Dear People and Friends of the Diocese of Wangaratta On 18 March I wrote to the Diocese sharing information regarding COVID-19 and the implications for corporate worship. Two weeks later I informed parishes that all services would be suspended temporarily and that our holiest week within the Christian calendar was not to be the…
The Diocesan office has a new home The registry staff have now settled in to their new location at 41 Ovens Sreet, Wangaratta and phones are back online. Thank you to everyone for being patient with us during this transition. To contact the Bishop or a member of the registry office please call 03 5721…
Bishop Clarence Bester has released an Ad Populum which states that all services and church activities have been postponed. You can read the Ad Populum here.
The Venerable Clarence Edgar Bester, currently Archdeacon of Wangaratta (Ministry Development) and Vicar of the parish of Wangaratta West and the Warbys, has been elected as the Eleventh Bishop of Wangaratta. The Diocese of Wangaratta covers North-East Victoria and the City of Albury in New South Wales. Clarence commenced ordained ministry in South Africa in…
A Sermon on the Occasion of my laying up the pastoral staff as the 10th Bishop of Wangaratta In 2002 I was riding my beloved Triumph Trophy to Bathurst to visit my dear friends then Dean Andrew and Rosemary Sempell and my god-daughter Kate at the Cathedral. Close to Katoomba I had a nasty accident…
Statement from the Diocesan Leadership Team of the Diocese of Wangaratta in response to the ‘Please leave us’ article in the Sydney Morning Herald. The Anglican Church has from its earliest times been a place which accommodates respectful debate and disagreement and the present process is one which gives the Church the chance to…
Introduction I bid you a very warm welcome to this third session of the thirty-ninth Synod of the Diocese of Wangaratta, my 11th and last. I begin by acknowledging the traditional owners of the land on which we meet and pay my respects to their elders, past, present and emerging. I acknowledge Auntie Betty who…
Each year since 1998 the Matthew McInnes Award has been presented during Synod to recognise outstanding service to youth of the Diocese of Wangaratta. The recipient in that first year was Ria Voorhaar from Albury. Ria’s name and those of all recipients since are recorded on an honour board located on near the baptistry of…
Safe Church Systems Implementation Assistant *POSITION NOW FILLED* The Diocese is looking for someone with good attention to detail to assist with implementation of our safety and data management systems. The position will work closely with the Safe Church and Systems Officer and other members of the Diocesan office to establish data tracking systems and…
BLESSING OF THE MELANESIAN BROTHERHOOD HOUSEHOLD IN SHEPPARTON On 7th April Archbishop Philip Freier and Bishop John Parkes blessed the newly formed Melanesian Brotherhood Household now established at St. Augustine’s Church Shepparton. The day started with Bp. John celebrating the Eucharist and licensing our two newest Brothers, Matthias (priest) and Augustine, who join Kelliot (priest)…