Matthew MCGAVIN

MCGAVIN, MATTHEW (b. Irvine, Ayrshire Scotland, 1807, d. Milson's Point, NSW, 16 Dec 1874). Presbyterian minister.

The son of a grocer, Matthew McGavin studied at the United Secession Theological Hall and won a MA degree, presumably from Glasgow University. He was ordained and inducted to Stonehouse on 13 June 1831, where he ministered to a growing congregation for ten years. He was then translated to Wellwynd church, Airdrie, where he presided over considerable church extension from 1841 to 1863.

He arrived in Brisbane in Aug 1863, to take charge of the UPC, Creek Street, still outside the reunited Kirk. He and congregation joined the PC of Queensland in 1866 and his vigorous and successful ministry was acknowledged by his election as Moderator of Synod in 1868.

His interests included music and he both composed a psalm tune and published The Precentor's Guide to the Selection of Tunes (1853). His other writings included Revivals of Religion (nd) and The Claims of Popery (1874). Creek Street congregation, which later moved to a site in St Paul's Terrace, not only grew numerically but contained several influential politicians and businessmen. McGavin was an old-fashioned Secessionist and hard-working pastor and preacher, both orthodox and enthusiastic.

ADB 5; A Hay, Jubilee Memorial of the Presbyterian Church of Queensland (Brisbane, 1900); R Small, History of the Congregations of the United Presbyterian Church from 1733 to 1900 (Edinburgh, 1904)

MALCOLM D PRENTIS