# Philip Freier

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{{Short description|Australian Anglican bishop}}{{BLP sources|date=May 2025}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2015}}
{{Use Australian English|date=August 2015}}
{{Infobox Christian leader
| type             = Archbishop
| honorific-prefix = {{pre-nominal styles|size=100%|MRevd}} 
| name             = Philip Freier
| title            = [Primate of Australia](/source/Anglican_Primate_of_Australia)<br />[Archbishop of Melbourne](/source/Anglican_Archbishop_of_Melbourne)
| image            = Philip Freier, Hobart, 2019 (01).jpg
| alt              = Archbishop Freier in 2019
| caption          = Freier in 2019
| church           = [Anglican Church of Australia](/source/Anglican_Church_of_Australia)
| province         = [Victoria](/source/Province_of_Victoria)
| diocese          = [Melbourne](/source/Anglican_Diocese_of_Melbourne)
| term             = 2014–2020 (as primate)<br />2006–2025 (as archbishop)
| predecessor      = [Phillip Aspinall](/source/Phillip_Aspinall) (as primate)<br />[Peter Watson](/source/Peter_Watson_(bishop)) (as archbishop)
| successor        = [Geoffrey Smith](/source/Geoffrey_Smith_(bishop)) (as primate)
<!--   Orders   -->
| ordination       = 1982
| ordinated_by     = 
| consecration     = 1999 (bishop)
| consecrated_by   = 
| rank             = 2006 (archbishop)
<!--   Personal details   -->
| birth_date       = {{birth date and age|1955|2|9|df=y}}
| birth_place      = [Brisbane](/source/Brisbane), [Queensland](/source/Queensland), Australia 
| birth_name       = Philip Leslie Freier
| nationality      = [Australia](/source/Australia)n
| religion         = [Anglicanism](/source/Anglicanism)
| death_date       = 
| death_place      = 
| previous_post    = [Bishop of the Northern Territory](/source/Diocese_of_the_Northern_Territory) (1999–2006)
| spouse           = Joy ''née'' Launder
| education        =
| alma_mater       = {{ubl|[Queensland Institute of Technology](/source/Queensland_Institute_of_Technology)|[University of Queensland](/source/University_of_Queensland)|[Melbourne College of Divinity](/source/Melbourne_College_of_Divinity)|[University of Newcastle](/source/University_of_Newcastle%2C_Australia)|[James Cook University](/source/James_Cook_University)}}
}}
thumb|right|120px|Insignia of ChStJ

'''Philip Leslie Freier''' (born 9 February 1955) is a retired Australian [Anglican](/source/Anglican) [bishop](/source/bishop). He was the 13th [Archbishop of Melbourne](/source/Anglican_Diocese_of_Melbourne) from 2006 until his retirement in 2025. He was [Primate of Australia](/source/Anglican_Primate_of_Australia) from June 2014<ref name="aus2014">{{cite web|url=http://www.theaustralian.com.au/news/nation/melbourne-archbishop-philip-freier-chosen-as-anglican-primate-of-australia/story-e6frg6nf-1226970037175|title=Melbourne Archbishop Dr Philip Freier chosen as Anglican Primate of Australia|work=The Australian|date=28 June 2014|url-status=dead|access-date=28 June 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140628145048/http://www.theaustralian.com.au/news/nation/melbourne-archbishop-philip-freier-chosen-as-anglican-primate-of-australia/story-e6frg6nf-1226970037175|archive-date=28 June 2014}}</ref> until March 2020.<ref name="Aspinall 2020">{{cite news |title=Anglican Church of Australia's Board of Electors to hold fresh election for primate |url=http://www.anglicannews.org/news/2020/03/anglican-church-of-australias-board-of-electors-to-hold-fresh-election-for-primate.aspx |accessdate=2 April 2020 |work=Anglican Communion News Service |publisher=Anglican Communion Office |date=31 March 2020}}</ref> Previously, he served as [Bishop of the Northern Territory](/source/Anglican_Diocese_of_the_Northern_Territory) between 1999 and 2006.{{citation needed|date= October 2023}}

==Early life, education and work==
Freier was born in [Brisbane](/source/Brisbane) where he attended [Hendra State High School](/source/Aviation_State_High_School) and was raised in the [Roman Catholic Church](/source/Roman_Catholic_Church).{{citation needed|date= October 2023}}

In addition to a [PhD](/source/PhD) from [James Cook University](/source/James_Cook_University), he has received the degrees of [Master of Educational Studies](/source/Master_of_Education) from the [University of Newcastle](/source/University_of_Newcastle%2C_Australia), [Bachelor of Divinity](/source/Bachelor_of_Divinity) from the [Melbourne College of Divinity](/source/Melbourne_College_of_Divinity), [Diploma of Education](/source/Diploma_of_Education) from the [University of Queensland](/source/University_of_Queensland) and [Bachelor of Applied Science](/source/Bachelor_of_Applied_Science) from the [Queensland Institute of Technology](/source/Queensland_Institute_of_Technology).{{citation needed|date= October 2023}}

