[Diocese of Melbourne by Roland Ashby and Mark Brolly] Bishop Barbara Darling, a pioneer of women’s ministry and the first woman to be consecrated a bishop in Victoria, has died, aged 67.
Family and friends were with Bishop Darling at Monash Medical Centre in Clayton when she died at 11.20am on Sunday, 15 February, after a stroke while at home eight days earlier.
Her funeral will be at St Paul’s Cathedral, where she was Senior Canon, at 5pm this Sunday, 22 February.
An announcement on the Cathedral website said: “The service is open to all who want to join with us in celebrating the life and ministry of a much-loved Bishop, pastor, family member and friend.”
Doors open at 4.15pm, with diocesan and visiting clergy invited to robe in alb and purple stole, cassock, surplice and scarf.
Dr Philip Freier, the Archbishop of Melbourne and Primate of Australia, had visited Bishop Darling during her final illness and anointed her a few days before her death.
“Her sudden and untimely death has shocked and saddened all who knew her and enjoyed her loving pastoral support, friendship and encouragement, within the Diocese of Melbourne, with her fellow Bishops, amongst the staff of the diocese and throughout Australian Anglicans,” said an email to clergy from Dr Freier’s office issued within an hour of Bishop Darling’s passing.
“We mourn her death and pray for her family and friends as they grieve her loss.
“May she rest in peace and rise in glory.”
Bishop Darling, who recently retired after more than five years as Bishop of the Eastern Region in the Anglican Diocese of Melbourne, was only the second woman to have been appointed a bishop in Australia. The first, Melbourne-born Bishop Kay Goldsworthy, is to become Bishop of Gippsland next month after many years working in the Diocese of Perth.
Bishop Darling was among the first women in Melbourne to be ordained a priest in 1992, in St Paul’s Cathedral. She was elected a Canon of St Paul’s in 1995 and appointed an Examining Chaplain in 1998.
Before becoming the Vicar of St James’ Dandenong in 2005, she was the Vicar of All Souls’ Sandringham for almost 10 years, from 1995-2005, and had been Minister in Charge and then Vicar of St Paul’s with All Saints, Ascot Vale, from 1989-1995.
She had many years’ experience as a teacher, including six years at secondary level, and 14 years as a lecturer at Ridley theological college in Parkville. Her qualifications included a Master of Arts from the University of Melbourne, a Bachelor of Arts and a Diploma in Education from the University of Sydney and a Licentiate of Theology with First-Class Honours from Ridley College.
When appointed to the episcopate almost seven years ago, she said that she had felt called by God to some form of Christian ministry from an early age, and gradually felt called to ordination, first as a deacon and then as a priest.
“I am now surprised and somewhat humbled, yet excited, about responding to the call to be a bishop”, she said.
Bishop Darling said she wanted to be a bishop who “walks alongside people”.
“Being aware of people’s concerns, fears and doubts and helping them to grow and develop, and to understand where God is in their lives, is very important to me.”
She was also passionate about sharing the Good News of Jesus Christ. “I love teaching and making the Gospel relevant to people’s lives and in the Australia of today”, she said.
Bishop Darling died during the Cathedral’s regular 10.30am Sunday Choral Eucharist at which the Dean, the Very Revd Dr Andreas Loewe, was preaching. News of her passing came after the conclusion of the service.
Dr Loewe said he had visited Bishop Darling in hospital and spoke of the peace he felt there.
“We need not be saints or bishops to share in the gifts God gives us, though in our journeys of discipleship we will become the former – saints – and, if God calls you to that ministry, you may become the latter – a bishop,” he said. “God invites all people to share the seeds of eternal life, to let these seeds set down roots and grow within us. As we give thanks for the abundant harvest of God’s gifts in the life of his servant Barbara Darling, it is my prayer for you and for me that we also might recommit ourselves to Christ, put our trust in the One who calls us to be remade, renewed and transformed in him, ‘from one degree of glory into another’, until we finally come to share his glory face to face in his presence.”
Archbishop Glenn Davies of Sydney paid tribute to the Sydney-born Bishop Darling as “a pioneer of extraordinary gifts and talents”.
“Originally from Sydney, after some years spent as a teacher in NSW, Barbara moved to Melbourne and pursued theological studies at Ridley College under Dr Leon Morris,” Archbishop Davies said. “Her intellect and gracious disposition combined with both passion and giftedness for teaching were quickly recognised by Dr Morris, as she was offered a teaching contract at Ridley upon her graduation, and later became the first tenured female lecturer at Ridley College.
“Barbara was a pioneer for women's ordination, having been in the first cohort of women to be made deacon in Melbourne in 1986, and six years later among the first to be ordained priest, and then Barbara became the first woman to be consecrated bishop in the Diocese of Melbourne in 2008.
“Yet Barbara never displayed a militant advocacy for the ordination of women. Her first joy was to serve her Saviour in whatever capacity he called to her to. A committed Evangelical, Barbara was able to maintain good relationships with those who held different views from her own.”
Archbishop Davies said Bishop Darling would be sorely missed not only by the Diocese of Melbourne but by the national church as well and concluded his tribute with verse 15 from Psalm 116: “Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of his saints.”