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Rev. John Walker DD (c. 1855 – 14 September 1941) was a Presbyterian minister in Canberra and New South Wales.

History

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Walker was born of Scottish parents in Oxton, Cheshire county, England, and educated at Birkenhead, with Presbyterian upbringing. He worked as clerk to a Liverpool merchant, then for the American evangelists Moody and Sankey[1] Around 1876 he left for Australia, on account of his health and in Sydney was befriended by the Presbyterian philanthropist John H. Goodlet,[1] who died in 1914,[2] and was encouraged to train at St Andrew's College for the Presbyterian ministry. He was ordained as a minister and licensed as a preacher by the Metropolitan Presbytery of Sydney on 8 June 1881. He was assigned to the Shoalhaven district, and served as an assistant to the pioneering Presbyterian William J. Grant, DD (c. 1805 – 9 August 1897) for two years. He was then offered the charge of a new church at Burwood, but elected to take the remote post of Germanton (now Holbrook) at the head of the Murray River, several days' journey on horseback. He soon became a popular and respected member of the community, and established a thriving church in the area, and another at Culcairn. In May 1888 he was called to the new charge at Woollahra, into which he was inducted around August 1888.[3]

Council of the Churches

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In 1889 Walker established a forum of representatives from the evangelical Protestant churches of the Sydney area, a pressure group which met monthly in the YMCA hall.[4] Its initial goal was to dissuade the government from relaxing laws relating to Sunday observance. The council was formed several years ahead of a similar body in Melbourne,[5] but folded when Walker was obliged to resign his role as secretary, and was revived in a different form in 1924.[6]

He was appointed to St Andrew's Kirk, Ballarat, Victoria, and served there for 19 years.

All five sons enlisted for military service in the First World War; four with the First AIF and Noel B. D. Walker, who was working in Fiji, joined the King's Own Rifles. Three died or were killed in action.

Moderator

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In 1902 he was appointed Moderator of the Presbyterian Church in New South Wales.[7]

[8]

In 1918 he was succeeded Prof. Macintyre as Moderator-General of the Presbyterian Church of Australia, stationed in Melbourne.

Canberra

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In 1927 he was inducted as Canberra's first Presbyterian minister,[9] and was largely responsible for the erection of the church building, at 1 State Circle (the Canberra Avenue corner), Forrest, and retired shortly after its completion in 1930[8] [10][11]

Opening of the Presbyterian manse and cathedral put an end to the cooperation which had existed between Canberra's Congregational, Methodist and Presbyterian congregations.[12]

Family

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Walker's father David Walker was English, but his mother Jemima Blackie was Scottish, a granddaughter of James Watt and a sister of John Stuart Blackie.

In 1883 (not 1888 ) Walker married Jessie Dight (1862–1932), eldest daughter of Arthur Dight MLA (1819–1895) and Janet Dight née McCracken (1841–1888). Three sons died or were killed overseas during World War I; two sons and two daughters survived their parents:

  • Second lieut. Arthur Dight Walker (1884 – 18 October 1916), died of wounds.[13]
  • Capt. John Stuart Dight Walker MC born c. 1885, killed in action, France, 21 July 1918[14]
  • daughter 14 January 1887[15]
  • son 29 May 1888[16]
  • Marjorie Lundy Dight Walker (14 December 1889[17] – ) She enlisted in the Australian Army Nursing Service[18]
  • Noel Balfour Dight Walker (26 December 1891[19] – 14 November 1916)[20]
  • son 21 March 1898[21]

