Queensland Council of Churches
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The Queensland Council of Churches was a body of leaders from the evangelical Christian churches of the Australian colony or state of Queensland. It was formed to present a unified front to influence public discourse and government policy, and also served to increase communication and cooperation between rival churches with similar aims and philosophies. This article traces the history of the council through a list of its presidents and, to a lesser extent, its secretaries, who through being eligible for reelection, provided stability and continuity.
Brisbane Church Federation
The Council of Churches in Queensland was founded in 1896.[1] with W. Whale as president and H. Youngman as secretary.[2] The official title of the organisation appears to have been simply "Council of Churches", but "Queensland Council of Churches" or "Council of Churches in Queensland" have both appeared in print, sometimes in the same article.[3] Common issues addressed were gambling and playing sport on Sunday, though to many workers, Sunday was the only day available for relaxation — in 1905 the Council was much aggrieved at discount railway fares being offered on Sunday, encouraging desecration of the Sabbath by pleasure-seekers.[4]
Persons elected president include:
- 1896 William Whale (Baptist)
- 1897 Walter Tatham
- 1898 Charles Stead (died 1916)[5]
- 1899 Peter Robertson (Presbyterian)
- 1900 John W. Roberts (Congregational) left for Hobart and was succeeded by Peter Thomson.[6]
- 1901 George Grimes[7]
- 1902 Robert Stewart[8]
- 1903 Thomas Nisbet[9]
- 1904 A. J. Griffith (Congregational)[10]
- 1905 D. Henry Youngman (Methodist)[11]
- 1906, 1907 George M. Rice[12][13]
One of the last campaigns of the Brisbane Council of Churches was to complain about Sunday funerals. There was no announcement; the Council just ceased to exist. Rice returned to Britain in 1908.
Brisbane Church Federation was founded in 1913[14] It became the Queensland Council of Churches in 1925.
- 1914 Henry Youngman[15]
- 1916 W. J. Tunley, later served as secretary
- 1917, 1918 Henry Youngman
- 1920 T. E. White
- 1921 Merrington
- 1922 W. G. Pope
- 1923 Charles Alfred White
- 1924 B. Hewison, C. A. White
- 1925 W. G. Pope, W. H. Harrison
Council of Churches
In 1925 a Council of Churches in Brisbane was established[16] based on the Melbourne model, and officers elected.[17]
- 1926 W. H. Green[18]
- 1927 Hume Robertson (died 1921)[19]
Thomas Bibby (died 1948)[20] secretary.[21]
- 1928, 1929 Arthur Ernest Bickmore
- 1930 Charles Young (Church of Christ)
- 1931, 1932 G(eorge) McChesney Clark (died 1932)[22] He became a minor celebrity as (inadvertently) the first member of the public to cross the Sydney Harbour Bridge by train.[23]
- 1933, 1934 Norman Stuart Millar (Presbyterian, died Oct 1938)[24]
- 1935–1940 Rev. Harold M. Wheller[25] also 1945[26]
- 1947 Albert Butler[27][28] died in 1947[29] and was succeeded by J. F. T. Short[30]
P. Alcorn was secretary in 1948
- 1949–1952 R. E. Pashen (Presbyterian)[31]
- 1954 T. Rees Thomas[3]
W. E. Hurst (Baptist)[32] has been mentioned as a prominent member,[33]
References
- ↑ "The Council of the Churches". The Brisbane Courier. Vol. LII, no. 11, 887. Queensland, Australia. 19 February 1896. p. 7. Retrieved 13 July 2024 – via National Library of Australia.
- ↑ "Council of Churches". The Brisbane Courier. Vol. LII, no. 11, 865. Queensland, Australia. 24 January 1896. p. 4. Retrieved 19 August 2024 – via National Library of Australia.
- 1 2 "The Churches". Townsville Daily Bulletin. Vol. LXXIV. Queensland, Australia. 18 September 1954. p. 8. Retrieved 16 August 2024 – via National Library of Australia.
- ↑ "Sunday Railway Excursions". Warwick Examiner and Times. Queensland, Australia. 7 January 1905. p. 5. Retrieved 16 August 2024 – via National Library of Australia.
- ↑ "A Veteran Promoted". The Methodist. Vol. XXV, no. 24. New South Wales, Australia. 10 June 1916. p. 3. Retrieved 16 August 2024 – via National Library of Australia.
- ↑ "Council of Churches". Queensland Times, Ipswich Herald and General Advertiser. Vol. XLI, no. 6147. Queensland, Australia. 19 January 1901. p. 2. Retrieved 19 August 2024 – via National Library of Australia.
- ↑ "Churches and Politics". The Telegraph (Brisbane). No. 9, 122. Queensland, Australia. 14 February 1902. p. 3. Retrieved 20 December 2024 – via National Library of Australia.
- ↑ "Hypocrisy and Cant". Truth. No. 162. Queensland, Australia. 8 March 1903. p. 4. Retrieved 20 December 2024 – via National Library of Australia.
