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David Richardson (priest)

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The Very Reverend Canon
David Richardson
AO OBE
Born
David John Leyburn Richardson

(1946-03-14) 14 March 1946 (age 79)
Townsville, Queensland
NationalityAustralian
Alma materUniversity of Queensland
TitleEmeritus Dean of Melbourne
Spouse
Margie Lewis
​
(m. 1972)​
Children1 son; 1 daughter
ParentDavid James Leyburn Richardson (1905–1956) Alice May nee Tansey (1916–2002)[1]
ChurchAnglican
Other post(s)
  • Representative of the Archbishop of Canterbury to the Holy See and director of the Anglican Centre in Rome (2008–2013)
  • Dean of Melbourne (1999–2008)
  • Dean of Adelaide (1989–1999)
Orders
Ordination1970 (deacon); 1971 (priest)
Personal details
DenominationAnglican

David John Leyburn Richardson AO OBE (born 14 March 1946) is an Australian Anglican priest, former cathedral dean and director of the Anglican Centre in Rome.

Early life and ministry

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David Richardson was born in Townsville, Queensland, but spent most of his childhood in England in North Devon and then the Midlands where his father worked as a priest. He finished his schooling in Brisbane.

After studying English literature at the University of Queensland, Richardson studied theology at St Barnabas College in Adelaide and then received his postgraduate diploma in pastoral theology at the University of Birmingham in the United Kingdom.

Richardson remained in the United Kingdom and served a curacy at the Church of St Mary the Great, Cambridge, the civic and university church of Cambridge, while also serving as chaplain at Girton College[2] at the university from 1976 to 1979. He then returned to St Barnabas’ College as sub-warden where he taught New Testament studies, liturgy and pastoral care and spirituality until 1982. For the next five years he was the rector of Christ Church in St Lucia, Brisbane.

Cathedral dean

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In 1989, Richardson was invited to become the dean of St Peter's Cathedral, Adelaide, where he served for 11 years before becoming the dean of St Paul's Cathedral, Melbourne, in 1999.[3][4] As dean, he led a multimillion-dollar public appeal to restore the cathedral's spires and improve the interior of the building. His contribution is commemorated by the carved stone sculpture of his head by Melbourne artist Smiley Williams on the exterior of the cathedral's Moorhouse spire.[5]

On his departure from St Paul's in 2008, the cathedral chapter awarded him the title of Dean Emeritus. This honour recognises his two decades of leadership of two metropolitan cathedrals, his achievement in restoring the building of St Paul's Cathedral and his ministry which built up the attendances and finances in Melbourne.[6]

Richardson was for 10 years the clerical representative for Australia on the Anglican Consultative Council (1992–2002).[7] For 25 years he also served on the Australian National Liturgical Commission and was its executive secretary for 15 years.[8] As a member of the commission, he was one of the authors of A Prayer Book for Australia (1995).[9] Richardson also served for 15 years on an ecumenical body, the Australian Consultation on Liturgy.

Anglican Centre in Rome

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In December 2007, Richardson was appointed as the representative of the Archbishop of Canterbury, Rowan Williams, to the Holy See and the director of the Anglican Centre in Rome.[10] He was installed in this position by Archbishop Williams on 7 May 2008 at a ceremony in the Church of Santa Maria sopra Minerva.[11] During his tenure he played key roles in the 2008 Lambeth Conference, the first state visit of a pope to the UK in 2010 (Pope Benedict XVI) and visits of the Archbishop of Canterbury to the Vatican.[12][13] He hosted the first visit of a head of state to the centre (Australian prime minister Kevin Rudd) in 2009.[14] Richardson was also an official Anglican delegate to the inauguration of Pope Francis in March 2013.[15]

Richardson retired in April 2013 and was succeeded by Archbishop David Moxon.[16]

Honours and awards

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Richardson was installed as an honorary provincial canon of Canterbury Cathedral on 5 June 2010.[17]

He was appointed an officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) in the 2013 Queen's Birthday Honours (UK) for services to strengthening relations between the UK, the Anglican Communion and the Holy See.[18][19]

He was appointed an officer of the Order of Australia (AO) in the 2016 Australia Day Honours for distinguished service to religion and to the Anglican Church of Australia, through international representational, ecumenical development and interfaith co-operation roles.[20]

Richardson is also a chaplain of the Most Venerable Order of the Hospital of Saint John of Jerusalem (Order of St John) (ChStJ).

