Herbert Gordon Smirnoff BEGBIE

BEGBIE, HERBERT GORDON SMIRNOFF (b. North Melbourne, Vic, 28 Oct 1905, d. Sydney NSW, 7 June 1973). Anglican clergyman and bp.

Gordon Begbie was the seventh child of H S Begbie (q.v.). Brought up in a godly home, he was educated in Sydney at Trinity Grammar and Shore, then completed a BA at Sydney University and studies at MTC. Deaconed 1928, priested 1929 in the Anglican church, he served curacies in Sydney and Hobart, then as rector of Narrabeen (1934-7), Berrima & Moss Vale (1937-47, Campsie (1947-9) before his great work as archdeacon of Camden and rector of Wollongong (1949-60) where he oversaw the rapid growth of Anglican ministry in that expanding southern industrial area. He was diocesan registrar 1960-7, then first bp in Parramatta (1967-72), as part of the devolved pastoral leadership adopted by Abp Loane. Here too he gave significant stimulus to an expanding Anglican ministry of marked evangelical character. Begbie accumulated many extra duties, especially in founding diocesan schools—Glennifer Brae and The Illawarra Grammar School, or serving on their councils—SCEGGS, Kings. He also gained many friends as secretary of the Standing Committee of General Synod of the ACA (1960-70). No theologian, he was a dedicated pastor and preacher who generated trust and a sense of sterling goodness from a wide section of Sydney's community. 'He had the heart of a shepherd for all who were in need or who had drifted out of the way ... [his] strong unselfish devotion made him a friend of rock-like steadfastness' (Loane, Mark These Men, 87).

M Loane, Mark These Men (Sydney, 1985)

BRIAN DICKEY