- ↑ "Death of Rev. Dr Nisbet". The Telegraph (Brisbane). No. 11, 815. Queensland, Australia. 29 September 1910. p. 2. Retrieved 19 August 2024 – via National Library of Australia.
- ↑ "Protector of Aborigines". The Telegraph (Brisbane). No. 10, 193. Queensland, Australia. 19 July 1905. p. 4. Retrieved 8 January 2025 – via National Library of Australia.
- ↑ ""Father of Methodism"". The Queenslander. No. 6047. Queensland, Australia. 19 March 1927. p. 20. Retrieved 19 August 2024 – via National Library of Australia.
- ↑ "New Pastor Arrived". The Telegraph (Brisbane). No. 9945. Queensland, Australia. 4 October 1904. p. 5. Retrieved 26 January 2025 – via National Library of Australia.
- ↑ "This Morning's News". The Brisbane Courier. Vol. LXIII, no. 15, 138. Queensland, Australia. 19 July 1906. p. 4. Retrieved 20 December 2024 – via National Library of Australia.
- ↑ "Brisbane Church Federation". The Telegraph (Brisbane). No. 12, 718. Queensland, Australia. 23 August 1913. p. 6. Retrieved 8 January 2025 – via National Library of Australia.
- ↑ "Notable Career". The Brisbane Courier. No. 21, 568. Queensland, Australia. 12 March 1927. p. 16. Retrieved 8 January 2025 – via National Library of Australia.
- ↑ "Methodist Church". The Daily Mail (Brisbane). No. 7231. Queensland, Australia. 2 May 1925. p. 9. Retrieved 8 January 2025 – via National Library of Australia.
- ↑ "Church Federation". The Telegraph (Brisbane). No. 16, 385. Queensland, Australia. 6 June 1925. p. 11. Retrieved 8 January 2025 – via National Library of Australia.
- ↑ "Council of Churches". The Telegraph (Brisbane). No. 16, 815. Queensland, Australia. 23 October 1926. p. 2. Retrieved 19 August 2024 – via National Library of Australia.
- ↑ "Obituary". The Horsham Times. No. 6497. Victoria, Australia. 13 December 1921. p. 5. Retrieved 19 August 2024 – via National Library of Australia.
- ↑ "Obituary". Morning Bulletin (Brisbane). No. 27, 024. Queensland, Australia. 31 January 1948. p. 3. Retrieved 19 August 2024 – via National Library of Australia.
- ↑ "Council of Churches". The Telegraph (Brisbane). No. 17, 053. Queensland, Australia. 30 July 1927. p. 4. Retrieved 18 August 2024 – via National Library of Australia.
- ↑ "Death of Rev. G. McChesney Clark". The Queenslander. Queensland, Australia. 10 November 1932. p. 9. Retrieved 19 August 2024 – via National Library of Australia.
- ↑ "First Travellers". The Sydney Morning Herald. No. 29, 394. New South Wales, Australia. 21 March 1932. p. 16. Retrieved 16 August 2024 – via National Library of Australia.
- ↑ "Rev. N. Millar". Queensland Times. Vol. LXXIX, no. 16, 201. Queensland, Australia. 25 October 1938. p. 6. Retrieved 12 February 2025 – via National Library of Australia.
- ↑ "Council of Churches Officers". The Telegraph (Brisbane). Queensland, Australia. 27 July 1939. p. 6. Retrieved 19 August 2024 – via National Library of Australia.
- ↑
- ↑ "Rev. A. Butler Baptists' New President". The Courier-mail. No. 2198. Queensland, Australia. 18 September 1940. p. 14. Retrieved 19 August 2024 – via National Library of Australia.
- ↑ "Obituary". The Age. No. 28774. Victoria, Australia. 16 July 1947. p. 2. Retrieved 19 August 2024 – via National Library of Australia.
- ↑ "Death Of Q'ld Churchman". The Sun. No. 11, 691. New South Wales, Australia. 15 July 1947. p. 3. Retrieved 21 October 2024 – via National Library of Australia.
- ↑ "Rev. Short Churches' President". The Courier-mail. No. 3363. Queensland, Australia. 4 September 1947. p. 4. Retrieved 21 October 2024 – via National Library of Australia.
- ↑ "Clergymen Seek Probe of Casket". The Northern Star. New South Wales, Australia. 28 November 1949. p. 5. Retrieved 22 October 2024 – via National Library of Australia.
- ↑ "Rev. Hurst Accepts Post". The Courier-mail. No. 335. Queensland, Australia. 24 September 1934. p. 10. Retrieved 14 March 2025 – via National Library of Australia.
- ↑ "Death in England of Rev. W. E. Hurst". The Telegraph (Brisbane). Queensland, Australia. 29 June 1940. p. 20. Retrieved 19 August 2024 – via National Library of Australia.