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REID, JOHN (b. Tarbolton, Ayrshire, Scotland, 1800; d. Sydney, 18 July 1867). Presbyterian minister.
Reid was the son of a farmer and grew up in a Seceeder family in a part of Scotland noted for a lively interest in intellectual debate, doctrinal controversy and schisms. He studied Arts and Medicine at Edinburgh University 1815-18, and at the United Secession Theological Hall under Professor Dick 1823-25. Licensed 1826 and ordained 1829, he ministered to a small congregation in Dalry, Dumfriesshire, from 1829 to 1833, when a personal problem caused him to resign from parish and denomination. He was next minister of two small independent congregations in inner-city Edinburgh. He and the second one joined the Auld Licht Burghers, who rejoined the established Church in 1839, just after Reid was translated to Bathgate. He moved to Johnstone 1841-45 and then to the Scots Church in Liverpool 1845-51. He then departed for Australia.
He developed new congregations in Melbourne and Essendon for the ('established') Synod of Victoria, moved to North Melbourne and switched to the UPC in 1857 over the state aid issue. Next, he was called to be colleague to Rev Dr J D Lang (q.v.) at Scots Church, Sydney. He worked hard as a pastor and his wife Marion opened a ragged school in the Rocks area. In 1862, controversy attended his resignation and move to the non-denominational evangelical Mariners' Church. He rejoined the 'established' Synod and in 1865 the reunited PC of NSW. He built up the congregation and Sunday School and looked after the welfare of sailors
Reid embodied in exaggerated form the Presbyterian concern to uphold Christ as the only king and head of the church, constantly seeking but never finding the ideal church-state relationship. He preached impressively in an old-fashioned style. His family was always involved in church life. One son, George, was premier of NSW 1894-99 and prime minister of Australia 1904-5.
M D Prentis, 'Scottish Seceder in the Australian Colonies: The Eccentric Pilgrimage of John Reid' JRH 17, 3 (June 1993): 336-50
MALCOLM D PRENTIS
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