James BENNY

BENNY, JAMES (b. Scotland, c. 1824, d. Morphett Vale, SA, 3 May 1910). (Free) Presbyterian minister.

Benny was of Stirlingshire stock, trained for the law. He witnessed the Disruption of the Scottish church in May 1843 and carried inspiring memories of that event with him when he came to South Australia in 1844. John Gardner (q.v.) arrived as the first Free Church minister in March 1850, and Benny became and elder and session clerk of the congregation the following year. He trained for the ministry under Gardner, commenced supply at Morphett Vale in December 1853, was ordained there 20 September 1854 and retired 50 years later.

In 1858, Benny and his elders were deposed by the Presbytery in a dispute over a difficult case of discipline. The Session was in the right, and the effect was to isolate Morphett Vale and two daughter congregations (Aldinga and Yankalilla). As a result of this action Benny's group (a community of about 850 persons) remained outside the union of 1865 which formed the Presbyterian Church of South Australia.

Benny trained three men for the ministry and operated a presbytery 1869-81. Further centres were established at Kingston SE, Robe, Lucindale and Spalding. He also conducted The Free Presbyterian Magazine 1875-81. Benny was a well-organised man, an attractive preacher, and an excellent visitor. He was much admired for his consistency and his spiritual ministry, which was in the R M McCheyne tradition. Benny's movement did not endure since it was based in rural localities, lacked a source of ministers and the ability to support them, and fell into factionalism over his successor.

R S Ward, The Free Presbyterian Church of South Australia (Melbourne, 1984)

ROWLAND S WARD