Bishop George Browning

The Right Reverend George Victor Browning was elected 9th Bishop of Canberra and Goulburn on 31 January 1993. He was installed in this position on 30 May 1993.

Bishop Browning was born in Brighton, England on 28 September 1942. His family were dairy farmers in Sussex. He attended Ardingly College and Lewes County Grammar School, both in Sussex, before coming to Australia in 1960. He first worked as a jackeroo and stud groom.

He studied at St John's Theological College, Morpeth, where he obtained a Th L with first class honours. He was made deacon in 1966 and ordained priest in 1967.

He became Assistant Priest in Inverell, NSW (1966), Assistant Priest at Armidale Cathedral (1968), and Vicar at Warialda, NSW (1969). In 1973 he became Vice-Principal of St John's Theological College, Morpeth, where he was also Acting Principal (1974).

In 1976 he became Rector of Singleton, NSW. He was appointed Archdeacon of the Upper Hunter (New South Wales) in 1982. In 1984 he became Rector of Woy Woy and Archdeacon of the Central Coast of New South Wales.

He was consecrated as Bishop on 21 September 1985, and served as Bishop of the Northern Region in the Diocese of Brisbane until 1992 when he became responsible for the Coastal Region. From 1988 to 1991 he was also Principal of St Francis Theological College, Milton, Queensland.

In 2005, Bishop Browning became Convenor of the Anglican Communion Environmental Network.

His involvement with the community includes: Member, Review Committee, Australian Honours System 1995; Board Member, Australian Centre for Christianity and Culture; Co-chair, Canberra Community Foundation; Co-chair, Canberra Bushfire Recovery Appeal; Honorary Ambassador for Canberra; Member, Ethics Committee, Australian Institute of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Studies; Member, Advisory Council, Climate Institute of Australia; Chair, Centre for an Ethical Society; Honorary Member, Ginninderra Rotary Club.

Bishop Browning is married to Margaret and they have three adult sons, Philip, Richard, and Timothy, and two adopted daughters, Pat and Chris.

He lists his recreations as running, squash, bee-keeping and bushwalking.

On 2 February 2008 Bishop George handed back the pastoral staff of the Diocese and is on Long Service Leave until his retirement in August 2008.