John Carnegie FARQUHAR

FARQUHAR, JOHN CARNEGIE (b. Torry, Scotland, 1887; d. Brisbane, Qld, 16 Sept 1972). Baptist minister and evangelist.

As a teenager Farquhar was converted through a work-mate in the ship-building industry. He became convinced of believer's baptism and joined the Baptist church. Following studies at the Glasgow Bible Training Institute he came to Qld in late l 908 and pastored the Lakes Creek Church for two years. In 1910 he married Ethel May Shaw.

An American evangelist, Dr J Q A Henry, invited him to join his team as soloist and musical director in which capacity he had several months' experience in 1911 evangelising in Australasia. From 1911 to 1916 hepastored the Ipswich Baptist Church and studied at the Qld Baptist College, and was then ordained. His 1916-25 Vic ministry embraced the Ballarat and Fitzroy churches. After a preaching trip to Canada he took two Qld pastorates, Silkstone and Rosalie, from 1925 to 1942.

Farquhar was an AIF military chaplain 1942-6, and then minister at Sandgate and South Brisbane until 1960. In retirement he continued as chaplain to Brisbane's repatriation hospitals and served the Moore Park church.

He had a strong evangelistic emphasis. Several of his churches grew numerically under his ministry, some dramatically, and he conducted many evangelistic campaigns in other churches over the years. Possessed of a rich baritone voice of exceptional quality, he often sang in association with his preaching.

In 1934-5 he served as president of the Baptist Union of Queensland and as chairman of the College Committee in the 1940s and chairman of the Home Mission 1948-57, he exercised a strong influence in Union affairs. However, his greatest impact on the denomination came as a result of his pastoral work and evangelistic preaching in various churches throughout the state. His strongly conservative theological stance and colourful personality had a marked impact on many Queensland Baptists, including pastors.

STAN W NICKERSON