Queensland Baptist Forum
Published three times per annum
New - No. 39 April 1998
Editor: Dr
David Parker
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Mrs Rosemary Kopittke, 98 Yallambee Rd., Jindalee, 4074 Queensland
Australia
Phone (+61 7) 3376 4339
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The Baptist Historical Society of Queensland
President: Mr Eric Kopittke, 98 Yallambee
Rd., Jindalee, 4074 Queensland Australia
Phone (+61 7) 3376 4339
Secretary: Dr Ken Smith 110 White St, Graceville Q 4075 Phone
(+61 7) 3379 6117
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Qld Baptist
Forum No. 39 April 1998
Contents
Society News and Notes
Announcing the 1998 Festival of Baptist Heritage
Rev. Alfred Hiron Brooks and the Brooks-Hiron
Family
Home Mission Superintendent 1948-57, President
of the Union (twice)
Pastor in Queensland and Victoria
Saturday, July 18, 1998 5pm to 9pm
Toowong Baptist Church, Brisbane, Queensland.
Chinese Banquet Bookings essential
Launching of Commemorative Book
Panel and Inspirational Address
This issue also carries the annual reports of the Society together
with news of other developments and plans.
There is also an article recapturing colonial life and church activity
a century
ago. How's this for a statement by a traveller at the end of a
hard day up the Brisbane Valley:
About one o’clock we camped by a sandy
creek in regular Australian style, and though the water was too shallow
for swimming, a bath was very refreshing.
This issue also contains the first in a listing of Baptist ministers
in 19th Century Queensland. The first section gives biographical information
on the all the German Baptist ministers - totalling 16 orginating in Germany,
USA (the German Baptist Conference) and locally.
Pastoral Profiles
Short profiles of Baptist pastors reprinted from The Queensland
Baptist, 1899, and supplemented with extra notes. This issue of Forum
features the life of Rev. John Kingsford, for 37 years minister of the
Jireh Particular Baptist Church, Gipps St Fortitude Valley, Brisbane of
which he was the founding minister.
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An excerpt from this issue of Forum:
Rev. John Kingsford
Reproduced from the Queensland
Baptist, August 1899
THIRTY-SEVEN years in one pastorate
is a record unique in Queensland, and such has been accomplished in the
case of Rev. John Kingsford and Jireh Church, Gipp Street, Valley. In another
column we publish the interesting letters to and from the church in connection
with Mr. Kingsford’s retirement, and the occasion furnishes a suitable
opportunity for presenting our readers with the portrait of the venerable
pastor.
Born at Canterbury, England, in 1818,
he has passed his eight-first year. He arrived in Queensland early in 1861
to join his brother in business. Having already attained some note as a
preacher in the Strict Baptist churches of East Kent during a period of
24 years, he at once fell into harness in Queensland. In 1862 the second
Baptist Church in Brisbane was formed, and the foundations of "Jireh" laid.
On the opening of the building on 10th
December, 1862, Mr. Kingsford was publicly set apart for the pastorate,
though for some time afterwards he continued in business with his brother.
Presently the church claimed all his time, and he retired from business.
While bodily strength and vigour continued much activity was displayed,
and "Jireh" became the parent of the churches at Windsor Road, Nundah,
and Albion, while other districts owe not a little to the labours of Pastor
Kingsford and his members.
With advancing years less arduous work
became imperative, and on attaining threescore and ten he tendered his
resignation. This the church refused to entertain, begging him to continue
without thought of severing the relationship, and eleven years of faithful
service have followed. Even now Mr. Kingsford can occupy the pulpit with
much acceptance, but diminished locomotive powers have prevented much pastoral
work, and at length an arrangement has been made which must be a source
of satisfaction to both pastor and people.
Mrs. Kingsford is the youngest sister
of the late Charles Walter Banks, a well-known name among Strict Baptist
churches, and in connection with the editorial chair of the Earthen
Vessel. She is slightly her husband's senior, and all our readers will
desire for the venerable couple light and peace at eventide, and a joyous
entrance into the Master's presence.
Among the pioneers who have left their
mark upon the history of Queensland, a prominent place must be given to
Rev. John Kingsford.
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Copyright David Parker Apr 1998