HEADEN, Charles William Thomas, Rev (1888-1945)
Assembly Memorial Minute,1946
Charles William Thomas Headen was born in Prahran on November 13th, 1888. He took his early education at the State School, Punt Road, South Yarra. His business experience was gained in the firm of Connibere, Grieve, and Connibere, Melbourne. In his early twenties he began his missionary work under the Home Mission Committee. Among his appointments were Casterton, Zeehan, Stanley, Lindenow, Cowes, Scottsdale, Yallourn, Warburton, Bright and Myrtleford. At Casterton he was assistant to the late Rev. Karl Forster, minister at Casterton from 1909 to 1916. A lifelong friendship resulted, and Mr. Headen was chaplain to Mr. Forster when the latter was State Moderator (1938-1939). He also did overseas work for the Y.M.C.A. in the course of the first World War (1914-1918). Through his long period of Home Missionary work, Mr. Headen kept steadily in view the status of a fully ordained minister, and completed the course of study prescribed for Home Missionaries. But in the interests of the Church he was prepared to undergo a further period of waiting.
At this time the Church in Western Australia was in great need of a special type of Home Missionaries, who might be ordained and so qualified to dispense the Sacraments. A resolution of the General Assembly of Australia empowered the Church in Western Australia to ordain men for work in that State: such men, however, were not to be eligible for a Call outside Western Australia. This need appealed to Mr. Headen, who had special gifts for the type of work offered by the wide spaces of Western Australia. He was ordained at Carnamah, W.A., on November 14th, 1929, at the age of 41 years.
After four years in the West he returned to Victoria (September, 1932), and resumed work under the Home Mission Committee at Merino and Loch. Resolving to free himself from the limitation imposed by the above-mentioned resolution of the General Assembly of Australia, he entered the Theological Hall, Ormond College, did the three years’ course, and became an Exit student in 1936.
His first Charge was that of Beechworth, where he was inducted on September 27th, 1937. Thence he was translated to Beeac exactly two years later (1939), and on December 30th, 1942, he was translated to the Charge of Portland. His last Charge was that of Murray Bridge, S. A., where he was inducted on March 16th, 1945. This was a Special Charge, and was intended to be the headquarters of freshly planned patrol work in the desert and along the Murray River. This work, however, was cut short by his sudden and unexpected death three months after his induction, on June 9th, 1945.
Mr. Headen was a man of tenacity of purpose in the service of his Master. He was an extremely active minister, and took a special interest in youth work. He was a strong advocate of pastoral visitation, believing that that side of ministerial work was just as important as pulpit work. He always took a keen interest in public affairs. He left every Charge which he held in a better position, both spiritually and financially. In 1923 he married Miss Nina Elizabeth Jones, of Scottsdale, Tasmania, and the Manse was ever a centre of cordial hospitality to visitors.
The Assembly tenders its sincere sympathy to Mrs. Headen in her bereavement.
Gender
- Male