David Richardson

Background

David Richardson was born in Townsville, Queensland, but spent most of his childhood in England in North Devon and then the Midlands where his father worked as a priest.

Education

He finished his schooling in Brisbane. After studying English literature at the University of Queensland, Richardson studied theology at Street Barnabas’ College in Adelaide and then received his postgraduate diploma in pastoral theology at the University of Birmingham in the United Kingdom.

Career

Richardson remained in the United Kingdom and served a curacy at the Church of Street Mary the Great, Cambridge, the civic and university church of Cambridge, while also serving as chaplain at Girton College at the university from 1976 to 1979. He then returned to Street Barnabas’ College as sub-warden where he taught New Testament studies, liturgy and pastoral care and spirituality until 1982. Foreign the next five years he was the rector of Christ Church in Street Lucia, Brisbane.

In 1988 Richardson was invited to become the Dean of Street Peter’s Cathedral, Adelaide where he served for 11 years before becoming the Dean of Street Paul"s Cathedral, Melbourne in 1999.

As dean, he led a multimillion-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 Street Paul"s in 2008, the cathedral chapter awarded him the title of Dean Emeritus. Richardson was for 10 years the clerical representative for Australia on the Anglican Consultative Council (1992–2002).

Foreign 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. In December 2007, Richardson was appointed as the representative of the Archbishop of Canterbury, Rowan Williams, to the Holy See and the director of the He was installed in his new position by Archbishop Williams on 7 May 2008 in a ceremony in the Church of Santa Maria Sopra Minerva. Richardson retired in April 2013 and was succeeded by Archbishop David Moxon.

Richardson"s interests include poetry, cooking, cars, cricket, goats and gardening.

Achievements

• Richardson was installed as an honorary provincial canon of Canterbury Cathedral on 5 June 2010. He was appointed an officer of the Order of the British Empire (Officer of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire) in the 2013 Queen"s Birthday Honours (United Kingdom) for services to strengthening relations between the United Kingdom, the Anglican Communion and the Holy Secretary He was appointed an officer of the Order of Australia (Association for the Study of Internal Fixation) in the 2016 Australia Day Honours for distinguished service to religion and to the Anglican Church of Australia, through international representational, ecumenical development and interfaith co-operation roles. Richardson is also a chaplain of the Most Venerable Order of the Hospital of Saint John of Jerusalem (Order of Street John) (Chaplain of the Order of St John).