The Secretary General of the Anglican Communion, the Right Revd Anthony Poggo, has been visiting the Diocese of Melbourne in the Anglican Church of Australia, attending two services at St Paul's Cathedral to mark the retirement of the Archbishop of Melbourne (February 9) and an ordination of Deacons (February 8).

Retirement of Archbishop Philip Freier 

The Most Revd Philip Freier gives a blessing during the service marking his retirement as Archbishop of Melbourne at St Paul's Cathedral on 9 February.
Photo: Diocese of Melbourne/The Melbourne Anglican

On February 9, The Secretary General attended choral evensong at St. Paul’s Cathedral to mark the formal retirement of The Most Revd Philip Freier, Archbishop of Melbourne. It was attended by more than a 1000 people including clergy and bishops from Adelaide, Brisbane, Melbourne, Perth, Sydney and the world-wide Anglican communion.

The Melbourne Anglican reported that the service expressed thanks “for an archbishop who put the safety of vulnerable people, reconciliation, women’s ministry, ecumenism and peace at the centre of his service, and the Australian Anglican Church.”

The Most Revd Kay Goldsworthy (Archbishop of Perth) told of how Dr Freier’s measured tone and skills, borne out of long experience in episcopal ministry across different Australian regions, enriched the Church. She said among leaders at bishops’ meetings he was known as “Father of the House”, and that to his Episcopal colleagues he was perceived as being a wise peacemaker. Archbishop Goldsworthy gave thanks too for Dr Freier’s commitment to the full recognition of women’s ministry, and particularly for his leadership in consecrating Bishop Barbara Darling in 2008.

The Most Revd Adelaide Geoffrey Smith (Primate of Australia ) said Dr Freier’s commitment to connecting the Anglican Church of Australia with other parts of the Church in the region, especially, was substantial. Dr Freier’s leadership through the latter part of the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse, and influence in redress recommendations, were particularly weighty. “This was very important work,” Archbishop Smith said. “Very significant legislation was passed with remarkable unanimity in response to those recommendations, which helped develop a safer church with significantly clearer and better responses to people who have suffered on behalf of the Anglican Church of Australia.”

Archbishop Philip was installed as Archbishop of Melbourne in 2006, having been in episcopal ministry since 1999 when he became Bishop of the Northern Territory. He grew up in Brisbane, and prior to ordination he worked as a teacher at Thursday Island, Kowanyama, and Yarrabah and then as an advisory teacher in Aboriginal education with the Queensland Education Department. Serving his curacy in Kowanyama, Archbishop Philip became a fluent speaker of the Koko-Bera Indigenous language and became an ardent supporter of First Nations justice. He was elected as Primate of Australia in 2014—a role which he held until 2020.

Speaking to ACNS, Archbishop Philip shared that highlights from his ministry included the “Growth of the ministry in Melbourne especially amongst new and culturally diverse communities; a new school in the north of Melbourne’s growth suburbs – that has grown to 3 campuses and enrolment of 3,000 students,” and how the Diocese of Melbourne has taken up “the importance of child safety, prevention of violence against women and reconciliation with First Nations People.” The Archbishop plans ministry in North Queensland Diocese. His prayer for his successor is “For the grace and peace to lead.”

Speaking about the retirement service, The Secretary General said: “It has been a privilege to join with the St. Paul’s community and the people of the Province of Victoria to give thanks for Archbishop Philip’s many years of faithful ministry. Archbishop Philip has been an example of servant leadership, and his many achievements are a credit to the depth of his vocation. I wish Archbishop Philip, Joy and all the family every blessing for the years to come as he enters his retirement.”

Following his retirement, the administration of the diocese will be undertaken by The Rt Revd Genieve Blackwell, who will exercise all the rights and responsibiliteis of the bishop unitl the Synod of the diocese elects the successor. 

The election synod for the next archbishop will be held sometime between 10 March and 10 August 2025, its sole business item being the election of a new archbishop. To be elected, a candidate needs a two-thirds majority vote from both clerical and lay members of the election synod.

Deacons' Ordination Service  

Eight men and women from the Anglican Diocese of Melbourne were ordained to the position of deacon at a service at St Paul’s Cathedral on Saturday, February 8, 2025. The Secretary General of the Anglican Communion also joined the service.
Photo: Diocese of Melbourne/The Melbourne Anglican

On the February 8, The Secretary General joined the congregation at St. Paul’s Cathedral, where eight men and women were ordained as Deacons. Those ordained were the Reverends Victoria Bakerov, Ricky Njoto, Graeme Chiswell, Lauren Weatherlake, Kyle Hosken, Chuck Zhang, Alison McGrice and Victor Zhu. The Venerable Scott Lowrey was also consecrated Assistant Bishop of Ballarat.

It was the final time that the Most Revd Philip Freier presided over an ordination service as Archbishop of Melbourne before his retirement service the next day.

In a sermon by The Rt Revd Garry Weatherill (Bishop of Ballarat and Acting Metropolitan), the new clergy were encouraged to be open to those with whom they disagreed and to listen carefully to different perspectives. “Try and develop the capacity to look for the good in the people you don’t like, or the people you disapprove of, or the ideas that drive you crazy,” he said. “See the world through sacramental eyes… develop the ability to hear the word of God addressing you from unexpected places and unexpected people.”

The newly ordained deacons will serve across Melbourne, including at the Royal Melbourne Hospital, City on a Hill, and churches in Doncaster, Carlton, Blackburn North, Ferntree Gully and Ivanhoe.

The Venerable Scott Lowrey was ordained to the priesthood in 1991. Lowrey initially served in the Diocese of Gippsland, where he was responsible for ministry to the First Nations community in the Eastern Region of the diocese. After a long ministry in Moe, he moved to Warrnambool in the Diocese of Ballarat in February 2007 and has held various roles and responsibilities in the wider Diocese. Prior to his consecration at Assistant Bishop of Ballarat, he was Archdeacon of the South and Canon of the Cathedral Church of Christ the King and Vicar General. He will remain as the Parish Priest of Warrnambool.

Speaking of the ordination service, The Secretary General said said: “It was a joy to be with my brothers and sisters in the Province of Victoria to welcome a new cohort of faithful servants to ordained ministry and celebrate the consecration of Scott Raymond Lowrey. I pray that he will flourish in his new role.”

Source: The Anglican Diocese of Melbourne and The Melbourne Anglican.

Photos: Photos from The Melbourne Anglican can be seen here.