Kanishka Raffel

British-born Australian Anglican priest (born 1964)

  • 1996 (as deacon)
    by Harry Goodhew
  • 1996 (as priest)[1]
    by George Browning
Consecration28 May 2021
by Geoffrey SmithPersonal detailsBorn
Kanishka de Silva Raffel

(1964-11-06) 6 November 1964 (age 59)[2]
London, United Kingdom[2]
NationalityAustralianSpouseCaileyChildren2Previous post(s)Dean of Sydney (4 February 2016 – 28 May 2021)Alma mater
  • University of Sydney (BA (Hons), LLB)
  • Moore Theological College (BD Hons, Dip Min, MA (Theology))

Kanishka de Silva Raffel (born 6 November 1964) is a British-born Australian Anglican bishop of Sri Lankan descent, who has served as the Anglican Archbishop of Sydney since 28 May 2021.[3][4][5] He previously served as the 12th Dean of St Andrew's Cathedral, Sydney from 4 February 2016 until his installation as archbishop.[6][7]

Early life and education

Raffel was born on 6 November 1964[2] in London, England, to Sri Lankan parents, father, Lorenz a tea plantation supervisor and mother, Lilamani, a doctor.[8] They moved to Canada for a brief period but found it too cold and emigrated to Australia in 1972.[5][8]

Raised a Buddhist,[9] a friend, Andrew Shead, gave him a copy of the Gospel of John when in his third year of his arts-law degree at university.[8] At the age of 21, Raffel was convinced by the words of Jesus in John's Gospel: "No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws them, and I will raise them up at the last day" (John 6:44).[6]

Raffel graduated from the University of Sydney with English honours in 1986[1] and in Law, in 1989.[10] After graduation Raffel practised law at Blake Dawson Waldron (which became Ashurst) for two and a half years.[11][12] He then trained at Moore Theological College, graduating with a Bachelor of Divinity (BD) and Diploma of Ministry in 1996.[1]

Ordained ministry

Raffel was ordained deacon in 1996 in the Anglican Diocese of Sydney, and priest in 1996 in the Anglican Diocese of Canberra and Goulburn.[1] He served at St Matthew's Church, Wanniassa from 1996 to 1999,[1] and then moved to the Anglican Diocese of Perth where he served for 16 years (1999-2016) as rector of St Matthew's Church, Shenton Park.[6] He obtained a Master of Arts in Theology from Moore Theological College in 2010.[1]

Dean of Sydney

Raffel was appointed Dean of St Andrew's Cathedral in 2016 and installed in that position on 4 February 2016. He was the first person from a non-European background to hold the position.[6]

As dean, Raffel was an active spokesman for Christianity, appearing on ABC radio[13][14] and on ABC TV's The Drum.[15] In 2021 he led the Sydney diocese's service commemorating the death of Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh.[5]

Archbishop of Sydney

As early as 2019, the Sydney Morning Herald had described Raffel as one of the "leading contenders" for the position of Anglican Archbishop of Sydney.[16] In 2021, he was announced as one of four nominees to replace Glenn Davies, alongside three bishops: the Bishop of North Sydney Chris Edwards, the Bishop of Wollongong Peter Hayward, and the Bishop of South Sydney Michael Stead.[17] On 6 May 2021, Raffel was elected to the position, at a special election synod.[3][4][18]

On 28 May 2021, Raffel was consecrated a bishop by Geoffrey Smith, and installed as archbishop in Sydney's St Andrew's Cathedral.[19][20] He is the first person from a non-European background to hold the diocesan bishop's position.[4][5][21]

Other roles

Raffel holds a number of other roles, including:

Personal life

Raffel is married to Cailey, and has two daughters.[7]

