Principal of Newtown's Moore Theological College, Dr Mark Thompson, thanked the "good hand" of God on Friday, after both he and the Archbishop of Sydney, Glenn Davies, participated in the ceremonial removal of the first brick from Number 1 King Street. The two doctors donned high-visibility safety gear for the occasion, as they were required to use a sledgehammer on the old Master Builders' Association building, which was purchased for the college in the late 1970s.
It is one of Dr Davies' early public appearances since being elected as the new Anglican Archbishop of Sydney in early August. Dr Davies, who was inaugurated at St Andrew's Cathedral, said on the day of his appointment, "Part of God's gift is to be able to be creative and to do things", so it is fitting that he was invited to participate in Friday's historic action.
The redevelopment of the Moore College building will lead to the construction of a new purpose-built facility that will include:
- A library
- More teaching spaces
- More community space
- Research and study areas
- A large assembly hall in which the entire student body can gather.
Dr Davies has described the new building as "up-to-date learning, teaching, research and study facilities that will serve the global Christian community for generations to come".
The "Being Moore Capital Campaign" that is raising funds for the project has already accumulated $14 million of the $20 million target, while the overall cost has been reduced by 22 per cent since inception. The new facilities are scheduled to open by July 2016.