References

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  1. ^ a b Robert Withycombe (1990). Australian Dictionary of Biography: 'Walker, John (1855–1941). National Centre of Biography, Australian National University. Retrieved 24 December 2024.
  2. ^ "A Philanthropist Dead". National Advocate (Sydney). New South Wales, Australia. 14 January 1914. p. 2. Retrieved 24 December 2024 – via National Library of Australia.
  3. ^ "The Pastor of the Church". Australian Town and Country Journal. Vol. XXXIX, no. 1014. New South Wales, Australia. 15 June 1889. p. 9. Retrieved 24 December 2024 – via National Library of Australia.
  4. ^ "The Council of the Churches". The Sydney Morning Herald. No. 17, 078. New South Wales, Australia. 15 December 1892. p. 8. Retrieved 23 December 2024 – via National Library of Australia. a "Letter to the Editor" in response to the news that a Council of the Churches in Victoria had been formed in Melbourne.
  5. ^ "The Council of the Churches". The Sydney Morning Herald. No. 17, 078. New South Wales, Australia. 15 December 1892. p. 8. Retrieved 23 December 2024 – via National Library of Australia.
  6. ^ "Editorial Notes". The Methodist. Vol. XXXIII, no. 34. New South Wales, Australia. 23 August 1924. p. 1. Retrieved 28 October 2024 – via National Library of Australia.
  7. ^ "The Rev John Walker". The Sydney Mail and New South Wales Advertiser. Vol. LXXIII, no. 2184. New South Wales, Australia. 17 May 1902. p. 1246. Retrieved 23 December 2024 – via National Library of Australia.
  8. ^ a b "Dr J. Walker Dies". The Sydney Morning Herald. No. 32, 360. New South Wales, Australia. 15 September 1941. p. 9. Retrieved 23 December 2024 – via National Library of Australia.
  9. ^ "Presbyterian Church, Canberra". The Yass Courier. Vol. LXXV, no. 3393. New South Wales, Australia. 24 February 1927. p. 2. Retrieved 23 December 2024 – via National Library of Australia.
  10. ^ "Presbyterian". The Canberra Times. Vol. 8, no. 2029. Australian Capital Territory, Australia. 12 March 1934. p. 12. Retrieved 23 December 2024 – via National Library of Australia.
  11. ^ "Obituary". The Canberra Times. Vol. 16, no. 4216. Australian Capital Territory, Australia. 16 September 1941. p. 2. Retrieved 23 December 2024 – via National Library of Australia.
  12. ^ "Church Co-operation". The Canberra Times. Vol. 8, no. 2167. Australian Capital Territory, Australia. 23 August 1934. p. 1. Retrieved 23 December 2024 – via National Library of Australia.
  13. ^ "Died of Wounds". The Sydney Morning Herald. No. 24, 590. New South Wales, Australia. 28 October 1916. p. 9. Retrieved 24 December 2024 – via National Library of Australia.
  14. ^ "John Stuart Dight Walker". Australian War Memorial. Retrieved 24 December 2024. considerable biographic detail
  15. ^ "Family Notices". The Sydney Morning Herald. No. 15, 230. New South Wales, Australia. 18 January 1887. p. 1. Retrieved 24 December 2024 – via National Library of Australia.
  16. ^ "Family Notices". The Sydney Morning Herald. No. 15, 660. New South Wales, Australia. 2 June 1888. p. 1. Retrieved 24 December 2024 – via National Library of Australia.
  17. ^ "Family Notices". The Sydney Morning Herald. No. 16, 139. New South Wales, Australia. 16 December 1889. p. 1. Retrieved 24 December 2024 – via National Library of Australia.
  18. ^ "Staff Nurse Marjorie Lundy Dight Walker". Retrieved 24 December 2024. {{cite web}}: Text "publisher-Australian War Memorial, Canberra" ignored (help)
  19. ^ "Family Notices". The Sydney Morning Herald. No. 16, 782. New South Wales, Australia. 5 January 1892. p. 1. Retrieved 24 December 2024 – via National Library of Australia.
  20. ^ "Studio portrait of R/30895 Noel Balfour Dight Walker, 1st Battalion King's Royal Rifle Corps". Australian War Memorial, Canberra. Retrieved 24 December 2024.
  21. ^ "Family Notices". The Sydney Morning Herald. No. 18, 730. New South Wales, Australia. 26 March 1898. p. 1. Retrieved 24 December 2024 – via National Library of Australia.

Category:1941 deaths Category:19th-century Australian Presbyterian ministers Category:20th-century Australian Presbyterian ministers

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