Ian Keese Lambert is an Australian Anglican bishop and former military officer, who served as an

assistant bishop An assistant bishop in the Anglican Communion is a bishop appointed to assist a diocesan bishop. Church of England In the established Church of England, assistant bishops are usually retired (diocesan or suffragan) bishops – in which case they ...

in the Anglican Diocese of Canberra and Goulburn from 2012 to 2013, and as Bishop to the Australian Defence Force from 2013 to 2019.

Early life, military career and parish ministry

Lambert grew up in Canberra, where he attended Telopea Park High School and St Andrew's Presbyterian Church in Forrest. After high school, Lambert attended the Royal Military College Duntroon, where he graduated in 1976 as a lieutenant in the Royal Australian Corps of Transport. He later attended the Royal Navy Staff College at HMAS Penguin in 1989. While still in the military, Lambert commenced theological studies at St Mark's National Theological Centre initially on a part-time basis, and later was discharged from the military with the rank of major to complete his studies full-time. He was ordained deacon in the Anglican Church of Australia, and later was ordained priest by Bishop George Browning, on 30 November 1995. Following his graduation, Lambert served in the Anglican Diocese of Canberra and Goulburn, first as curate at Cooma from 1995 to 1996, then was appointed rector of Batemans Bay in December 1996. While serving in Batemans Bay Lambert was appointed as area dean 2005, and from 2009 to 2012 served as

archdeacon An archdeacon is a senior clergy position in the Church of the East, Chaldean Catholic Church, Syriac Orthodox Church, Anglican Communion, St Thomas Christians, Eastern Orthodox churches and some other Christian denominations, above that o ...

for the South Coast and Monaro.

Episcopal ministry

In 2012, Lambert was appointed as assistant bishop in the Diocese of Goulburn and Canberra. He was consecrated as bishop, along with fellow assistant bishop Genieve Blackwell, by Bishop of Newcastle

Brian Farran Brian George Farran (born 15 December 1944) is an Australian retired Anglican bishop. He was the Diocese of Newcastle (Australia), Bishop of Newcastle in New South Wales. Farran was educated at the Australian National University and St John' ...

on 31 March 2012. As part of his role, he assisted Bishop

Stuart Robinson Stuart Robinson (born 20 June 1979) is a Northern Ireland broadcaster with Cool FM, Downtown Radio and Downtown Country. He previously launched and became the longest running presenter to date on rival station Belfast CityBeat from 1996 before h ...

with responsibility for the South Coast, Monaro and Snowy Regions, while maintaining his role as rector of Batemans Bay. Lambert was installed as Anglican bishop to the Australian Defence Force on 5 July 2013 by Phillip Aspinall in the chapel at Duntroon. He replaced Bishop Len Eacott who had retired in December 2012 after reaching the retirement age of 65. Lambert retired as bishop in late 2019.

Personal life

Lambert is married to Jill and has four children.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Lambert, Ian Anglican bishops to the Australian Defence Force Assistant bishops in the Anglican Diocese of Canberra and Goulburn Australian Army officers Living people 21st-century Anglican bishops in Australia Year of birth missing (living people)