ALEXANDER, William Thompson, Rev, B.A. (1888-1949)
Assembly memorial minute, 1950
William Alexander was born on 9th August, 1888, in Midlothian, Scotland, and baptized in the Free Church. He was a member of a family of organ builders, worshipping within St. Giles’, Edinburgh, where he became a chorister. It was natural that he should come to know the mechanism and technique of the king of instruments. He himself came to be no mean musician. He completed an Arts course at the Edinburgh University in 1914, having been a Divinity student for four years at New College, and became a licentiate of the United Free Church.
He enlisted as a combatant officer in the Durham Light Infantry, and was on active service for five years. In the German offensive of 1918 he was taken prisoner, but was released in December. In recognition of religious and educational work among British officers (prisoners of war) he was invested by the King of Denmark with the Order of St. John of Jerusalem. In 1919 he was with the Army of Occupation in Cologne, attached to the 6th Corps Education Department, as Chaplain and Educational Officer. Thereafter he worked with Studdart Kennedy in London. In 1920 he was demobilised and gazetted Honorary Chaplain to the Forces. He then took a refresher course at Cambridge, thence was appointed lecturer to the English Y.M.C.A. secretaries, and Selection Officer to the Midlands Immigration Department of the Y.M.C.A.
In December, 1922, he sailed for Australia with a party of migrants. As a result of a meeting with the Rev. John Flynn in Sydney, Mr. Alexander accepted appointment to Cloncurry in March, 1923. He laboured at this A.I.M. post for almost three years, during which time he petitioned the General Assembly of Australia.
In 1924 the prayer of his petition was granted. He was ordained as a minister of our Church on August 24th, 1925, and inducted into the pastoral charge of Townsville. In 1926 he was transferred to Aberdeen, N.S.W.; in 1929 to Tallangatta, Victoria; and to Boort in 1933. During the later years of this pastorate he made a gallant fight to regain health and strength, but was compelled to resign on 30th April, 1939.
The environs of his early years at St. Giles’ had sowed seeds of keen interest in church decoration. He was an enthusiast in Liturgies and was a pioneer towards better order, greater dignity and truer beauty in public worship. He will be remembered for his unclouded faith, and the courage with which he met adversity. His fight for health was continued throughout his ten years of retirement. He became blind and practically helpless; but all who met him were inspired by the amazing cheerfulness with which he encountered pain and suffering.
He passed away at his home in Coburg on Saturday, 6th August, 1949.
To Mrs. Alexander and her two sons, the Assembly tenders sincere sympathy.
Gender
- Male