David John Leyburn Richardson
Encyclopedia
David John Leyburn Richardson ChStJ (Chaplain of the Order of St John
) is an Australian-born Anglican priest and former cathedral dean who is currently the director of the Anglican Centre in Rome.
, Australia
, 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 Great St Mary’s Church, the "University Church" in Cambridge
, while also becoming a chaplain at Girton College in 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, Richardson was the rector of Christ Church in St Lucia, Brisbane.
, Adelaide
at which he served for 11 years before becoming the Dean of St Paul's Cathedral
, Melbourne
in 1999. As dean, he led a multi-million dollar public appeal to restore the cathedral's spire
s and improve the interior of the building. His contribution is commemorated by the stone sculpture
of his head by Melbourne artist Smiley Williams on one of the cathedral's spires.
On his departure from St Paul's in 2008, the cathedral chapter awarded him the title of Dean Emeritus. This honour recognises his ministry in 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.
Richardson was for 10 years the clerical representative for Australia on the Anglican Consultative Council
(1992–2002). For 25 years he also served on the Australian National Liturgical Commission and was its executive secretary for 15 years. He also served for 15 years on an ecumenical
body, the Australian Consultation on Liturgy.
, Rowan Williams
, to the Holy See
and the director of the Anglican Centre in Rome
. He was installed in his new position by Archbishop Williams on 7 May 2008 in a ceremony in the Church of Santa Maria Spora Minerva.
Venerable Order of Saint John
The Most Venerable Order of the Hospital of Saint John of Jerusalem , is a royal order of chivalry established in 1831 and found today throughout the Commonwealth of Nations, Hong Kong, Ireland and the United States of America, with the world-wide mission "to prevent and relieve sickness and...
) is an Australian-born Anglican priest and former cathedral dean who is currently the director of the Anglican Centre in Rome.
Early life and ministry
David Richardson was born in QueenslandQueensland
Queensland is a state of Australia, occupying the north-eastern section of the mainland continent. It is bordered by the Northern Territory, South Australia and New South Wales to the west, south-west and south respectively. To the east, Queensland is bordered by the Coral Sea and Pacific Ocean...
, Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
, but spent most of his childhood in England in North Devon
North Devon
North Devon is the northern part of the English county of Devon. It is also the name of a local government district in Devon. Its council is based in Barnstaple. Other towns and villages in the North Devon District include Braunton, Fremington, Ilfracombe, Instow, South Molton, Lynton and Lynmouth...
and then the Midlands
English Midlands
The Midlands, or the English Midlands, is the traditional name for the area comprising central England that broadly corresponds to the early medieval Kingdom of Mercia. It borders Southern England, Northern England, East Anglia and Wales. Its largest city is Birmingham, and it was an important...
where his father worked as a priest. He finished his schooling in Brisbane
Brisbane
Brisbane is the capital and most populous city in the Australian state of Queensland and the third most populous city in Australia. Brisbane's metropolitan area has a population of over 2 million, and the South East Queensland urban conurbation, centred around Brisbane, encompasses a population of...
.
After studying English literature
English literature
English literature is the literature written in the English language, including literature composed in English by writers not necessarily from England; for example, Robert Burns was Scottish, James Joyce was Irish, Joseph Conrad was Polish, Dylan Thomas was Welsh, Edgar Allan Poe was American, J....
at the University of Queensland, Richardson studied theology
Christian theology
- Divisions of Christian theology :There are many methods of categorizing different approaches to Christian theology. For a historical analysis, see the main article on the History of Christian theology.- Sub-disciplines :...
at St Barnabas’ College in Adelaide and then received his postgraduate diploma in pastoral theology
Pastoral Care
Liber Regulae Pastoralis or Regula Pastoralis is a treatise on the responsibilities of the clergy written by Pope Gregory I around the year 590, shortly after his papal inauguration...
at the University of Birmingham
University of Birmingham
The University of Birmingham is a British Redbrick university located in the city of Birmingham, England. It received its royal charter in 1900 as a successor to Birmingham Medical School and Mason Science College . Birmingham was the first Redbrick university to gain a charter and thus...
in the United Kingdom.
Richardson remained in the United Kingdom and served a curacy
Curate
A curate is a person who is invested with the care or cure of souls of a parish. In this sense "curate" correctly means a parish priest but in English-speaking countries a curate is an assistant to the parish priest...
at Great St Mary’s Church, the "University Church" in Cambridge
University of Cambridge
The University of Cambridge is a public research university located in Cambridge, United Kingdom. It is the second-oldest university in both the United Kingdom and the English-speaking world , and the seventh-oldest globally...
