Donald Robinson (bishop)

The Most Reverend Donald Robinson AO
Diocese	Sydney
In office	1982 (1982)–1992 (1992)
Predecessor	Marcus Loane
Successor	Harry Goodhew
Other post(s)	Bishop of Parramatta (1973–1982)
Orders
Ordination	1950
Consecration	1973
Personal details
Born	Donald William Bradley Robinson (1922-11-09)9 November 1922 Lithgow, New South Wales, Australia
Died	7 September 2018(2018-09-07) (aged 95) North Turramurra, New South Wales, Australia
Nationality	Australian
Spouse	Marie Robinson (née Taubman)
Education	North Sydney Boys High School Sydney Church of England Grammar School
Alma mater	University of Sydney Queens' College, Cambridge

Donald William Bradley Robinson AO (9 November 1922 – 7 September 2018^[1]) was an Australian bishop in the Anglican Church of Australia. He was Archbishop of Sydney from 1982 to 1992.^[2]

Family and education

Robinson was born in Lithgow, New South Wales on 9 November 1922,^[1] the son of Richard Bradley Robinson, sometime Archdeacon of North Sydney. His first year of secondary school studies was at North Sydney Boys High School;^[3] he was then educated at Sydney Church of England Grammar School, the University of Sydney^[4] and Queens' College, Cambridge. His undergraduate studies were interrupted by service in World War II.^[5] His niece is the retired actress and working psychologist Belinda Bauer.

Ordained ministry

Robinson was ordained in 1950 by Howard Mowll, Archbishop of Sydney,^[5] and began his ministry with curacies at St Matthew's, Manly^[6] and St Philip's Church, Sydney.^[7] He was then a lecturer and vice-principal at Moore College^[8][9] and later at Sydney University until 1973 when he became the Bishop of Parramatta. He was consecrated a bishop on 25 January 1973 at St Andrew's Cathedral, Sydney.^[5] Nine years later he was elected as Archbishop of Sydney and the Metropolitan of New South Wales.

Michael Jensen argues that, along with that of Bill Dumbrell and Graeme Goldsworthy, Robinson's work "has been crucial for shaping how Sydney Anglicans think about and preach from the Bible."^[10]

Robinson was made an Officer of the Order of Australia in 1984.^[11]

References

1. Powell, Russell. "Passing of a leader who made 'immeasurable' contribution". Sydney Anglicans. Retrieved 7 September 2018.
2. "Biographical cuttings on Donald William Bradley Robinson, Most Reverend, Archbishop of Sydney. 1982-1993, containing one or more cuttings from newspapers or journals". National Library of Australia.
3. 1955 Societas Magazine of Moore Theological College contains a biography of Donald William Bradley Robinson. p. 17 states: "Leaving Chatswood School, he commenced his secondary education at North Sydney Boys' High School. It was here that Donald started Greek - this was to prove most valuable in the years to come. .... The next year found D.W.B. at Sydney Church of England Grammar School, entering on the Archbishop's Scholarship for Clergy sons."
4. Who's Who 2008. London: A & C Black. 2008. ISBN 978-0-7136-8555-8.
5. "Meet the assistant bishops" in Southern Cross, September 1981. pp. 28–29
6. "St Matthew's Manly website". Archived from the original on 23 March 2010. Retrieved 3 October 2010.
7. Crockford's Clerical Directory. Lambeth: Church House. 1975–76. ISBN 0-19-200008-X.
8. Dictionary of Sydney
9. "About the Donald Robinson Library". Donald Robinson Library. Moore College. Retrieved 11 April 2018.
10. Jensen, Michael P. (2012). Sydney Anglicanism: An Apology. Wipf and Stock. p. 30. ISBN 9781610974653. Retrieved 25 September 2017.
11. "The Most Reverend Donald William Bradley ROBINSON". Australian Honours Search Facility, Dept of the Prime Minister and Cabinet. Retrieved 6 November 2020.

Religious titles
Preceded by Marcus Loane	Archbishop of Sydney 1982–1992	Succeeded by Harry Goodhew