Table of Contents

Historical Background

Early Preachers in My Father's Family

Mum's Side of the Family

Present Day Lay Preachers

A Final Comment


Historical Background

The 1836 Church Act

For the first forty odd years Australia was a convict settlement but by 1830 it was considered time to move away from this focus. To assist this to happen it was thought religion could play a role but there weren't enough churches due to the spread of the population. Governor Bourke acted to address this issue by providing grants to churches. These grants were for the building of churches (£1,000 providing the church had already raised £300) and to assist the paying of ministers with a per annum grant depending on the size of the congregation). These grants were available to Anglican, Catholic and Presbyterians and from 1839 the Wesleyan Methodists. Congregationalists and Baptist refused to accept grants as they wished to maintain their independence.

The Church Act allowed a large number of churches to be built and of course these churches needed preachers.  Many small churches could not employ ministers with the result there was a need for lay preachers.

I have been unable to determine whether churches my ancestors started received grants under this scheme. It would seem they would have been eligible.

The Emergence of Lay Preachers

John and Charles Wesley were both ordained Anglican clergy who in 1738 experienced conversion. Their conversion was the simple but dynamic discovery that one is saved through faith alone.  Their conversion resulted in them preaching in the open air with thousands deciding to follow Jesus.  They did not intend to create a new denomination but Methodism emerged.  Methodism made use of a network of lay preachers. By 1850 there were over half a million members of Methodist affiliated denominations in Britain many of whom migrated to Australia as free settlers and many of these were lay preachers.

Early Preachers in My Father's Family

John Wesley Wheatley

John Wheatley was the brother of my 3rd great grandmother, Lucy Pollard (nee Wheatley).

The following is taken from Christians at Collector, 1840-1940: Collector Methodist Church, diamond jubilee, 1865-1940.

JOHN WHEATLEY.

First and foremost among these laymen is John Wheatley, whose life and work will forever command an honoured place in the history of Methodism in this country. Among the many Methodists in N.S.W., who are now familiar with the interesting life and work of “Tom” Brown whose centenary was celebrated at Dalton in January, 1939, it is possible that few are acquainted with the important fact that it was through the influence of John Wheatley that Thomas Brown was converted. Of that significant event the late Mr. John Gale wrote in 1926: “To John Wheatley, Tom Brown owed his conversion. The latter in his younger days had been a prize-fighter. With some of his own “kidney,” hearing that John Wheatley was to be the preacher in a little Sussex (England) Chapel on a certain Sunday night, they went to mock the preacher. When the service was over Tom Brown approached the preacher and said: “Look here, Jack, you’ve been preaching at me all through.” In vain did the preacher protest his innocence, but added: “Tom, if the word suits you, you’d better, here and now give your heart to God and seek salvation.” That sermon and that conversation led to Tom Brown’s decision, and henceforth he became the godly man we all know him to be. ” Little did those honoured men realise that they were to become co-workers together with their Master, in a distant, unpublished continent, and that their work was to earn for them the perpetual gratitude of the Church under whose auspices they laboured.

John Wheatley was born at Ashdown Forest, England, on the 19th April, 1792. When 20 years of age he was deeply impressed with the preaching of the famous theologian, Dr. Adam Clarke. As a result, he entered the full fellowship of the Church, and began to preach in the surrounding towns and villages. In 1838, together with his good wife and family, he emigrated to N.S.W. After brief periods of residence at Parramatta and Camden, he finally settled at Collector. Here, as the late Rev. James Colwell records: “He exerted his influence to extend Methodism, and became associated with its beginning in Goulburn, Yass, Queanbeyan and Gunning. His service was marked with untiring zeal. He was a liberal giver to Foreign Missions and to all other organisations of the Church. He passed away in “the sere and yellow leaf” at the age of 80, leaving behind him a memory which will not soon be allowed to die. ”Mr. Gale, who, as the Rev. John Gale, was a frequent visitor of Collector during the “fifties,” also wrote: “John Wheatley’s labour in his Master’s Cause, from the time he took up residence at Collector was herculean. Again, and again he walked the 22 miles from his home to Goulburn, in time for the early morning prayer-meeting; conducted service in the old chapel, and trudged back to Collector the same night. Even up to his last days, and when he owned a horse, he rode long distances to his appointments, and actually died “in harness.” Truly, such as John Wheatley, who lead many in the way of righteousness must “shine as the stars forever and ever.”

Quoted with permission of Camden Theological Library

Old Tom Brown

Tom Brown was my 3rd great grandfather...

Much has already been written regarding Tom so I won't elaborate further here but one article which I found very insightful is recorded on the "Hall School and Heritage Museum website".

William Holgate Jnr

William was my great grandfather. He was originally a Primitive Methodist prior to the Union in 1902. He was a long term resident of Rye Park.

The Methodist Newspaper - 'In Memoriam' dated Saturday, 28 May 1932 records, "The Family altar was raised in their home from the beginning of the home life. Prayers were a part of the daily exercises throughout.

Mr. Holgate was of quiet disposition and his honest and upright life had won him many friends. During his failing health, he was always bright and cheerful. Mr Holgate's name stood as the oldest local preacher in the Boorowa Circuit. He was also a local preacher in the Yass Circuit."

Other Lay Preachers

  • Edward Roffe (1799-1887) My 3rd G-Grandfather. He was a member of Greendale Church, Dalton, NSW
  • William Offley - Husband of 2nd G-Great Aunt. Also a member of Greendale Church.
  • John Gale (1831-1929) Was married to a cousin, Loannah (nee) Wheatley. John took church services in the Gunning/Yass area. He was elected to the NSW Parliament in 1888.
  • Timothy Starr- Second cousin. Preached in Dalton area.
  • Cyril James Holgate - Second cousin. Also preached in the Dalton area.
  • Stephen Brown (1832-1910) A son of Tom Brown.

