CUNNINGHAM, William Richard, Rev , B.D. (1858-1946)
Assembly memorial minute, 1947
William Richard Cunningham was born at Whittlesea on 21st December, 1858. His father, who was an elder in the Whittlesea Presbyterian Church, was one of several who, owing to some dispute in the church, took their families over to the Wesleyan Church. It was natural therefore that when William Richard Cunningham yielded to a powerful impulse to become a minister of the Gospel, he should enter the ranks of the Wesleyan ministry. He was ordained in Wesley Church, Lonsdale Street, Melbourne, on 27th January, 1885, and for twelve years served faithfully the church of his adoption. But, in his own words, he “felt the call of the blood, ” and in 1897 petitioned to be received by the Presbyterian Church of Victoria. The petition was granted on condition of a year’s service in Tasmania or Victoria, and of certain study. The year’s service was given in Hobart, and 1898 he was admitted to full status. His first Presbyterian Charge was that of St. John’s Church, Hobart, where he ministered from 1899 to 1903, and was succeeded by the late Rev. Johannes Heyer. In 1903 he was translated to Buninyong. Subsequent translations were to St. John’s Bendigo (1907), Eaglehawk (1908), Yarram (1910), Korumburra (1914). After six years service there he resigned on 24th October, 1920, and took a rest from active service for some months. He was inducted into Berwick Charge on 2nd November, 1920, and resigned in 1925. After a short ministry in Newtown, Tasmania, he resigned, June 30th, 1926, and was appointed by the Home Mission Committee to Blackburn. Subsequently, he did a good deal of supply work as his health permitted. At the General Assembly in May, 1943, he was fifth on the list of nineteen ministers who were welcomed and congratulated by the Moderator (Principal Hector Maclean), on their long years of service. His last years were spent in his home at Mitcham, quietly and willingly waiting for his call, which came to him suddenly on 5th July, 1946.
The Rev. W.R. Cunningham was a man who loved the service of his Master and Saviour. He was an ordained minister for 61 years, and did active work till almost the end. His noble and venerable appearance commanded instant attention, and the courtesy and dignity of his demeanour won the hearts of the people. As a preacher his message was evangelical and interesting. He had great sympathy for all in distress, and many a burdened soul received from him strength to endure. His love of his fellowmen made him an unwearied pastor. In all his work he received constant inspiration from his wife, whose quiet sympathetic smile will not soon be forgotten. To their family of seven sons and five daughters they ever commended their religion. One son, Frank, became a missionary to Korea, whither he is about to return after resigning the charge of Ring- wood; another son, Lindsay, is serving our Church in the New Hebrides.
In the following verses Mr. Cunningham greeted the approach of the year 1946:
The New Year calls us each to fresh endeavour,
To reach the standard planted on the crest,
To scale the rough and thorny hillside,
And doing this find peace and joy and rest.
We hear the voices of old comrades shouting,
Who’ve gained the summit and the glad “well done, ”
And soon will join them in the song triumphant,
The conquest ended, and the Kingdom won.
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