Freier was elected a [fellow](/source/fellow) of the [Australian Institute of Company Directors](/source/Australian_Institute_of_Company_Directors) in 1995.<ref>{{cite web|title=Archbishop Philip Freier|url=http://www.melbourne.anglican.com.au/Whoweare/Archbishop/Pages/default.aspx|publisher=[Anglican Diocese of Melbourne](/source/Anglican_Diocese_of_Melbourne)|accessdate=25 June 2012}}</ref> He was a science teacher for six years prior to being [ordained](/source/ordination).{{citation needed|date= October 2023}}

==Ministry==
After his ordination in 1982, Freier was a [curate](/source/curate) in [Kowanyama, Queensland](/source/Kowanyama%2C_Queensland), followed by five years as the [rector](/source/Rector_(ecclesiastical)) of St Oswald's [Banyo](/source/Banyo%2C_Queensland), before becoming the rector of Christ Church [Bundaberg](/source/Bundaberg). During his time in Kowanyama he studied and became a fluent speaker of one of the local indigenous languages, the [Koko-Bera language](/source/Koko-Bera_language) and is now one of only approximately 50 speakers of this endangered tongue.{{citation needed|date= October 2023}}

In 1999, Freier was elected as the [Bishop of the Northern Territory](/source/Diocese_of_the_Northern_Territory) and consecrated on 22 July at [St&nbsp;John's Cathedral (Brisbane)](/source/St%26nbsp%3BJohn's_Cathedral_(Brisbane)).<ref>{{cite web |url=http://anglicanarchives.org.au/HDMS-HTML/SPSES257.htm |title=Archived copy |website=anglicanarchives.org.au |access-date=13 January 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130410114708/http://anglicanarchives.org.au/HDMS-HTML/SPSES257.htm |archive-date=10 April 2013 |url-status=dead}}</ref> As a supporter of the [indigenous Australian communities](/source/Indigenous_Australians) he pledged to support the [Stolen Generations](/source/Stolen_Generations) during their healing process.<ref>[http://www.abc.net.au/sundaynights/stories/s1850675.htm Time in the Northern Territory]</ref> In April 2014, he wrote an opinion piece in [Fairfax Media](/source/Fairfax_Media) newspapers criticising the Australian government's "[Operation Sovereign Borders](/source/Operation_Sovereign_Borders)" policy which places children in immigration detention, arguing that "churches cannot be silent" and must care for "the alien, orphan and widow".<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.smh.com.au/comment/suffer-the-children-they-have-no-asylum-20140417-zqvtu.html|title=Suffer the children, they have no asylum|author=Philip Freier|date=17 April 2014|work=[Sydney Morning Herald](/source/Sydney_Morning_Herald)}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.smh.com.au/federal-politics/political-news/stop-the-suffering-of-children-in-detention-says-archbishop-philip-freier-20140417-36utp.html|title='Stop the suffering of children in detention', says Archbishop Philip Freier|date=18 April 2014|author=Kate Hagan|work=Sydney Morning Herald}}</ref> Freier has criticised large corporate banks in Australia, arguing that wealth creation should not be "separated from moral and social responsibility" and criticised the [Abbott government](/source/Abbott_government) for "privileging the financial interest of corporations".<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.canberratimes.com.au/federal-politics/society-and-culture/fair-distribution-of-wealth-will-enrich-australian-society-20120411-1ws4y.html|title=Fair distribution of wealth will enrich Australian society|date=12 April 2012|author=Philip Freier|work=Canberra Times}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.news.com.au/finance/easter-roasting-for-banks-and-miners-from-dr-philip-freier-archbishop-of-melbourne/story-e6frfm1i-1226320348561|title=Easter roasting from bishops for 24/7 news, social media, banks and miners|date=6 April 2012|work=[News.com.au](/source/News.com.au)}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.canberratimes.com.au/comment/budget-backlash-shows-we-still-value-the-fair-go-20140606-zrzus.html|title=Budget backlash shows we still value the fair go|author=Phillip Freier|date=6 June 2014|work=Canberra Times}}</ref>

Freier has been a [chaplain](/source/chaplain) to the [Royal Australian Air Force Reserve](/source/Royal_Australian_Air_Force) since 2001.<ref>[http://www.defenceanglicans.org.au/the-case-for-god/ www.defenceanglicans.org.au] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150402163522/http://www.defenceanglicans.org.au/the-case-for-god/ |date=2 April 2015 }}</ref>

