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J. Ernest James

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John Ernest James B.D. (c. 1884 – 20 October 1945)[1] was a Congregational minister in Australia, remembered as preacher at the Collins Street Independent Church, Melbourne for ten years.

History

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J. Ernest James

James was born and educated in Pembroke, Wales,[2] a son of a son of Elizabeth James and William James of Monkston Senior School,[3] later of Culver Park, Tenby,[4] before gaining his Bachelor of Divinity at the Congregational New College, London University in Hampstead.

Following an approach by Joseph Vardon, who was in London for the 1910 coronation of George V, James accepted a call to the Manthorpe Memorial Congregational Church of Unley Road, Unley, South Australia. He married S. Winifred Redclift on 29 July 1911[3] and was ordained on 4 August[5] before he left[6] on the SS Zieten for South Australia, arriving 14 October 1911.

In 1916 he succeeded Rev. William Hawke (c. 1871 – 8 December 1946)[7] as chairman of the S.A. Congregational Union.[8] These were the darkest days of the Great War, when the issue of "national service" (ie conscription) was the uppermost subject in political discussion. James declared himself in favour, but agreed that the council should not hold the Church to either side of such a divisive proposition.[9]

While in South Australia he visited Kadina, a town known for its Welsh heritage, where he gave a spirited lecture on David Lloyd George, "the most hated man of his generation, . . . also the best loved man of his day".[10]

In August 1917 he accepted a call to the Independent (ie. Congregational) Church, Collins street, Melbourne[11] and left for his new post on 20 October, joining the Melbourne Express at the Mount Lofty railway station.

James became chairman of the Victorian Congregational Union in 1920[12]

He was elected president of the Council of Churches in Victoria in 1920.[13]

In 1927 he succeeded F. V. Dowling (died 25 April 1930)[14] as chairman of the Congregational Union of Australia and New Zealand.[15]

The fortunes of the Collins Street Congregational Church soared during his pastorate. Church membership grew by three or four hundred, and church debt had been wiped out. The pews were filled to overflowing for most services, and on occasion the doors had to be closed to visitors.[16]

In 1927 he accepted the invitation to the pastorate of Kensington Chapel, London, and preached his last sermon in Melbourne on 5 February 1928. He left for London on the SS Jervis Bay three days later.[17]

He next went to Castlegate Church, Nottingham, finally to Glasgow, Scotland, where he died suddenly.[18]

Recognition

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James's service to the Congregational churches in Australia is recognised by a stained-glass window at the Unley Uniting Church and a brass plaque at St Michael's Uniting Church, Melbourne.[19]

Family

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James married S. Winifred Redclift on 29 July 1911. They had a son and a daughter.[20]

His siblings included Constance Mary James (c. 1900 – 5 April 1917),[21] Charles Evelyn James (born c. 1882[a]), married Mabel Edith Gurner of Kensington, South Australia in 1919;[22] Stanley James of Kensington Park, South Australia, and a Miss W. James, about whom nothing has been found.

Notes

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  1. ^ From army records: 33 years old in December 1915

References

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  1. ^ "Family Notices". The Chronicle (Adelaide). Vol. 88, no. 5, 003. South Australia. 8 November 1945. p. 16. Retrieved 20 March 2025 – via National Library of Australia.
  2. ^ "The Rev. J. E. James". The Argus (Melbourne). No. 25, 377. Victoria, Australia. 10 December 1927. p. 34. Retrieved 20 March 2025 – via National Library of Australia.
  3. ^ a b "Religious Notes". The Register (Adelaide). Vol. LXXVI, no. 20, 233. South Australia. 16 September 1911. p. 7. Retrieved 20 March 2025 – via National Library of Australia. a good source
  4. ^ "Society Gossip". The Critic (Adelaide). Vol. XVII, no. 947. South Australia. 5 April 1916. p. 21. Retrieved 20 March 2025 – via National Library of Australia.
  5. ^ "Personal". The Advertiser (Adelaide). Vol. LIV, no. 16, 536. South Australia. 16 October 1911. p. 9. Retrieved 20 March 2025 – via National Library of Australia.
  6. ^ "Personal". Evening Journal (Adelaide). Vol. XLV, no. 12564. South Australia. 28 July 1911. p. 1. Retrieved 20 March 2025 – via National Library of Australia.
  7. ^ "Death Of Rev. W. Hawke". The Advertiser (Adelaide). South Australia. 10 December 1946. p. 6. Retrieved 21 March 2025 – via National Library of Australia.
  8. ^ "Congregational Union". The Register (Adelaide). Vol. LXXXI, no. 21, 821. South Australia. 16 October 1916. p. 4. Retrieved 21 March 2025 – via National Library of Australia.
  9. ^ "Out of Order". The Daily Herald (Adelaide). Vol. 7, no. 2055. South Australia. 20 October 1916. p. 6. Retrieved 21 March 2025 – via National Library of Australia.
  10. ^ "David Lloyd George". The Kadina and Wallaroo Times. Vol. LII, no. 5413. South Australia. 23 May 1917. p. 2. Retrieved 21 March 2025 – via National Library of Australia.
  11. ^ "Mostly About People". Kyneton Guardian. No. 7, 965. Victoria, Australia. 14 August 1917. p. 2. Retrieved 21 March 2025 – via National Library of Australia.
  12. ^ "Congregational Union". The Herald (Melbourne). No. 13, 917. Victoria, Australia. 19 October 1920. p. 9. Retrieved 21 March 2025 – via National Library of Australia.
  13. ^ "Council of Churches". The Argus (Melbourne). No. 23, 128. Victoria, Australia. 17 September 1920. p. 6. Retrieved 21 March 2025 – via National Library of Australia.
  14. ^ "Obituary". The Queenslander Illustrated Weekly. Queensland, Australia. 1 May 1930. p. 19. Retrieved 21 March 2025 – via National Library of Australia.
  15. ^ "Congregationalists". The Telegraph (Brisbane). No. 16, 993. Queensland, Australia. 21 May 1927. p. 15. Retrieved 21 March 2025 – via National Library of Australia.
  16. ^ "Presentations to Minister". The Argus (Melbourne). No. 24, 171. Victoria, Australia. 25 January 1924. p. 16. Retrieved 21 March 2025 – via National Library of Australia.
  17. ^ "The Rev. J. E. James Leaves". The Argus (Melbourne). No. 25, 428. Victoria, Australia. 9 February 1928. p. 13. Retrieved 21 March 2025 – via National Library of Australia.
  18. ^ "Death of the Rev. J. Ernest James". The Advertiser (Adelaide). South Australia. 2 November 1945. p. 10. Retrieved 21 March 2025 – via National Library of Australia.
  19. ^ "Reverend John Ernest James". Monuments Australia. Retrieved 20 March 2025.
  20. ^ "Death of Rev. J. Ernest James". The Age. No. 28243. Victoria, Australia. 30 October 1945. p. 3. Retrieved 20 March 2025 – via National Library of Australia.
  21. ^ "Family Notices". The Register (Adelaide). Vol. LXXXII, no. 22, 039. South Australia. 28 June 1917. p. 6. Retrieved 20 March 2025 – via National Library of Australia.
  22. ^ "Family Notices". The Advertiser (Adelaide). Vol. LXI, no. 18, 922. South Australia. 6 June 1919. p. 8. Retrieved 20 March 2025 – via National Library of Australia.
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