Steward Campbell Smirnoff BEGBIE

BEGBIE, STEWART CAMPBELL SMIRNOFF (b. Bairnsdale, Vic, 6 Sept 1909; d. Wentworth Falls, NSW, 26 Feb 1975). Anglican clergyman and missionary.

The fourth son of H S Begbie (q.v.), his school career at Trinity Grammar and Shore was marked by outstanding sporting prowess. He taught at Heyfield and then Shore, concurrently completing private theological study (ThL 1938) under T C Hammond (q.v.). On ordination (1939-40) in the Anglican diocese of Sydney he was appointed headmaster of St Andrew's Cathedral Choir School. War service as an RAAF chaplain intervened 1941-5. He then accepted parish appointments, Sans Souci 1946-9, East Roseville 1950-62. In both parishes he exercised a vigorous ministry with a number of significant professions of Christian faith ensuing.

At the suggestion of Abp Loane and the request of Bp Stanway (q.v.) he was appointed by CMS Australia as senior field representative of CMS in East Africa 1962-5. This was his most outstanding ministry, encouraging the growing band of missionaries, coordinating their work with the expanding number of dioceses in the Anglican church in Tanganyika, and exercising a preaching ministry at Dodoma cathedral.

On his return to Australia he served as a chaplain at Concord Repatriation Hospital, a post which gave him flexibility to serve again on diocesan committees, despite his failing health. Like so many other Sydney Anglican clergy he retired with his wife, the former Betty Deck, to the Blue Mountains.

M Loane, Mark These Men (Sydney, 1985)

BRIAN DICKEY