Thomas John MALYON

MALYON, THOMAS JOHN (b. London, England, 10 Nov 1844; d. Brisbane, Qld, 23 May 1921). Founding principal of the Queensland Baptist College.

In infancy Malyon was baptised John Thomas (later preferring Thomas John) as an Anglican and was to have at least four sisters. He spent some time in the Normal Training College, South London, and by 1861 was a commercial clerk. In 1862 he entered Regent's Park College (Baptist) to train for the ministry but left after only two years to take a church. From 1864 to 1889 he pastored six churches in London, King's Lynn, Stockton-on-Tees, and Sunderland for short periods of time and had some years out of the ministry.

In 1890 he migrated to Sydney where he pastored the Harris Street Church for just one year. Moving to Melbourne he ministered from 1892 to 1902 at South Yarra, Albert Street, and South Melbourne Churches. His Qld pastorates were Ipswich (1903- 11) and Petrie Terrace, Brisbane (1911-15) after which he retired.

Malyon was reserved and somewhat aloof, not ideally suited to pastoral ministry despite his great ability as a preacher. His real strength lay in teaching which he consistently pursued both in England and Australia. In 1903 he proposed the establishment of a Queensland Baptist College. Classes began in March 1904 with four student-pastors in a room at the Brisbane City Tabernacle with Malyon as principal and sole lecturer, and still pastor at Ipswich.

He carried this burden until Ipswich forced him to resign the principalship in 1910. However, on moving to Petrie Terrace he resumed as principal in 1912 with help from associate lecturers. He lectured virtually to the end of his life and during his principalship 23 men were ordained. The college survived those early years only through his enthusiasm and self-sacrifice. In 1865 he married Rosa Crookes and fathered 14 children of whom eight survived into adulthood.

STAN W NICKERSON