Newcastle. |
| 1930 | 1961 | Horace Henry Dixon | Assistant Bishop for Brisbane. |
| 1961 | 1973 | Wilfred John Hudson | Assistant Bishop for Brisbane. Moved from Carpentaria. |
| 1973 | 1978 | Ralph Edwin Wicks | Assistant Bishop for Brisbane. Later served in Southern and Western Regions. |
| Assistant bishops (Northern Region) | |||
| From | Until | Incumbent | Notes |
| 1983 | 1985 | Bruce Schultz | Later moved to Grafton. |
| 1985 | 1993 | George Browning | Later moved to Canberra & Goulburn. |
| 1993 | 1999 | John Noble | Also Director of Ministry Education, 1999–2002; Later Bishop of North Queensland (2002–2007). |
| 1999 | 2006 | Richard Appleby | Moved from the Northern Territory. Later helped the main leader of the Anglican Church in Australia. |
| 2006 | 2016 | Jonathan Holland | Also Director of Ministry Education from 2016. |
| 2017 | Jeremy Greaves | Previously the main priest of Darwin. | |
| 2024 | present | Sarah Plowman | Served as Mission Chaplain, Director of Discernment and Formation and Honorary Canon, St John’s Cathedral from 2021. |
| Assistant bishops (Southern Region) | |||
| From | Until | Incumbent | Notes |
| 2013 | 2017 | Alison Taylor | The first female bishop in the diocese. |
| Assistant bishops (Western Region) | |||
| From | Until | Incumbent | Notes |
Saint John's Cathedral
The Cathedral of Saint John is a very important church in Brisbane. Its construction was finished in 2005. This was after about 100 years of building work.
In 2015, new statues were added to the outside of the cathedral. Archbishop Aspinall blessed these statues.
Training for Church Leaders
Theological Colleges
People who want to become priests or other church leaders get special training. They attend colleges and seminaries. In the Brisbane diocese, many leaders train at Saint Francis' Theological College. This college is connected to Charles Sturt University. Bishop Jonathan Holland is the principal of this college.
Church Style and Beliefs
Anglo-Catholic Ethos
The Brisbane diocese often follows a style called liberal Anglo-Catholic. This means it has some traditions similar to the Roman Catholic Church. For example, priests usually wear special robes (a stole over a cassock or alb) during church services.
Some religious groups, like the Society of Saint Francis, have their main Australian base in Brisbane. The Society of the Sacred Advent also started in the city.
While Anglo-Catholic is the main style, there are a few parishes that follow a "low church" style. This means their services are simpler.
Community Groups in the Diocese
Lobby Groups
The diocese has groups that speak out on important issues. For example, the dean of the cathedral, Peter Catt, started a group called A Progressive Christian Voice. He also leads the diocese's social responsibilities committee.
Another important group is Angligreen. This group focuses on environmental issues.
Important Issues and Discussions
Understanding the Bible
Archbishop Aspinall has noted that many Anglicans in Brisbane do not know the Bible very well. He observed that few people read or study the Bible regularly.
Church and Government Links
Connections to the Military
Church leaders sometimes have different views on big issues. For example, Archbishop Philip Strong had different ideas about Australia's involvement in the Vietnam War. He believed that conflict could sometimes lead to peace. Other bishops disagreed with him.
Connections to the Legal Community
The diocese has strong connections with legal professionals in Brisbane. This has sometimes led to discussions about potential conflicts of interest.
Working with Other Churches (Ecumenism)
The diocese works closely with other Christian churches. It has a strong relationship with the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Brisbane.
The Anglican, Roman Catholic, and Uniting churches sometimes work together. The Lutheran Church of Australia has also had discussions with them. However, the diocese mainly recognizes churches that have a similar leadership structure, with bishops.
Church Membership Numbers
Changes in Parishioners
Between 2011 and 2016, the number of people attending churches in the diocese decreased. A church report showed a 7% decline in parishioners during this time.
See also
- Anglicare
Images for kids
-
St John's Cathedral Brisbane from Ann Street 2017.jpg
St John's Cathedral, Brisbane
