Lilley, who is married with three young children, says he found the course academically challenging. He will take up a position with the Anglican Church in Nowra, and will be involved in ministry to the South Coast's Aboriginal community.

The Diocese of Sydney has several aboriginal workers, but Lilley is the first to complete the full Bachelor of Divinity degree.

Sydney Archbishop Peter Jensen described Lilley as a man with a great heart for his own people, but said his training meant he could be posted to any ministry, aboriginal or not.

Also ordained in the February 2 ordination service were several deacons from Anglican ministry families, including Edward Loane, grandson of Former Primate Marcus Loane, and John Forsyth, son of Bishop Robert Forsyth of South Sydney.

The ordinands will take up positions in churches ranging from Holy Trinity, Adelaide to Wentworth Falls in the Blue Mountains.

As well as the 48, John Lee was commissioned as a diocesan worker for church planting in South Sydney.

Jensen said it was a point of great thanks to God that such large numbers had been presented for ordination for three years running.

Principal of Moore Theological College, John Woodhouse told the congregation the numbers have stretched college facilities to the limit.

"When you look at the city and the numbers of people, the words of Jesus make a lot of sense -- the laborers are few but the harvest is vast."