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f Earngey, Mark E., ed. (2021). "Nominee Snapshot: Kanishka Raffel" (PDF). Australian Church Record. Autumn 2021 (1925): 34. Retrieved 8 May 2021.
  2. ^ a b c "Diocesan Bishops and Archbishops of Australia and Sydney". Sydney Diocesan Archives. Anglican Diocese of Sydney. Retrieved 28 May 2021.
  3. ^ a b Powell, Russell (6 May 2021). ""Like every Christian, I gladly trust in Jesus."". Sydney Anglicans. Anglican Diocese of Sydney. Retrieved 6 May 2021.
  4. ^ a b c McEachen, Ben (6 May 2021). "Why they picked Kanishka Raffel as new Sydney Anglican Archbishop". Eternity News. Retrieved 6 May 2021.
  5. ^ a b c d "Kanishka Raffel new Archbishop of Sydney". Canberra Times. Australian Community Media. Australian Associated Press. 7 May 2021. Retrieved 8 May 2021.
  6. ^ a b c d Kembrey, Melanie (7 February 2016). "New Anglican Dean of Sydney, Kanishka Raffel, installed at St Andrew's Cathedral". Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 2 March 2016.
  7. ^ a b "Staff". St Andrew's Cathedral. Retrieved 29 March 2021.
  8. ^ a b c Baker, Jordan (5 August 2022). "Charming and unapologetic: Sydney's Anglican archbishop isn't afraid to be out of step with the times". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 5 August 2022.
  9. ^ "A very surprised Christian". CMS Australia. 5 May 2018. Retrieved 14 April 2021.
  10. ^ Mackinolty, John; Mackinolty, Judy, eds. (1991). A Century Downtown : Sydney University Law School's first hundred years (PDF). Sydney: Sydney University Law School. p. 253. ISBN 0909777225.
  11. ^ Sheridan, Greg (15 May 2021). "Sydney Archbishop Kanishka Raffel's devotion to peace". The Australian. News Corp Australia. Retrieved 12 June 2021.
  12. ^ Collins, Melanie, ed. (2016). "Get to know your school council member" (PDF). Inspire (4): 6.
  13. ^ "The Interview: Rev Kanishka Raffel - Interview from Sunday Nights NLR - (ABC)". Sunday Nights. 13 March 2016. Retrieved 15 April 2021.
  14. ^ Kohn, Rachel (28 February 2016). "The Dean's Story". ABC Radio National. Australian Broadcasting Corporation. Retrieved 27 April 2021.
  15. ^ "The Drum: Wednesday 16th of October". www.abc.net.au. Retrieved 15 April 2021.
  16. ^ Koziol, Michael (20 October 2019). "'Crisis point': the Anglican church is riven by worse divisions than ever before". Sydney Morning Herald. Nine Entertainment Co. Retrieved 27 April 2021.
  17. ^ Powell, Russell (24 March 2021). "Four in line for Archbishop's election". Sydney Anglicans. Sydney Anglicans. Retrieved 15 November 2023.
  18. ^ "As Nominee for the Office of Archbishop of Sydney". Introducing Kanishka Raffel. Retrieved 14 April 2021.
  19. ^ Jensen, Michael (9 May 2021). "Sydney's new Anglican Archbishop faces an enormous task". Sydney Morning Herald. Nine Entertainment Co. Retrieved 28 May 2021.
  20. ^ Powell, Russell. "Historic consecration of Sydney Archbishop – Ozlanka". Ozlanka. Retrieved 13 May 2022.
  21. ^ Koziol, Michael (9 May 2021). "Anglicans elect migrant, former-Buddhist, person of colour as Archbishop of Sydney". Sydney Morning Herald. Nine Entertainment Co. Retrieved 28 May 2021.
  22. ^ "Standing Committee | Anglican Church of Australia". anglican.org.au. Retrieved 29 March 2021.
  23. ^ "Board – Gafcon Australia". Retrieved 29 March 2021.
  24. ^ "Council". The Gospel Coalition | Australia. Retrieved 29 March 2021.
  25. ^ "About". ardfa.org.au. Retrieved 29 March 2021.
  26. ^ pwd. "Governance". Retrieved 29 March 2021.
Anglican Communion titles
Preceded by Archbishop of Sydney
2021–present 		Incumbent
Preceded by Dean of Sydney
2016–2021 		Succeeded by
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