Ministry Team

St Luke's Ministry Team 

The Reverend Dr Max Wood

Rector

The Reverend Dr Max Wood was inducted as St Luke’s seventh Rector on 29 September 2014. Fr Max grew up in Sydney and was educated at Trinity Grammar School. He practiced as a solicitor in Sydney before being ordained in 2004 in the Bathurst Diocese. His theological studies were undertaken in Morpeth, Canberra and Durham.

Prior to coming to St Luke’s, Fr Max was the Rector of St John’s Mudgee and also had oversight of St Luke’s Gulgong as well as serving in a variety of Diocesan positions in Bathurst. He also ministered at Holy Trinity Orange, St Augustine’s Merewether in Newcastle Diocese, and St Margaret’s in Durham UK. Before leaving Australia to pursue his doctoral thesis in the UK he was an Honorary Associate Priest at St James King Street in Sydney. In Durham he was also a member of the ministry team and Fellow at St Chad’s College while at the university studying for his doctorate in systemic theology and was licensed to officiate in the Province of York.

Fr Max currently serves on the General Synod Mission and Ministry Commission and the Northern Regional Council of the Diocese of Sydney. He is also a Fellow and Deputy Chairperson of St Paul’s College Council, Sydney University. Fr Max is married to Dr Danielle Firholz and they have two children.

Callum Close

Organist and Director of Music

Callum Close (b.1991) began musical studies at a young age and graduated with a Bachelor of Music (Honours) from the University of Newcastle, where he studied Pipe Organ with Dr. Philip Matthias and conducting with Dr. David Banney. He also holds an A.Mus.A and A.Dip.SCSM in piano performance. Prior to his position at St Luke’s, Callum was Sub-Organist of Christ Church Cathedral Newcastle, and Musical Director of a number of community choirs, including Newcastle City choir (2013-16) and the Conservatorium Songshine Choir (2015-18). Callum is a respected Arts Administrator and Fundraiser, who has worked at some of Australia's largest arts organisations, including Musica Viva Australia and the Sydney Symphony Orchestra. He is currently Director of Philanthropy at the Australian Youth Orchestra, where he is a member of the organisation's executive, and is responsible for the national fundraising strategy. Callum is currently studying for his Archbishops' Certificate in Church Music, as well as a Masters of Business Administration. He serves as a National Councillor for the Guild of Church Musicians, and leads an active recital and performance schedule outside his professional life.

The Revd Philip Bradford

Locum Tenens

The Revd Dr Max Wood is presently on long service leave. We are very pleased to welcome the Revd Philip Bradford as our Locum Tenens while Fr Max is away.

Fr Philip has been engaged in Parish Ministry since his ordination in 1987. Before ordination he was an Audiologist working with The National Acoustic Laboratories. Fr Philip was a Curate at St. Mark's Darling Point from 1987 to January 1989, then Assistant Minister in the Parish of East Sydney from 1989 until April 1991, before being appointed as Rector of St. George's Paddington. He was appointed Rector of the Parish of Hunters Hill in December 2000, a position he held until October 2014. Following "retirement" Fr Philip was the Acting Rector for the Parish of Enmore with Stanmore from February 2015 until February 2019, and then Acting Rector of St. George's Paddington from March 2019 until the end of January 2000 and then resumed the role in April of that year. He finished his ministry at Paddington in October of 2021.

Fr Philip will be ministering to the parish until the end of March, when Fr Max returns to St Luke’s.

Helen Bell

Parish Manager

The Parish Office is open Monday to Friday from 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Enquiries about services and parish events, baptisms, marriages and funerals should be directed to the Parish Office. Phone: (02) 9969-6910

VISIT US TODAY!

Cnr Ourimbah and Heydon Street, Mosman
Ph: 9969 9610

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