Donald Ridley Smirnoff BEGBIE

BEGBIE, DONALD RIDLEY SMIRNOFF (b. Leichhardt, NSW, 30 Sept 1912; d. 6 Jan 1980). Anglican clergyman and artist.

Donald Begbie, was the last of the 11 children born to Archdeacon Herbert Smirnoff BEGBIE & Emily Augusta née MILLER. It was in this godly and happy home, he, along with all his siblings, grew into a personal faith in Christ. He was educated at Sydney Grammar School, Trinity Grammar School, Sydney Art School, Melbourne Bible College and Moore Theological College. He was made a deacon in Feb 1936 and ordained a priest 12 months later by Arch’p Mowll

His qualities as a preacher and pastor were quickly apparent,

but he also was soon demonstrating considerable gifts in art, music, and drama, gladly using them in gospel ministry. After graduating with Diploma from Sydney Art School, it was not long before he was later granted membership of The NSW Royal Art Society. Over the years, it became his practice to use his many art exhibitions to help raise funds for gospel work.

After curacies in Ryde and Parramatta, he took leave for the duration of 1938 to take up a locum in England and gain further experience. In 1941 he was gazetted as an RAAF Chaplain and appointed to Bradfield Park, Darwin, Melville Island and Canberra. After demobilization he became Locum Tenens of the Parish of Sutton Forest (1944-1946), Rector of St Anne’s Ryde (1946-1954), and finally Rector of St Paul’s Wahroonga for nearly 20 years. These years saw significant growth and expansion for the parish. He was also Chaplain of Abbotsleigh Girls School for most of these years. In the late 1950’s, the early days of Television in Sydney, he worked with the Church of England Television Society writing & acting in programmes for Television.

In 1973, due to ill health, he was superannuated until his death through heart attack in 1980.

‘There was a touch of the original in his makeup. He knew how to align all of his talents for the work of ministry. He was very gifted and very versatile in many directions. He had a profound love of music, was a skilled pianist, and he sang with a pleasant tenor voice. He loved beauty in all its forms, and he strove to reproduce it in his art. He was a wood carver of skill and worked in bronze as well.

His bronze-bas relief of the Conversion of St Paul stands in the grounds of St. Paul's Wahroonga.’

M.L.Loane, Address at Funeral of Rev. D.R.S.Begbie St Stephen’s Normanhurst, 1980