BURRIDGE, Herbert William, Rev., M.A. B.D. (1876-1922)
Assembly memorial minute 1923
The Rev. H. W. Burridge, M.A., B.D., died on December 26th, 1922, at the early age of 46 years. Mr. Burridge was the son of an honoured minister of the Methodist Church. Originally he intended to follow a business career, but while at Warrnambool he came under the influence of Rev. W. Gray-Dixon, joined the Presbyterian Church, and determined to study for the ministry of our Church. For some time he was engaged in teaching, and, having graduated M.A. at Melbourne University, he entered Ormond College in 1902. Here Mr Burridge had a very successful career. He was a distinguished student; he made many friends, and the influence of his strong and genial personality was widely and deeply felt. At the close of his college course, Mr. Burridge volunteered for service in the needy State of West Australia. There, he was ordained and inducted to the charge of West Perth—a leading suburban congregation.
His desire for further study and wider experience led Mr. Burridge, after a short ministry, to resign his charge and visit Europe. He studied chiefly in Glasgow, and took the B.D. degree of London University. At a later date he also took the B.D. degree of the Melbourne College of Divinity.
On his return from Europe Mr. Burridge was called to the important charge of St. Paul’s, Invercargill, New Zealand. Soon after the outbreak of the Great War, he volunteered for service abroad, and accompanied the Otago contingent to the front. When the Marquette was torpedoed in the Gulf of Salonika, he spent eight hours in the water, and bravely assisted those in danger of drowning. He afterwards accompanied the troops to England and France.
The hardships he endured while on active service made a heavy toll on his strength, and doubtless sowed the seeds of the disease to which he ultimately succumbed. Mr. Burridge returned to his charge in Invercargill, but remained there only for a brief period. For nine months he acted as locum tenens for Dr. Gibb, of St. John’s Church, Wellington.
At the end of 1919 he returned to Victoria in search of rest and change. A unanimous call from St. John’s, Essendon, decided him to remain in Australia. He entered upon his minis try under the happiest auspices in this important charge, and, from the outset, his preaching and personal influence made a deep impression. In the providence of God, however, his ministry was destined to be brief.
In the second year of his service at Essendon he was stricken with a mortal disease. For a while he rallied and, only a few weeks before his death, he made a remarkable speech in the Assembly in support of the candidature of his friend, the Rev. S.F. Hunter, for the Chair of O.T. Studies. The rally was only temporary. After much suffering, patiently borne, he entered into rest, quietly, and full of faith, leaving behind him the record of a notable and faithful ministry in many spheres and many lands.
The General Assembly places on record its high sense of the value of the services rendered to the Church by Rev. H. W. Burridge, and its deep regret that at so early an age he should have fallen at his post. It would also convey to the bereaved widow and friends its sincere sympathy.
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