Mum's Side of the Family

Isaac John Bonsor (1886-1954)

Isaac was my grandfather. He was involved with the Uniting Methodist Free Church, Nottingham, England, where he married Ada in 1908. They emigrated to Australia in 1913.

We know very little about Isaac's preaching except for some notes we have of one of his sermons. The nature of these would suggest he was a reasonably competent speaker. We are also aware that he wanted to be a minister but his father thought he should be a tailor.

Isaac did become Sunday School Superintendent at Enfield Methodist Church in Sydney.

John Lesley Bonsor (1926-1996)

John BonsorJohn Bonsor was Uncle John and a special person in the lives of my brother, sister and myself.  I valued chatting with my aunt, Marge, who provided me with these details.  

Uncle John was brought up in a Christian home and did all the churchy things but it wasn’t until he was in his thirties that he made a commitment to give his life to Christ.  He went to Cowper Street Methodist Church in Goulburn and made good friends with Ron Butterworth.  Uncle John was finding life a struggle at the time and Ron invited him to be a councillor at the Methodist Youth Fellowship (MYF) group at North Goulburn church.  John was appreciated by the youth group.

John went with the MYF (Methodist Youth Fellowship) group to a Crusader Camp at Gunning and had the role of Camp Father.  The guest speaker at the camp was the minister from Crookwell, Len Thompson.  During one of the sessions John responded to an altar call but he didn’t want to be the first one to go forward as it would look like it was staged: he was second.  The final lines of the hymn, “When I survey the Wondrous Cross” really spoke to him - “Love so amazing, so divine, demands my soul, my life, my all.”

John felt the call to preach and teamed up with Ron Butterworth and Geoff Sharpe. They were trained by Rev Colin. W. Ritchie and all preached for the rest of their lives.  They became a committed group who preached at North Goulburn and many small out of town churches, including Parkesbourne, within the Goulburn Circuit.  This would have been in 1959.

John joined a Rostrum Club in Goulburn to help him with his stutter and stammering.  Marge recalls hearing him preach at North Goulburn. She remembers that he was under great strain dealing, not only with his speech challenges, but also the weight of personal difficulties he was facing at the time.

When he moved to Young in July 1964 he continued preaching.  He again spoke at many of the small churches including Bribbaree.  Whilst at Young he, along with Fenton Sharpe the English Master at Young High School, commenced a Rostrum Club.

When John moved to Taree he preached frequently, especially at small churches like Coopernook.

His style of preaching was informal and very Gospel centred.  He often asked people to come forward for prayer at the end of the service.  John grew in his faith as he continued his commitment to ministry. He was a guest speaker at the Uniting Church Synod held at Port Macquarie in 1974.

John had the ability to draw attention to the core of a matter.

He was involved with the Order of Saint Luke and when he retired he joined Gideons.

He was a Table Leader for “The Walk to Emmaus”.  Initially he was reluctant to take part in their three day programs but once he attended he came home glowing and became a keen supporter.

“Love so amazing, so divine, demands my soul, my life, my all.”

Present Day Lay Preachers

Neville Pollard

My brother, Neville, provided me with his preaching experiences.

My Local Preaching Journey

I had the privilege of sharing God’s Word from an early age at Young Baptist Fellowship. I probably wouldn’t have been more than 15 when secretary, Eric Dorman asked me to preach. My first message was centred around the journey of the Children of Israel in the desert. I think it was about the Bread of Life. From then on, I was asked to preach on a number of subsequent occasions. After I moved from Young, I was asked to fill in when the regular pastor was unavailable or I joined the preaching team when there was no regular pastor. This occurred at Hillston Baptist Far West Mission, Bowral, Goulburn, Yass, Hay, Regents Park and Emu Plains Baptist Churches.

During my time at Yass, Rev Roy Waters from the Uniting Church asked me if I would join the circuit preaching plan for surrounding churches. This was a real privilege and during that time I remember preaching at Jerrawa and Rye Park churches. I remember whilst preaching at Rye Park one day a nearby bush fire broke out and most of the church got up and left. That arrangement did not last long as Roy Waters was removed from the church because his preaching was too evangelical. The next week I received a phone call from the church hierarchy and told I could preach the following Sunday and then that was it! All in all, a very sad episode.

Around August 1998 Rev Bob Frisken asked me if I would consider nominating for President of the Baptist Union of NSW & ACT. After praying about this my name did go forward and was subsequently inducted to the position for 1999-2000. In the following 12 months I had the privilege speaking at both city and country churches including Central Baptist, my own church at Regents Park and churches as far afield as Broken Hill, Cootamundra, Deniliquin, Dapto, Tamworth, Parkes, Wagga and some North Coast churches. My theme was, ‘Renewed Minds for the 21st Century,’ my main text being Romans 12: 1-2:

"Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship. 2 Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will."

I counted up that I had had the privilege speaking at 85 churches, which included mid-week meetings. I regarded that year as a wonderful but humbling experience.

Having joined Emu Plains Anglican Church about 2014 those opportunities have dried up but being co leader of a weekly growth group of 15 guys more than compensates.

Neville

Angela Hookham

F5 Refresh

Angela is my niece and, with her husband Mick, is a member of the Leadership Team, at F5 Refresh in Goulburn, N.S.W. F5 Refresh is described on their website as a "church with a difference".

A Final Comment

If Christians see it important to engage with their local non-church community it would appear lay preachers can have an advantage over their ordained cousins. When I look at my family I can see this is reflected.