References

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  1. ^ Project Canterbury Cable Clerical Index
  2. ^ "Inauguration of the new Chaplain and celebration of the Chapel | Girton College". www.girton.cam.ac.uk. Retrieved 22 April 2025.
  3. ^ "Trove". trove.nla.gov.au. Retrieved 24 April 2025.
  4. ^ "Australian Christian Church Histories - Melbourne, VIC - St Paul's Anglican Cathedral". www.churchhistories.net.au. Retrieved 22 April 2025.
  5. ^ "St Paul's Cathedral Restoration and Renewal Appeal Newsletter, no. 6," (PDF). St Paul's Cathedral Melbourne. 1 December 2006. Archived from the original (PDF) on 20 July 2008. Retrieved 24 April 2025.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: date and year (link)
  6. ^ "Dean's Diary". web.archive.org. 19 July 2008. Retrieved 24 April 2025.
  7. ^ Office, Anglican Communion. "Participants". Anglican Communion Website. Retrieved 23 April 2025.
  8. ^ https://grovebooks.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/news-of-liturgy/LITURGY1996-06.pdf
  9. ^ Douglas, Brian (18 November 2021), "A Prayer Book for Australia (APBA) (1995)", The Anglican Eucharist in Australia, Brill, pp. 227–244, doi:10.1163/9789004469273_015, ISBN 978-90-04-46927-3, retrieved 23 April 2025
  10. ^ Zwartz, Barney (12 December 2007). "Melbourne Dean gets key Vatican post". The Age. Retrieved 23 April 2025.
  11. ^ Anglican Communion News Service: Archbishop of Canterbury - 'friendly meeting' with Pope Benedict
  12. ^ Sison, Marites N. (5 October 2012). "Promoting Christian unity in a divided world". Anglican Journal. Retrieved 22 April 2025.
  13. ^ "Anglican Centre in Rome Director David Richardson to retire". Episcopal News Service. 13 June 2012. Retrieved 23 April 2025.
  14. ^ "Visit of Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd at the Anglican Centre of Rome". www.anglicannews.org. Retrieved 24 April 2025.
  15. ^ "Communion delegation for inauguration of Pope Francis". www.anglicannews.org. Retrieved 24 April 2025.
  16. ^ [1] Archived 25 October 2013 at the Wayback Machine Anglicancentre.churchinsight.com. 2013. Anglican Centre in Rome : DJ Richardson OBE. [online] Available at: http://anglicancentre.churchinsight.com/Articles/360925/Anglican_Centre_in/Our_story/Director_and_Staff/Former_Director/DJ_Richardson_OBE.aspx [Accessed: 16 Jun 2013].
  17. ^ "Centro newsletter, April 2010". Archived from the original on 18 January 2017. Retrieved 26 January 2016.
  18. ^ "No. 60534". The London Gazette (Supplement). 15 June 2013. p. 25.
  19. ^ [2] The Guardian. 2013. Queen's birthday honours list 2013: Diplomatic. [online] Available at: https://www.theguardian.com/uk/2013/jun/15/queens-birthday-honours-diplomatic [Accessed: 16 June 2013].
  20. ^ "Australia Day 2016 Honours Lists". Archived from the original on 28 January 2016. Retrieved 26 January 2016.
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Anglican Communion titles
Preceded by Dean of Melbourne
1999–2008 		Succeeded by
Preceded by Director of the Anglican Centre in Rome and
Representative of the Archbishop of Canterbury to the Holy See
2008–2013 		Succeeded by
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