Rainsford BAVIN

BAVIN, RAINSFORD (b. Lincolnshire, England, 30 Sept 1845; d. Sydney, NSW, 2 Aug 1905). Wesleyan Methodist minister.

Accepted for the Wesleyan ministry in 1864 Rainsford Bavin had two years theological training before being sent to New Zealand in 1866, where he was ordained in the same year. He m. Emma Biddle in 1869. He ministered for 22 years in 8 Wesleyan circuits continually 'doing the work of an evangelist' and winning many converts. Transferring to NSW in 1889 Bavin served in the William Street (Sydney) Newtown, Sydney CMM and Ashfield circuits continuing to build one of the most successful evangelical Wesleyan ministries in Australasia.

Bavin's ministry at the Sydney CMM was distinguished by the opening of what was to become the Dalmar Children's Home. Although not his own idea, he saw the need for this home and fought strongly for its establishment against many in the church who thought the time (October 1893, the midst of the depression) inopportune. In this he was powerfully supported by his wife, as well as Sister Laura Francis (q.v.) and Ebenezer Vickery (q.v.), as well as the original proponents, the Rev and Mrs J A Nolan. The aim of the home was spiritual and moral, as well as physical, rescue.

From April 1902, Bavin was sent to Newcastle to establish a Newcastle Central Methodist Mission. Despite unforeseen difficulties, Bavin built the fine mission hall, which now stands unused in King Street, and was soon preaching to an evening service of more than l000. Street preaching was carried on and a beginning macle to building up the institutions which inevitably surround such missions.

Bavin displayed a marked capacity tor connexional and organisational work and, over his ministry he spent 11 years in the role of chairman of a District. He was made president of the New Zealand Wesleyan Conference in 1883 and of the (united) NSW Methodist Conference in 1903. From 1899, Bavin was set aside by his colleagues for three years as secretary of the Methodist Twentieth Century Fund. That this raised only about 80 percent of the 50,000 guineas sought to meet the needs of the church at home and abroad was more the fault of depression and drought than of its hardworking secretary. In the circumstances of the time, it was probably to be counted a success.

A man of prayer, and a diligent, if conservative, student of the Bible, Bavin was a fine expository preacher and coupled his own skills with those of his laymen to build a successful evangelical ministry wherever he was placed.

Minutes of NSW Methodist Conference, 1906; J Colwell, Illustrated History of Methodism(Sydney, 1904); Methodist, 5, 12 August 1905; Don Wright, Mantle of Christ (St Lucia, 1984)

DON WRIGHT