Queensland Baptist Forum

Freda Lane was born Freda Emily Gladys Varnes, the fourth child of Herbert Harry Varnes and Fanny Louisa Varnes (nee Hollier), on January 5, 1908, in Guildford, Surrey, in England. When she was five years of age her parents brought their family to Sydney, Australia, where Herbert worked in the building trade for the Sydney Harbour Trust. He was a fine carpenter, and constructed the pulpits for two church buildings in Sydney – North Sydney (now Northside) Baptist Church and Northbridge Baptist Church. A feature of these was the intricate carving of bells and pomegranates around the top of the furnishing, to portray the embroiderings on the high priest's robe of Old Testament days (Exodus 28:31-35).

Freda's older sister Amy became an accomplished pianist and organist. A humorous anecdote concerning Amy was that she became the assistant organist at North Sydney Baptist Church, playing the pipe organ in the days before the bellows were operated by an electric motor. Several boys pumped the bellows mechanically. The organist who usually played the instrument would at times berate these boys, with the outcome that they would deprive him of the necessary power when he required extra volume. However, they liked Miss Amy and she never lacked power for the instrument! Freda also was musically talented, taking piano lessons from an early age, and practising for some two hours every morning and for the same period in the afternoon. From the London College of Music she graduated ALCM in 1927 and LLCM in 1928.

This in itself was a great achievement for Freda, because in 1920 she was involved in a very serious accident with her other older sister Eva, who was fourteen at the time. While going shopping for their mother they were hit by a car driven by a drunken doctor. Freda appeared to be the worst injured, as she was unconscious for several days. However, Eva sustained internal injuries, and lived for only another fifteen years, during which period of time she became very handy in house work and needlework. Freda developed muscular atrophy in her hands as a result of the accident, and was told that she should never play the piano again as it might cause the atrophy to spread in her body. She did not heed this advice, and with God as her Helper overcame this disability, though it was always present to challenge her and to motivate her to new techniques in the use of her hands in playing the instrument.
In 1928 a young man named Samuel Lane began studies for the Baptist ministry at what is now Morling College, in Sydney. He had come from the country near Armidale, N.S.W., and had spent twelve months as a home missionary on probation at Griffith. A fellow student, Frank Varnes (Freda's older brother), took pity on ‘the boy from the bush’ (as Sam called himself) in his loneliness in the big city and invited him to his home at Crows Nest on Sydney's North Shore. There Sam met Freda. Love blossomed, and they were married at North Sydney Church by Revd Dr E.L. Watson on November 5, 1932. This date was celebrated as Guy Fawkes Day, and Sam would often jest in later years, ‘My wife and I were married on Guy Fawkes Day, and it's been fireworks ever since!’

In all the churches where Sam and Freda served in both N.S.W. and Queensland, Freda's musical talents were put to good use, even in the days when children were joining the family. Three instances will suffice: For the Lismore ministry (1934-36) Sam bought a tent, chairs and a folding organ, and travelled around the district conducting evangelistic missions for which Freda provided the music. Sam became pastor at Silkstone Baptist Tabernacle (Queensland) in 1946, where there was a large choir. The anthems rendered by the choir were accompanied by both organ and piano, with Freda often the pianist. Not long into the Nundah ministry (1952-63) a Girls' Brigade Company was formed. Freda played the piano for the physical exercise segment of the night's activity, leading the girls into their varying routines, playing always from memory.

A story from Silkstone days shows Freda's musical ability in singing as well. Robert Harkness came to Ipswich for a meeting at Central Baptist Church on April 21, 1950. This famous musician was born in Australia, but had lived for many years in the U.S.A., having served as pianist for the evangelistic campaigns of Drs R.A. Torrey and J.W. Chapman at an earlier time. An accomplished composer of music, Harkness “set a verse of Scripture, submitted by a member of the audience, to music in less than two minutes. Mrs Lane sang it as a solo and soon he had the audience singing the melody” (Tabernacle Tidings, May 1950, p.7).

Her ability to transpose musical scores was outstanding. She was always in demand as an accompanist. One tenor singer with a good voice had the tendency to wander “off-key” when singing a solo in church services. In order to save him embarrassment, Freda would join him in the different key!
In later years Freda joined no fewer than three choirs: the Brisbane Baptist City Tabernacle Church Choir, the Crusade Choir which sang at Dr Billy Graham's evangelistic meetings in 1959 and 1968, and the Queensland Baptist Women’s Union Choir. She also occasionally played the fine pipe organ in the City Tabernacle. Also, at times she gave piano lessons to children at the request of their parents.
During the time of Sam's Presidency of the Baptist Union of Queensland (1961-62), Freda was often invited to speak at ladies’ meetings in Baptist Churches, and did so with warm acceptance. At about this time she served a term as President of the Queensland Baptist Women's Union.

Sam and Freda 's five children, Eva (born 21/11/1933), Cynthia (28/02/1936), Graham (15/11/1938), John (28/10/1943), and Ken (6/12/1949), are all Christians serving the Lord in various ways, with their families following their example. Freda would rejoice in this, especially to see the musical talent blossoming among her grandchildren.

Freda spent her final years in the Nursing Home in Clifford House, at Wooloowin, Queensland, having suffered a debilitating stroke on January 2, 1985, which sadly robbed her of much of her musical ability. On March 8, 2002, Freda entered the Lord's presence, no doubt with the choirs of heaven pealing their welcome. She had made music for her Saviour, with many blessed as she faithfully used her gift for His glory.

Sources:

Baker, Joan. History of Northside Baptist Church 1896 – 1996, p. 76.

Lane, John. Horseman to Herald – The Life and Ministry of the Revd Samuel Lane, p. 57.

Lane, Samuel. Treasured Memories of a Wonderful Love. p. 3.

Tabernacle Tidings, The Monthly Organ of the Silkstone Baptist Church, May 1950, p. 7.

Lane, Ken. History of the Varnes Family from 1852 - 1998, p. 52.