, while also becoming a chaplain at Girton College in the university from 1976 to 1979. He then returned to St Barnabas’ College as sub-warden where he taught New Testament
New Testament
The New Testament is the second major division of the Christian biblical canon, the first such division being the much longer Old Testament....
studies, liturgy
Liturgy
Liturgy is either the customary public worship done by a specific religious group, according to its particular traditions or a more precise term that distinguishes between those religious groups who believe their ritual requires the "people" to do the "work" of responding to the priest, and those...
and pastoral care and spirituality
Spirituality
Spirituality can refer to an ultimate or an alleged immaterial reality; an inner path enabling a person to discover the essence of his/her being; or the “deepest values and meanings by which people live.” Spiritual practices, including meditation, prayer and contemplation, are intended to develop...
until 1982. For the next five years, Richardson was the rector of Christ Church in St Lucia, Brisbane.
Cathedral dean
In 1988 Richardson was invited to become the Dean of St Peter’s CathedralSt Peter's Cathedral, Adelaide
St Peter's Cathedral is an Anglican Cathedral in the South Australian capital of Adelaide. It is the seat of the Bishop of the Anglican Diocese of Adelaide...
, Adelaide
Adelaide
Adelaide is the capital city of South Australia and the fifth-largest city in Australia. Adelaide has an estimated population of more than 1.2 million...
at which he served for 11 years before becoming the Dean of St Paul's Cathedral
St Paul's Cathedral, Melbourne
St Paul's Cathedral, Melbourne, is the metropolitical and cathedral church of the Anglican Diocese of Melbourne, Victoria in Australia. It is the seat of the Anglican Archbishop of Melbourne and Metropolitan of the Province of Victoria...
, Melbourne
Melbourne
Melbourne is the capital and most populous city in the state of Victoria, and the second most populous city in Australia. The Melbourne City Centre is the hub of the greater metropolitan area and the Census statistical division—of which "Melbourne" is the common name. As of June 2009, the greater...
in 1999. As dean, he led a multi-million dollar public appeal to restore the cathedral's spire
Spire
A spire is a tapering conical or pyramidal structure on the top of a building, particularly a church tower. Etymologically, the word is derived from the Old English word spir, meaning a sprout, shoot, or stalk of grass....
s and improve the interior of the building. His contribution is commemorated by the stone sculpture
Sculpture
Sculpture is three-dimensional artwork created by shaping or combining hard materials—typically stone such as marble—or metal, glass, or wood. Softer materials can also be used, such as clay, textiles, plastics, polymers and softer metals...
of his head by Melbourne artist Smiley Williams on one of the cathedral's spires.
On his departure from St Paul's in 2008, the cathedral chapter awarded him the title of Dean Emeritus. This honour recognises his ministry in 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.
Richardson was for 10 years the clerical representative for Australia on the Anglican Consultative Council
Anglican Consultative Council
The Anglican Consultative Council or ACC is one of the four "Instruments of Communion" of the Anglican Communion. It was created by a resolution of the 1968 Lambeth Conference...
(1992–2002). For 25 years he also served on the Australian National Liturgical Commission and was its executive secretary for 15 years. He also served for 15 years on an ecumenical
Ecumenism
Ecumenism or oecumenism mainly refers to initiatives aimed at greater Christian unity or cooperation. It is used predominantly by and with reference to Christian denominations and Christian Churches separated by doctrine, history, and practice...
body, the Australian Consultation on Liturgy.
Current role
In December 2007, Richardson was appointed as the representative of the Archbishop of CanterburyArchbishop of Canterbury
The Archbishop of Canterbury is the senior bishop and principal leader of the Church of England, the symbolic head of the worldwide Anglican Communion, and the diocesan bishop of the Diocese of Canterbury. In his role as head of the Anglican Communion, the archbishop leads the third largest group...
, Rowan Williams
Rowan Williams
Rowan Douglas Williams FRSL, FBA, FLSW is an Anglican bishop, poet and theologian. He is the 104th and current Archbishop of Canterbury, Metropolitan of the Province of Canterbury and Primate of All England, offices he has held since early 2003.Williams was previously Bishop of Monmouth and...
, to the Holy See
Holy See
The Holy See is the episcopal jurisdiction of the Catholic Church in Rome, in which its Bishop is commonly known as the Pope. It is the preeminent episcopal see of the Catholic Church, forming the central government of the Church. As such, diplomatically, and in other spheres the Holy See acts and...
and the director of the Anglican Centre in Rome
Rome
Rome is the capital of Italy and the country's largest and most populated city and comune, with over 2.7 million residents in . The city is located in the central-western portion of the Italian Peninsula, on the Tiber River within the Lazio region of Italy.Rome's history spans two and a half...
. He was installed in his new position by Archbishop Williams on 7 May 2008 in a ceremony in the Church of Santa Maria Spora Minerva.