Joseph Edgar NEWNHAM

NEWNHAM, JOSEPH EDGAR (b. Karramomus, Vic, 14 Jan 1880, d. Kew, Vic 30 April 1966). Vic Baptist leader.

A member of an early pioneering family, Newnham was brought up in a farming community. He left the country to work in Melbourne as a grocer. Converted in 1902, he became a member of the Abbotsford Baptist Church, from which he entered the Baptist College of Victoria in 1910. Later in pastoral service he completed his BA (1917, University of Melbourne), MA (1921), and BD (1938, MCD).

Following ordination, Newnham ministered at Ivanhoe (1914-22) marrying Hilda King in 1914, at St Thomas, Ontario, Canada (192226), and at Kew, Vic (1926-41). An early contemporary described him as 'a man of grit courage and ability ... a genius in financial affairs'. His North American experience was to colour the remainder of his ministry.

Though the Kew years were troubled by economic depression and war, the church prospered under his wise leadership. In a wide range of services, he sought to cater for the needs of all his people. The thrust of his ministry was evangelistic. He built up a large Sunday school and virile Christian Endeavour societies. People were trained and sent out to serve weak congregations in need of encouragement throughout Melbourne. Some of his finest young people were sent for training to prepare them for missionary and ministerial service. Land was purchased and a building erected at East Kew in 1931, to which 60 members of the mother-congregation were dismissed to form a new church. He was president of the Baptist Union of Victoria in 1932-3 and in 1935. He served as secretary of the Councils of Carey Baptist Grammar School and of the Baptist College of Victoria, later becoming president of the latter.

Although many anticipated that Newnham would be appointed principal of the College in 1938, his pastoral and organisational gifts were to be directed to the consolidation and development of the Victorian Baptist Home Missionary Society. In 1941, at a period when strong and imaginative leadership was needed, he accepted the superintendency of the Mission. Newnham inspired a sense of unity and confidence among the churches and his staff through personal visits to them, in spite of the ardours of travel. When congregations were content to mark time, with many leaders and members serving in the forces, he called for advance in a concerted endeavour to spread the gospel. The outlines of the policy he enunciated for such a forward movement were followed well into the postwar years. New church buildings were then impossible but, with an eye to the future, financial resources were gathered in order that opportunities might be grasped when restrictions were relaxed. Land was purchased for churches, schools and manses. He also saw that stipends paid to his impecunious staff were increased to more realistic levels, especially in a time of rising prices and prosperity.

The strain of the work took its toll. In 1945, ill health made retirement inevitable. He handed over his work to Rev J G Manning (q.v.), although as long as his strength permitted, he continued to serve the Mission, rendering loyal assistance to his successor. He spurned Manning's suggestion that he be appointed associate superintendent. Nevertheless, he was accorded the honour of Pastor Emeritus of the Kew Church and Superintendent of the Mission.

Baptist Union Archives, Hawthorn, Victoria; B S Brown, Members One of Another (Melbourne, 1962); J G Manning, Builders for God (Melbourne, 1971); F J Wilkin, Our First Century (Melbourne, 1939)

BASIL S BROWN