George Victor Browning
Encyclopedia
George Victor Browning was the 9th bishop
of the Diocese of Canberra and Goulburn in the Anglican Church of Australia
. He was elected on 31 January 1993 and installed on 30 May 1993.
Browning was born in Brighton
, England on 28 September 1942. His family were dairy farmers in Sussex. He attended Ardingly College
and Lewes County Grammar School before moving to Australia in 1960. After working as a jackaroo
and stud groom he studied at St John's Theological College, Morpeth
, in New South Wales
, where he obtained a Licentiate in Theology
with first class honours. He was ordained deacon
in 1966 and priest in 1967.
He became assistant priest in Inverell in 1966; assistant priest at St Peter's Cathedral, Armidale, in 1968, and Vicar of Warialda in 1969. In 1973 he became Vice-Principal of St John's Theological College, Morpeth, and then Principal in 1974. In 1976 he became Rector of Singleton
. He was appointed Archdeacon
of the Upper Hunter in 1982. In 1984 he became Rector
of Woy Woy and Archdeacon of the Central Coast of New South Wales. He was consecrated as a bishop on 21 September 1985 and served as Bishop of the Northern Region in the Diocese of Brisbane until 1992 when he became responsible for the Coastal Region. From 1988 to 1991 he was also Principal of St Francis' Theological College, Milton, Queensland
.
In 2005 he became Convenor of the Anglican Communion Environmental Network. In 2007 he was awarded an honorary doctorate by Charles Sturt University
. The same year he had a public disagreement with Cardinal George Pell
on the topic of radical environmentalism
, which Pell had characterised as a form of pagan emptiness.
He retired as Bishop of Canberra and Goulburn in February 2008. In May 2008 the Bishop of Salisbury
, England, licensed him as priest in charge of the Wriggle Valley benefice in the county of Dorset
where he remained for a year.
Browning and his wife Margaret have three adult sons, Philip, Richard and Timothy and two adopted daughters, Pat and Chris.
Bishop
A bishop is an ordained or consecrated member of the Christian clergy who is generally entrusted with a position of authority and oversight. Within the Catholic Church, Eastern Orthodox, Oriental Orthodox Churches, in the Assyrian Church of the East, in the Independent Catholic Churches, and in the...
of the Diocese of Canberra and Goulburn in the Anglican Church of Australia
Anglican Church of Australia
The Anglican Church of Australia is a member church of the Anglican Communion. It was previously officially known as the Church of England in Australia and Tasmania...
. He was elected on 31 January 1993 and installed on 30 May 1993.
Browning was born in Brighton
Brighton
Brighton is the major part of the city of Brighton and Hove in East Sussex, England on the south coast of Great Britain...
, England on 28 September 1942. His family were dairy farmers in Sussex. He attended Ardingly College
Ardingly College
Ardingly College is a selective independent co-educational boarding and day school, founded in 1858 by Canon Nathaniel Woodard, included in the Tatler list of top public schools. The college is located in the village of Ardingly near Haywards Heath, West Sussex, England, having moved to its present...
and Lewes County Grammar School before moving to Australia in 1960. After working as a jackaroo
Jackaroo (trainee)
A Jackaroo is a young man working on a sheep or cattle station, to gain practical experience in the skills needed to become an owner, overseer, manager, etc. The word originated in Queensland, Australia in the Nineteenth Century and is still in use in Australia and New Zealand in the twenty-first...
and stud groom he studied at St John's Theological College, Morpeth
Morpeth, New South Wales
Morpeth is a suburb of the City of Maitland Local Government Area in the Hunter Region of New South Wales, Australia. It is located on the southern banks of the Hunter River at the border between the City of Maitland and Port Stephens Council LGAs...
, in New South Wales
New South Wales
New South Wales is a state of :Australia, located in the east of the country. It is bordered by Queensland, Victoria and South Australia to the north, south and west respectively. To the east, the state is bordered by the Tasman Sea, which forms part of the Pacific Ocean. New South Wales...
, where he obtained a Licentiate in Theology
Theology
Theology is the systematic and rational study of religion and its influences and of the nature of religious truths, or the learned profession acquired by completing specialized training in religious studies, usually at a university or school of divinity or seminary.-Definition:Augustine of Hippo...
with first class honours. He was ordained deacon
Deacon
Deacon is a ministry in the Christian Church that is generally associated with service of some kind, but which varies among theological and denominational traditions...
in 1966 and priest in 1967.
He became assistant priest in Inverell in 1966; assistant priest at St Peter's Cathedral, Armidale, in 1968, and Vicar of Warialda in 1969. In 1973 he became Vice-Principal of St John's Theological College, Morpeth, and then Principal in 1974. In 1976 he became Rector of Singleton
Singleton, New South Wales
-Industry & Commerce:Major industries near Singleton include coal mining, energy generation, light industry, vineyards, horse breeding and cattle production. Dairying was once a mainstay in the area, but has declined....
. He was appointed Archdeacon
Archdeacon
An archdeacon is a senior clergy position in Anglicanism, Syrian Malabar Nasrani, Chaldean Catholic, and some other Christian denominations, above that of most clergy and below a bishop. In the High Middle Ages it was the most senior diocesan position below a bishop in the Roman Catholic Church...
of the Upper Hunter in 1982. In 1984 he became Rector
Rector
The word rector has a number of different meanings; it is widely used to refer to an academic, religious or political administrator...
of Woy Woy and Archdeacon of the Central Coast of New South Wales. He was consecrated as a bishop on 21 September 1985 and served as Bishop of the Northern Region in the Diocese of Brisbane until 1992 when he became responsible for the Coastal Region. From 1988 to 1991 he was also Principal of St Francis' Theological College, Milton, Queensland
Milton, Queensland
Milton is an inner suburb of Brisbane, Australia, located approximately west of Brisbane's central business district. The suburb is a mixture of light industry, warehouses, commercial offices, retail and single and multiple occupancy residences...
.
In 2005 he became Convenor of the Anglican Communion Environmental Network. In 2007 he was awarded an honorary doctorate by Charles Sturt University
Charles Sturt University
Charles Sturt University is an Australian multi-campus university located in New South Wales, Victoria, and the Australian Capital Territory. It has campuses at Bathurst, Canberra, Albury-Wodonga, Dubbo, Goulburn, Orange, Wagga Wagga and Burlington, Ontario...
. The same year he had a public disagreement with Cardinal George Pell
George Pell
George Pell AC is an Australian cardinal of the Roman Catholic Church. He is the eighth and current Archbishop of Sydney, serving since 2001. He previously served as auxiliary bishop and archbishop of the Archdiocese of Melbourne...
on the topic of radical environmentalism
Radical environmentalism
Radical environmentalism, is a grassroots branch of the larger environmental movement that emerged out of an ecocentrism-based frustration with the co-option of mainstream environmentalism...
, which Pell had characterised as a form of pagan emptiness.
He retired as Bishop of Canberra and Goulburn in February 2008. In May 2008 the Bishop of Salisbury
Bishop of Salisbury
The Bishop of Salisbury is the ordinary of the Church of England's Diocese of Salisbury in the Province of Canterbury.The diocese covers much of the counties of Wiltshire and Dorset...
, England, licensed him as priest in charge of the Wriggle Valley benefice in the county of Dorset
Dorset
Dorset , is a county in South West England on the English Channel coast. The county town is Dorchester which is situated in the south. The Hampshire towns of Bournemouth and Christchurch joined the county with the reorganisation of local government in 1974...
where he remained for a year.
Browning and his wife Margaret have three adult sons, Philip, Richard and Timothy and two adopted daughters, Pat and Chris.