Biography

The Reverend Canon Gregory Keith Clifton, rector, 1993–2004 Gregory Keith Clifton, born 1945 and died 2004, grew up in the suburb of Punchbowl NSW, very close to Lakemba. He attended Punchbowl Boys’ High School before working at the then Sydney Water Board for about seven years, during which time he completed (at evening Tech classes) his Accountancy Certificate. From there he worked for three years as the accountant for the Anglican Youth Department.

Gregory Clifton had been converted at the 1959 Billy Graham Crusade. Finally, in 1969 he was able to pursue his desire to enter Moore College, Sydney, and train for the ordained ministry. He gained his Th.L. from Moore College in 1972. He was made deacon in 1973 and ordained priest in 1973 in Sydney. Before moving to Tasmania, all his appointments were in the Diocese of Sydney. He was Curate of Gymea 1973-75, and Curate of Epping 1975-77. In 1977-80 he was Rector of Harris Park in Parramatta. From 1980 to 1988 he was Rector of Fairfield. He was appointed Area Dean of Liverpool 1985-88. From 1988 to 1993 he was Curate in Charge of Kingswood. In 1990 he was appointed Canon of Parramatta’s St John’s Provisional Cathedral. During the late 1980s, he also served as general secretary of the Sydney Anglican Synod.

In 1993 Canon Clifton was called to St John’s Parish in Launceston, Tasmania as rector. He was appointed Canon of St David’s Cathedral in 1994, and Archdeacon of Launceston from 1995-2000. He stepped down from archidiaconal duties in 2000, but remained a Canon of the cathedral until he returned to Sydney in 2004 to take up the appointment of Rector of Lakemba, close to where he was born almost 60 years earlier, in which calling he died.

At St. John’s, Canon Clifton was responsible for liturgical reform of the mid-morning Sunday service (2002), and for the building of the dais in the crossing and angling of the pews (2003). During his incumbency, Mrs Diane Illingworth was employed for children’s ministry – a far-sighted move which helped rebuild a younger congregation, and St. John’s received its first ordained female curate, The Revd. Dianne Milligan. During his incumbency, the parish helped settle 19 refugee families, thanks to the work of a strong refugee support group. From 1995 to 2000, Mr Clifton was also the Archdeacon of Launceston.

Canon Clifton’s widow, Diana, was actively involved in an Anglican church in the Blue Mountains in her final years. She died in 2020. Their four daughters and their families are busy in churches of various denominations: Nambucca Heads, Orange, Brisbane/Gold Coast and Hobart.

A number of sermons from Canon Clifton can be heard on our sermon recordings archive. In 2007, a portable wooden lectern, finely crafted by Launceston artisan Trevor Jones, and matching the moveable communion table, was donated in his memory. The inscription reads:
"TO THE GLORY OF GOD; In recognition of the love and good deeds of the Reverend Greg Clifton, Rector 1993-2004 A gift from the Rotary Club of Launceston and the people of St. John's."

All Saints Anglican Network Sermon Browser
https://resources.allsaints.network/sermons/
Sydney Morning Herald - obituary for Diana Rose Clifton
https://tributes.smh.com.au/obituaries/141064/diana-rose-clifton/?r=https://tributes.smh.com.au/obituaries/smh-au/