Canon Grant told the congregation about the news he will be leaving Wollongong to become the 13th Dean of Sydney during Sunday's service. He has been the senior minister of St Michael's since 2004 and will take up his ministry at Sydney's St Andrew's Cathedral in December.

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"Sandy is known and loved by his congregation and in the wider Wollongong region for his evangelistic heart, his thoughtful and carefully applied preaching, and his wise and attentive pastoral care. Sandy is diligent, passionate and thoughtful. He is a person of conviction but humble and servant-hearted," Archbishop Raffel said.

During the last 17 years Canon Grant has been involved in a wide range of social issues.

He has chaired the Diocesan Task Force on Domestic and Family Violence over the last seven years and led the Diocese in addressing the critical issue, including through the adoption of wide-ranging policies and practices for responding to domestic violence in the church.

He has been a passionate anti-gambling advocate and has also promoted indigenous reconciliation locally in Wollongong and through the Synod, including as a member of the Diocesan Social Issues Committee.

Canon Grant said it was humbling to have the confidence of the Archbishop and the Cathedral Chapter to serve the people of St Andrew's in the heart of Sydney.

He grew up in Chatswood and also went to school in the city so the appointment will be a little like returning home where he will be close to his ageing parents.

But after almost two decades in Wollongong he, his wife Karyn also feel like they are leaving home.

Apart from a couple of years in Kurrajong his three children did all their schooling in Wollongong at Keiraville Public School, where Mrs Grant still teaches scripture, and Smiths Hill High School. They then went on to attend university in Sydney.

Canon Grant said it is people who make a place.

And in Wollongong residents have been so kind to his family. He will miss the community but is looking forward to the new challenges ahead as the Anglican church provides him not only a great responsibility but a great opportunity to serve.

He said he was grateful for many things in the Illawarra from a former Bishop of Wollongong for encouraging him to improve his fitness with daily walks around the Botanic Gardens and university campus.

He also appreciates how the University of Wollongong and Illawarra and Shoalhaven Area Health Service have provided great strength to the city.

Canon Grant said he has made friends with many families and people he has shared precious moments with, often at very difficult times in their lives.

He said one of the few good things about lockdown is that a Simply Christianity Course he has been running online has had more people taking it than ever before.

"My greatest joy is introducing people to consider Christ," he said.

Before he leaves he would like to call on Illawarra MPs at the State and Federal level, both Liberal and Labor, to do something to address the scourge of problem gambling.

"I care about these things because Jesus cares for the vulnerable, Jesus cares about injustice and Jesus opposes hypocrisy," he said.

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