• Chaplaincy at Trinity

College Chaplain answers a new call

Tuesday 30 January 2007

The Revd Dr Richard Treloar, Chaplain of Trinity College for the last four years, has been appointed Vicar of Christ Church, South Yarra, commencing in May.

Richard will be taking accrued study leave from early March but until then is working closely with Foundation Studies Chaplain, the Revd Kim Cruickshank and recently appointed Residential College Chaplain, the Revd Robin Elliott, in planning key events for first semester.

As both priest and scholar, Richard has given outstanding leadership to the College’s highly capable Chaplaincy team – charged with providing pastoral care for the whole College community and ensuring that the Chapel is a lively centre of worship where all are welcome – while also teaching in the Theological School as Stewart Lecturer in Theology.

Richard Treloar trained for ministry in the Trinity College Theological School and was both a resident (1988) and non-resident (1989–90) student. Following his ordination, he served in a number of parishes in the Dioceses of Ballarat and Melbourne before returning to Trinity in 1998 as Associate Chaplain and Turner Research Fellow and Lecturer in the Theological School.

A keen sportsman, Richard also enjoyed contributing to the life of the College through his seven-year stint as a member of the College squash team which won five Intercollegiate premierships during that period.

In 2003, he was appointed College Chaplain, succeeding the Revd Dr David Cole. In the same year he was awarded his PhD by Monash University for a thesis focussing on Hebrew biblical narrative (principally the book of Esther), which has also been accepted for publication in the Australian Theological Forum Press Dissertation Series. Richard has served on the World Council of Churches Faith and Order Standing Commission since 2002, has presented papers at several local and international conferences and written articles for a number of journals.

The College community has been the richer for Richard’s gentle and sincere ministry, his great intellectual capacity, his attention to detail and his warm friendship. We wish him well in his new role, and know he will continue to serve the Church with dedication and distinction.