David John Leyburn Richardson

Infobox Person
name = David Richardson ChStJ


image_size = 193px
birth_place = Townsville, Queensland, Australia
occupation = Anglican Priest
nationality = Australian

The Very Revd David Richardson 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 John Leyburn Richardson, ChStJ (Chaplain of the Order of St John), was born in Queensland, Australia, but spent most of his childhood in North Devon and then the Midlands where his father worked as a priest. David finished his schooling in Brisbane.

After studying English literature at the University of Queensland, David trained in theology at St Barnabas’ College in Adelaide, Melbourne College of Divinity and then received his postgraduate diploma in Pastoral Theology at the University of Birmingham in the UK.

David remained in the UK and served his curacy at Great St Mary’s, the University Church in Cambridge whilst also becoming a chaplain at Girton College in the university from 1976-1979. He then returned to St Barnabas’ theological college as Sub-Warden where he taught New Testament Studies, Liturgy and Pastoral Care & Spirituality until 1982. For the next five years, David was the Rector of St Lucia’s in Brisbane.

Cathedral Dean

In 1988 David was invited to become the Dean of St Peter’s Cathedral Adelaide at which he served for eleven years before becoming the Dean of St Paul's Cathedral Melbourne in 1999. As dean, he led a mulit-million dollar public appeal to restore the Cathedral's spires 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 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. [http://www.stpaulscathedral.org.au/dean.html St Paul's Cathedral website - Dean's Diary]

David was for ten years the clerical representative for Australia on the Anglican Consultative Council (1992-2002). For twenty-five years he also served on the Australian National Liturgical Commission and was its Executive Secretary for fifteen years. David also served for fifteen years on the ecumenical body, the Australian Consultation on Liturgy.

Current role

In December 2007, David was appointed as Representative of Archbishop of Canterbury Rowan Williams to the Holy See and Director of the Anglican Centre in Rome. He was installed in his new position by the Archbishop on 7 May 2008 in a ceremony in the Church of Santa Maria Spora Minerva. [ [http://www.anglicancommunion.org/acns/news.cfm/2008/5/6/ACNS4400 Anglican Communion News Service: Archbishop of Canterbury - 'friendly meeting' with Pope Benedict ] ]

References

External links

* [http://www.anglicancentreinrome.org The Anglican Centre in Rome]