TAYLOR, John Malcolm, Rev (1886-1947)
Assembly memorial minute, 1948
John Malcolm Taylor was born at Narrawong, near Portland, on the 7th of November, 1886. During the ministry of the Rev. F. E. Yeaman at Portland, Mr. Taylor received a call to the Christian ministry, and thereupon entered the Home Mission service, in which for some years he did faithful and gracious work until 1915. His years in the Theological Hall were 1916, 1917 and exit 1918, during which years he was resident in Ormond College. For the first two years of his Hall course he was assistant to the Rev. R. Mitchell of Rosedale. At this period he met Miss Jessie Bell of Flynn's Creek, who became the future lady of his Manse. During his exit year, he served at the Young Street Mission, Fitzroy.
The Home Mission Committee appointed him to Tylden, as an exit Charge, where he was ordained in 1919. After a brief ministry there, he was translated to Penola, where he was inducted on the 21st of April, 1922. He was translated to Jamestwon, S.A., on 30th of September, 1924. Here he served faithfully for five years, among a farming people of a widely scattered area. On the 4th of April, 1929, he was inducted into the Bulla Charge, where he spent six happy years. His best work was probably performed at Seymour, where he was settled on the 14th of August, 1935. Here a beautiful church building remains as a perpetual memorial to his prosperous and spiritual ministry. Health reasons compelled him to leave Seymour. He was then translated to the Carlton United Mission on the 28th of April, 1942. Increasingly ill-health, however, necessitated retirement, so that he resigned on the last day of October, 1944.
Malcolm Taylor was ever a faithful minister, attending zealously to the courts of the Church he loved. He never failed to thank his God Who had called him to become one of its ministers. His devotion to high ideals, and gracious friendly spirit to others, gained him favour and popularity among his associates. His genial temperament rendered him successful in reconciling men with men, as well as leading them to their God and Saviour.
In the last few years, it fell to the task of Mrs. Taylor to nurse her husband. This gracious lady sustained a magnificent and heroic task, until Mr. Taylor quietly fell asleep, on the 19th day of June, 1947.
The Assembly extends sincere sympathy to Mrs. Taylor and her daughters.
Gender
- Male