The new Archbishop of Melbourne Ric Thorpe is no stranger to change. He's an accomplished church planter and until very recently served as the Bishop of Islington. But even with that experience, he still admits that moving with his wife over 10,000 across the world is both exciting and daunting.

Thorpe grew up going to church and as a schoolboy attended a boarding school where chapel was mandatory. It was only when he reached university that he encountered the Christian Union made some lifelong friends and had a deep and personal relationship with Jesus for the first time that set him off on a deeper relationship with God.

After university he put a promising career with Unilever on hold to work at a Christian bookstore at Holy Trinity Brompton in London for 2 hours a week, eventually becoming ordained and later rising to bishop.

His passion and experience for church planting gave him a name following a successful church plant from HTB to St Paul's Church in Shadwell which combined with an openness to listen to different traditions, particularly around prayer.

Now, in his new role he is the first bishop to be installed as the Anglican Archbishop of Melbourne in Australia in nearly 70 years.

In this episode of the Profile he speaks to Premier Radio's David Senior, himself a Church of England priest, about his Christian walk and how we need to be bolder in talking about the hope that Jesus brings, as he insists, "don't let the costs stop you."

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Released on 11 Dec 2025