ABM Celebrates 175 years of God’s mission
October 2025 will be remembered by many for the wonderful celebrations of mission that were held across the country with the celebrations capped off with a wonderful service at St James’, King Street, Sydney and a memorable dinner at NSW Parliament House.
ABM would like to thank everyone who helped make these events such a success – from the organisers to those who attended. Well done!
Maryborough
Maryborough Auxiliary started the month with a special service attended by the Rt Rev’d Sarah Plowman, Bishop of the Northern Region in the Anglican Church of Southern Queensland. Over 40 people attended the service and enjoyed a splendid afternoon tea while hearing about Bishop Sarah’s visit to the Philippines earlier in the year.
Adelaide and Perth
In Perth and Adelaide the local ABM Committees held special functions along with Evensong in their Cathedrals on Sunday 26 October. ABM supporters gathered to remember and reflect on 175 years of mission and heard Archbishops Geoff and Kay preach.
Across the country
Cathedrals and parishes across the country remembered ABM during their Sunday services using the resources ABM provided for them. The Anglican Parish of Bateau Bay was one of them, having a special cake after their service to celebrate. The liturgical resources can be used for any Sunday where the work of mission is to be highlighted.
Sydney
On Wednesday 29 October, St James’, King Street, was filled with over 300 ABM supporters from across Australia and representatives from many of our Australian and international partners. You can view a recording of the service at this youtube link: https://www.youtube.com/live/LSsIygpn4xA?si=kA1RDu0c1-TTKiXo. Or you can view Archbishop Geoff Smith’s sermon here.
The three hundred-plus-strong congregation sang three hymns very heartily: Christ is Made the Sure Foundation (to Henry Purcell’s tune, ‘Westminster Abbey’), Lord you gave the Great Commission (to Cyril Taylor’s ‘Abbots Leigh’), and O Praise ye the Lord (to Hubert Parry’s ‘Laudate Dominum’). The choir sang preces and responses by Bernard Rose, Charles Stanford’s Evening Canticles in B flat, and Charles Wood’s ‘Hail, Gladdening Light’ as the anthem. The Occasional Prayers were led by a former Chair of the Board, Associate Professor Michael Horsburgh.
During the dinner at Parliament House, ten people received a Coaldrake Award in recognition of their service to God’s mission through ABM.
The dinner was a wonderful and convivial time which people used to catch up with friends from near and far, and to meet people who were from all over Australia and beyond. Many of the Bishops of the Anglican Church of Australia were in attendance, including the Archbishop Kay Goldsworthy from Perth and Archbishop Jeremy Greaves from Brisbane. Archbishop Jeremy gave a speech which was both reflective and looking to the future.
Among the guests who blessed us by their presence were representatives from some of ABM’s Activity Partners (those with whom we have current program work). The Anglican Church of Melanesia was represented by the General Secretary, Dr Abraham Hauriasi and his wife Mercy. (The bishops of the province were celebrating the centenary of the Melanesian Brotherhood which occurred on 28 October.) The Anglican Church of Papua New Guinea was represented by the Acting Archbishop, Nathan Ingen and his wife Jesicah, as well as Michael Ambo, ACPNG’s Church Partnership Program Coordinator. The Episcopal Church in the Philippines was well represented by the Prime Bishop, the Most Rev Nestor Poltic and his wife Florence, the Bishop of the Southern Philippines, Ernie Moral, and Dr Floyd Lalwet and his wife Marcy. Dr Lalwet wears three hats as the General Secretary for ECP, the Chancellor (the Prime Bishop’s legal advisor), and National Development Officer (the head of ECARE, Episcopal Community Action for Renewal and Empowerment). The Church of the Province of Myanmar was represented by the Bishop of Toungoo, the Rt Rev Dr Saw Shee Sho. Unfortunately, a visa was not also granted for the Bishop of Mandalay, the Rt Rev David Nyi Nyi Naing. The former Chancellor for the Church of the Province of Myanmar, Sar Htoo, and her husband, Saw Fabian, now resident in Australia were also in attendance.
Our Relational Partners (those with whom we have historic links) were represented by the Primate of the Anglican Church of Korea and Bishop of Busan, the Rt Rev Onesimus Dong-shin Park; the Bishop of Kuching (part of the Church of the Province of South-East Asia), the Rt Rev Datuk Danald Jute and his wife, Julita; and Fr Kenneth Lau, the Provincial Secretary for the Hong Kong Sheng Kung Hui, the Anglican Church of Hong Kong.
Some of our Networking Partners (those who are other Anglican mission agencies, pan-Anglican organisations, or ecumenical development agencies) were also present: the Rev Michael Hartfield from Anglican Missions / Anglican World Aid Aotearoa New Zealand, Dr Elizabeth Perry, the Programmes Director from the Anglican Alliance for Development, Relief and Advocacy (based in London) and Dr Robert Radke, the President of Episcopal Relief and Development (based in New York).
We were also blessed to be joined by two Religious Orders: the Minister General of the Order of St Francis, Br Christopher John SSF represented the Anglican Franciscans, and Br Zebedee Tausabe MBH, who is now working in the Diocese of North Queensland, represented the Melanesian Brotherhood.
More photos from the dinner will be available from www.abmission.org/175th-anniversary/ once they are ready for sharing.
The Maryborough Auxiliary celebrated 175 years of ABM with a special cake. © M Zackeresen. Used with permission.
Maryborough Auxiliary members with Bishop Sarah Plowman and the Rev’d Sue Wilson: L-R (front) Maureen Warton and Robin de Lange (back) Pauline Nelson, Noela Thomson, Bishop Sarah Plowman, Rev’d Sue Wilson and Helen Grevell. © M Zackeresen. Used with permission.
Supporters from across the Province of SA enjoyed a High Tea in the Cynthia Poulton Hall before Evensong at St Peter’s Cathedral, Adelaide. © ABM.
Bishop Chris McLeod (far L, Dean of Adelaide Cathedral and National Aboriginal Bishop) with (L-R) the Rev’d Paul Devenport (Chair of SA Provincial ABM Committee), the Rev’d Cameron Burr (Chair of NATSIAC) and the Rev’d Canon Stephen Daughtry (ABM Education Missioner). © ABM.
Mrs Lyn and the Most Rev’d Geoff Smith (L) with the Rev’d Louise and Andrew Lang (from Willochra Diocese). © ABM.
Archbishop Kay (centre) surrounded by Cathedral clergy and the Diocesan Mission Committee after the Evensong commemorating ABM’s 175th anniversary. © Diocese of Perth. Used with permission.
Former ABM missionary and Board member, Judith Cottier AM, reading a lesson at St George’s Cathedral during the Evensong commemorating ABM’s 175th anniversary. © Diocese of Perth. Used with permission.
The Anglican Parish of Bateau Bay in Newcastle Diocese celebrated with a cake after their service. Cutting the cake are the Rev’d Canon Michelle Hazel-Jawhary and Mission Secretary Linda Artist.
ABM supporters and partners filled St James’ King St for a celebratory Evensong on 29 October. © ABM.
The Rev’d Dr John Deane (L) and the Rev’d Andrew Sempell (R) presented ten Coaldrake medals to former ABM staff and volunteers in recognition of their service to ABM. © ABM.
The Archbishop of Brisbane, the Most Rev’d Jeremy Greaves, addresses the audience at the 175th Anniversary dinner. Photo © ABM
ABM partners presented a number of beautiful gifts in honour of the 175th anniversary. © ABM.
