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Brian Norris, the Diocesan Registrar, was ordained deacon by Bishop Goldsworthy at St Paul’s Cathedral Sale on Saturday 2 December 2017. He will serve as an ordained local minister at the Cathedral.

Brian Norris was born at Dubbo NSW in June 1943 and grew up in Gilgandra and Goulburn NSW. He is the eldest of four brothers and two sisters four of whom are still living. He is married to Kerrie and they share their home with 3 cats. He was previously married to Judy with whom he had two daughters who are now well and truly adults.

He has worked as a bank officer, a Commonwealth Public Servant and for almost 35 years as a Diocesan Registrar in Canberra and Gippsland. His Christian journey began with his baptism at St Alban’s, Gilgandra a church run by the Bush Brothers. In Goulburn he became a Cathedral Chorister at St Saviour’s Cathedral where he was also confirmed by Bishop Burgmann. He was active in youth groups, helped tune the Cathedral organ and wrote a psalm tune. Here his love of church music began which has nourished his faith throughout his life. After a short period in the bank around southern NSW he went to St John’s Theological College at Morpeth in NSW at the age of 19 to train for the ministry. Here, he took a great liking for Greek, biblical and liturgical studies, was the laundry manager and later the Choirmaster and assistant organist.

After finishing his studies, he was too young to be ordained as a deacon so the Bishop suggested he join the public service for a while. After 16 years of this he became Registrar of the Diocese of Canberra & Goulburn and the after a further 20 years, Registrar of Gippsland. Brian retains the daily routine of the daily office learnt in college, appreciates the writing of Thomas Merton and retains a strong interest in biblical and liturgical studies. He hopes to continue participating in ministry to small communities and in aged care as well as at the Cathedral. His ordination today is the fulfilment of a journey begun over 50 years ago.