Freier was elected as Anglican Primate of Australia on 28 June 2014, defeating Archbishop of Sydney [Glenn Davies](/source/Glenn_Davies).<ref name="2014 election ACNS">{{cite news |title=Archbishop Freier elected Australia's next Primate |url=https://www.anglicannews.org/news/2014/06/archbishop-freier-elected-australias-next-primate.aspx |accessdate=4 April 2020 |work=Anglican Communion News Service |publisher=Anglican Communion Office |date=30 June 2014}}</ref> He was installed as Primate by [Archbishop of Canterbury](/source/Archbishop_of_Canterbury) [Justin Welby](/source/Justin_Welby) in [St Paul's Cathedral, Melbourne](/source/St_Paul's_Cathedral%2C_Melbourne) on 13 August 2014.<ref name="aus2014" /> Freier resigned as Primate effective 31 March 2020<ref name="Aspinall 2020" /> and was replaced by [Geoffrey Smith](/source/Geoffrey_Smith_(bishop)).<ref name="ACNS Smith 2020">{{cite news |title=Archbishop Geoffrey Smith elected Primate of the Anglican Church of Australia |url=https://www.anglicannews.org/news/2020/04/archbishop-geoffrey-smith-elected-primate-of-the-anglican-church-of-australia.aspx |accessdate=8 April 2020 |work=Anglican Communion News Service |publisher=Anglican Communion Office |date=7 April 2020}}</ref>

Freier retired as Archbishop of Melbourne on 9 February 2025, his 70th birthday.<ref name="ACNS-retirement">{{cite news |title=Secretary General joins retirement service for the Archbishop of Melbourne |url=https://anglicannews.org/news/2025/02/secretary-general-joins-retirement-service-for-the-archbishop-of-melbourne.aspx |access-date=11 February 2025 |agency=Anglican Communion News Service |date=10 February 2025}}</ref>

==Personal life==

Freier and his wife Joy have two children and three grandchildren.<ref name="aus2014"/><ref>[http://justus.anglican.org/resources/misc/angcommuniondirectory.html ''Anglican Communion Directory'', March 2000.]</ref> He includes bush-walking, reading and the visual arts among his recreational pursuits.<ref>{{Cite web|title=My Story|url=https://www.melbournearchbishop.org.au/my-story/|access-date=2022-01-30|website=Philip Freier|language=en-AU}}</ref>

==Honours==
* 45px - [Chaplain](/source/Chaplain_of_the_Order_of_St_John), [Most Venerable Order of Saint John](/source/Venerable_Order_of_St_John) (ChStJ)
{{infobox bishop styles
|    name=Philip Freier 
|    dipstyle={{pre-nominal styles|size=100%|MRevd}} 
|    offstyle=[Your Grace](/source/Your_Grace)
|    relstyle=[Archbishop](/source/Archbishop)
|    deathstyle=
}}

== See also ==
* ''[Who's Who in Australia](/source/Who's_Who_in_Australia)''

==References==
{{Reflist|30em}}

==External links==
{{commons category-inline}}
*[http://www.abc.net.au/radionational/programs/sundayprofile/most-reverend-dr-philip-freier2c-anglican-primate-of-australia/5723690 Profile on ABC website]
*[http://www.governor.vic.gov.au/victorias-governor/publications/speeches/speech/speech/174 Speech on Governor of Victoria website]
* [https://www.melbournearchbishop.org.au/blog/ Blog: Thoughts + Opinions]

{{s-start}}
{{s-rel|ac}}
{{s-bef|before=[Richard Appleby](/source/Richard_Appleby_(bishop))}}
{{s-ttl|title=[Bishop of the Northern Territory](/source/Anglican_Diocese_of_the_Northern_Territory) | years=1999–2006 }}
{{s-aft|after=[Greg Thompson](/source/Greg_Thompson_(bishop))}}
{{s-bef|before=[Peter Watson](/source/Peter_Watson_(bishop))}}
{{s-ttl|title= [Archbishop of Melbourne](/source/Anglican_Archbishop_of_Melbourne) |years=2006–2025}}
{{s-aft|after=Vacant}}
{{s-bef|before= [Phillip Aspinall](/source/Phillip_Aspinall)}}
{{s-ttl|title= [Primate of Australia](/source/Anglican_Primate_of_Australia) | years=2014–2020}}
{{s-aft|after= [Geoffrey Smith](/source/Geoffrey_Smith_(bishop))}}
{{s-end}}

{{Primates of Australia}}
{{Archbishops of Melbourne}}
{{Bishops of the Northern Territory}}

{{authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Freier, Philip}}
Category:1954 births
Category:Living people
Category:Clergy from Brisbane
Category:Queensland University of Technology alumni
Category:James Cook University alumni
Category:University of Newcastle (Australia) alumni
Category:University of Queensland alumni
Category:Royal Australian Air Force officers
Category:Australian military chaplains
Category:Chaplains of the Order of St John
Category:Anglican bishops of the Northern Territory
Category:Anglican archbishops of Melbourne
Category:21st-century Anglican archbishops
Category:21st-century Anglican bishops in Australia
Category:Primates of the Anglican Church of Australia
Category:Fellows of the Australian Institute of Company Directors
Category:Converts to Anglicanism from Roman Catholicism

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Philip Freier](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Philip_Freier) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Philip_Freier?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.