JOHNSTON, Edgar Morton, Rev. (1908-1998)
Memorial minute Presbytery of Melb East 1998
Edgar Morton Johnston was born 18th December 1908 in Toowoomba, Queensland. He served as Home Missionary in Queensland at Blackall, Murphy’s Creek, Burleigh Heads, Gin Gin and Springsure. At Burleigh Heads he built up a strong youth group with several hundred young people attending the Saturday evening rallies. He married Lily (Genrich) on 23 February 1942 while at Gin Gin, and they then transferred to Springsure. After a few years they moved to Bald Hills in Brisbane where he completed his theological studies. He was ordained in 1947.
Edgar and Lily ministered at Wilston, Brisbane, and then the Atherton Tablelands, before moving to the Flemington parish in Victoria in 1954. In 1961 they moved to the Moorabool parish outside Geelong, and then to Reservoir in 1967. In 1977, at the age of 69, Edgar and Lily left this successful growing church to move to Adelaide to care for 12 churches and preaching places that had been severely affected by the Union. The Whyalla-Port Augusta Patrol was recommenced. They moved to the Frankston parish in 1979, from where Edgar retired in 1983, a young 75 years.
In his retirement, Edgar preached for a year at the Christian Catholic Church in Surrey Hills, and for a year at Brighton. Shorter times were spent at Clifton Hill, Balaclava, Ballarat, Canterbury, Chalmers (Auburn), and Caulfield, with occasional preaching to the “older folk” at Kirkbrae.
At 6am on Saturday 3 October 1998, Edgar Johnston died peacefully in his sleep at home in the presence of loved ones. He is sorely missed by his wife Lily, daughter Margaret Collier, sons Ron and Noel, and ten grandchildren. A private family service and burial took place on Monday 5 October and a thanksgiving service at 2.30pm, Sunday 18 October, at St Stephen’s Surrey Hills. The service was led by the Moderator of Presbytery, Rev. David Innes, with the Victorian Moderator, Rt Rev. John Woodward, and Edgar’s parish minister, Rev. Peter Orchard.
In his life, and in his death, Edgar’s desire was to fearlessly and lovingly preach the gospel and to glorify God. He has now passed on to enjoy Him forever. 2 Timothy 4:7-8.
Gender
- Male