Thomas MAGAREY

MAGAREY, THOMAS (b. Ballykillibegs, co Louth, Ireland, 25 Jan 1825; d. Enfield, SA, 31 Aug 1902). Businessman and Churches of Christ founder in SA.

Born into a Wesleyan family, Magarey had only six months of formal schooling, but became an avid reader. In 1841 he migrated with his brother James to the new settlement of Nelson, New Zealand. There they attempted to make a living in clearing land, carrying and shopkeeping. At the end of 1844 Magarey had a near fatal accident, in which his head was run over by a cart; this caused frequent and painful headaches in later years. About the same time he came into contact with Thomas Jackson, who had founded in Nelson a congregation of Disciples of Christ. He was baptised by immersion in March 1845. Having no success, the Magarey brothers sailed in Sept 1845 to SA which appeared to be more prosperous. In Adelaide Magarey joined a group of Christians, called Scotch Baptists, who rejected denominational labels. He introduced and distributed the writings of Alexander Campbell, one of the founders of the Disciples of Christ in the US, and copies of the British Millennial Harbinger. After opening its first permanent chapel in Franklin Street, in 1846, this congregation became divided between the Calvinists, led by Captain Scott, who withdrew with his followers in 1848, and those who were influenced by Restorationist teachings. This latter group called itself the Church of Christ.

In March 1848 Magarey married Elisabeth Verco and settled at Noarlunga, south of Adelaide, where he managed a flour mill. In 1850 he and James Magarey bought John Ridley's flour mill at Hindmarsh, an Adelaide township, which became very profitable. Magarey soon took over the business, became rich and in 1857 built a large house at Enfield (northern Adelaide), where he lived for the rest of his life. On the roof he installed a telescope to study the stars and in his private quarters there was a Turkish bath. He was a strict father to his nine children. His eldest son Alexander married a daughter of Alexander Campbell.

At Hindmarsh Magarey was one of the founders of a Church of Christ Sunday school and church (1855) and in 1857 was elected to the district council. He also entered colonial politics. From 1860 to 1862 he represented West Torrens in the SA House of Assembly and from 1865 to 1867 he was a member of the SA Legislative Council. From 1861 he bought and leased a number of pastoral runs, mainly in the south-east of SA and in parliament he was a spirited defender of the pastoral industry. As one of the colony's most successful businessmen, he was a founding shareholder and director of the Bank of Adelaide in 1865 and a part owner of the South Australian Register. He was also a foundation member of the socially exclusive Adelaide Club.

In 1866 Magarey was responsible for bringing to Adelaide an English-American evangelist Henry S Earl (q.v.) who had come to Australia in 1864 as a full-time preacher for the Churches of Christ. Earl's oratory attracted big crowds in Melbourne and Adelaide. In 1867-68 he ministered at Hindmarsh Church of Christ and in May 1867 married Thomas's niece, Anna. In 1868 Magarey founded and, with T J Gore, co-edited a monthly paper to promote the cause of primitive Christianity, the Australian Christian Pioneer.

Magarey became increasingly reclusive and preoccupied with religious questions. In the 1870s he came into contact with the Brethren and in Melbourne met John Darby, founder of the movement. After reading Brethren literature and attending their meetings, he became convinced that they represented the pure Christianity of the NT. The main point at issue was the doctrine of baptism. Finally, in 1880 he resigned from Grote Street Church of Christ and entered full fellowship with the Brethren meeting in Angas Street. The break with the Disciples of Christ, with whom he had been associated for 35 years, was to him 'a terrible trial'.

ADB 2; P W Verco, Thomas and Elisabeth Magarey (Adelaide, 1990); H R Taylor, The History of the Churches of Christ in South Australia, 1846-1959 (Adelaide, 1959); H R Taylor, Thomas Magarey, 1825-1902 (Adelaide, 1966)

DAVID HILLIARD