Norman Lacy - Anglican Priest (1960-1973)

Anglican Priest (1960-1973)

Soon after the death of his father, Lacy applied to, and was accepted, by Dr Stuart Babbage, Principal of Ridley College (University of Melbourne), to live in at the College in Parkville, Victoria while he studied for his Leaving Certificate (the minimum requirement for the commencement of theological studies) through the George Taylor and Staff correspondence school located in The Causeway off Little Collins Street in Melbourne. After completing this prerequisite in December 1961, he went on to study theology (1962–64) at Ridley College. He completed his Licentiate in Theology (Th L), the minimum requirement for ordination in the Anglican Church, in December 1963 through the Australian College of Theology. Being too young to be ordained, he spent another year (1964) at Ridley commencing his post graduate studies. It was at this time that Lacy's theological views were strongly influenced by his tutor, New Testament scholar Dr Leon Morris, Ridley's Principal at the time. Lacy was ordained Deacon on St Andrew's Day (30 November)1964 and Priest on the same day in 1965 at St Paul's Cathedral in the Diocese of Melbourne by Archbishop Frank Woods of the Anglican Church of Australia.

Lacy married his first wife in August 1965 with whom he had three daughters.

From 1964 to 1973, Lacy served as Curate in the parishes St Mary's Caulfield (1964 to 1966) and St Stephen's Richmond (1966–1968). And then as Vicar of St John's Healesville with Yarra Glen and Christmas Hills (1968–1973). Lacy's interest in education policy was fostered in Healesville through the relationship he established with the parents and teaching staff at the Healesville High School. He devoted two days each week teaching religious education to each class at the school becoming, in effect, its honorary chaplain. He added to this integration into the school's life by becoming a member of the school's Parents and Friends Association and for some time its honorary secretary.

While at Healesville, Lacy completed his study (commenced at Ridley) for the degree Scholar in Theology (Th Schol.) in 1969 and graduated the following year. In 1970, as a mature age student, he studied for and completed the Higher School Certificate, the prerequisite for his entry into the Arts Faculty at Monash University to which he and his wife travelled twice each week to study part-time for their Arts (Hons) degrees.

Early in his incumbency at Healesville, Lacy joined the Liberal Party of Australia under the influence, and with the support of, some prominent Liberal parliamentarians who were amongst his parishioners such as Peter Howson, Vasey Houghton, Russell Stokes and Gracia Baylor. Other Liberals such as Vernon Hauser and Jim Manson were active in ensuring that he secured the party's pre-selection for the seat of Ringwood in the Parliament of Victoria for the election in May 1973. As a result of legislation introduced by Premier Henry Bolte prior to the 1970 Victorian election that removed the prohibition on ministers of religion from being elected to the Victorian Parliament (along with criminals and bankrupts), Norman Lacy became the first clergyman to be elected. In 1979, he became the only clergyman ever to be appointed a Minister of the Crown in Victoria.

After winning the seat of Ringwood in the Legislative Assembly in May 1973, Lacy moved his young family from the Vicarage in Healesville to a home they established in his electorate at 39 Alice Street, North Croydon and continued to live there for the nine years that he was a member of the Victorian Parliament. During this period, his children attended Croydon Primary School and Tintern Church of England Girls Grammar School. The family belonged to St John's Anglican Church in Croydon.