A New Chapter for Wollongong

Archbishop of Sydney

 

Media Statement

“A New Chapter for Wollongong”

A church planter from the greenfield suburbs of south-west Sydney has been appointed as the next Bishop of the Wollongong Region. 
 
Archbishop Kanishka Raffel has announced the Reverend Jonathan Squire will follow Peter Hayward who has given significant service as Bishop of Wollongong since 2010. As is required, Mr Squire’s appointment was approved by Standing Committee.
 
Describing the Bishop-designate as a “capable and effective minister of the gospel, and a godly and able pastor and teacher”, Archbishop Raffel pointed to his work as rector of the Parish of Camden Valley, a region he has served for 20 years. 
 
During that time, Mr Squire steered the growth of three congregational sites as well as a new church planting outreach for the emerging suburbs of Catherine Field, Austral, Rossmore and Bradfield – adjacent to the new Western Sydney International Airport.  
 
As Mission Area Leader for the Macarthur region, he played a key role in coordinating the Synod in the Greenfields in 2022, the landmark Synod session as the diocese emerged from the pandemic. In addition to church planting, Mr Squire served as a school governor of Thomas Hassall and Oran Park Anglican Colleges and most recently as the foundation Council Chair of Leppington Anglican College. 
 
Archbishop Kanishka Raffel described the Bishop-designate as a "resilient, adaptable, and mission-minded" leader who was able to combine high-level strategy with humble, collaborative ministry.
 
“What qualifies him best for appointment is the evidence of his godly character,” said Archbishop Raffel. “He is humble in service and without guile. He has persevered through ministry challenges with sober judgement and cheerful hard work, encouraging others to be joyful, hopeful, and thankful.”
 
“He has demonstrated that he can do the work of an evangelist and equip the saints for the work of ministry,” Archbishop Raffel said. “He is able and willing to contribute to Diocesan life beyond his parish, including the encouragement of his fellow senior ministers, engagement with diocesan agencies and with schools.”
 
The bishop-designate, known affectionately as ‘Jono’, and his wife Jenny have four adult children. He came to faith as a teenager and before entering the ministry, earned first-class honours in Engineering from the University of NSW. He was encouraged and challenged by the ministry of New College and Campus Bible Study. After graduating from Moore College, he was ordained deacon by the Bishop of Armidale in 2003, and presbyter by the Archbishop of Sydney in 2005. 
 
The new bishop will be consecrated on 20 November 2026 at St Andrew's Cathedral Sydney and will commence in his new role on 1 January 2027.

Archbishop Kanishka Raffel
27 July 2026