John SAUNDERS

SAUNDERS, JOHN (b. London, England, 7 Oct 1806; d. London, England, 1 May 1859). Baptist minister in Sydney.

Saunders joined a Baptist church in Camberwell (London) at the age of 17. Although he had early hopes of becoming a missionary he first became a solicitor and studied at Edinburgh University 1832-3. He had been in contact with BMS and wanted to serve in India. But when a letter arrived from Sydney seeking a Baptist minister Saunders agreed to 'visit' the colony. He married Elizabeth Willox in March 1834, was farewelled at the BMS Annual Meeting and 'set apart for foreign service' on 2 July 1834, although BMS gave him no financial support. Saunders served as chaplain to female convicts aboard the George Hibbert and arrived in Sydney on 1 Dec

He was the first effective Baptist minister in the colony, and made a significant and varied contribution to the evangelical cause in the colony. Services were held in rented rooms until in 1835 the land granted by Governor Bourke to John McKaeg's (q.v.) group was transferred to Saunders. A Baptist chapel was opened in Bathurst Street on 23 Sept 1836 and the church was formally constituted on 17 Nov 1836. State aid had been given for land and building, an action which caused British Baptists to criticise the Sydney congregation.

Saunders proved an able preacher and pastoral leader. The church was 'open' membership so that non-Baptists could join, even if not baptised as believers. This concern to establish a broad evangelical Dissenting cause characterised Saunders' ministry. The church grew from 9 in 1836 to 124 when Saunders resigned in 1847. The ministry of Saunders in the colony was remarkably broad. He retained his concern for foreign missions, serving as an agent for LMS and helping many missionaries. His deep compassion for Aborigines led him to be a founder member of the Aborigines Protection Society and to support the 'German' mission to Aborigines formed in 1838. He made public pleas for justice for the Aborigines.

Saunders actively campaigned for the abolition of convict transportation and was one of ten delegates chosen to deliver a petition of 6765 signatures to Governor FitzRoy in 1846. He was also involved in the conflicts over education, opposing Governor Bourke's proposals of 1836 and rejecting Bp Broughton's plan for exclusively Anglican schools. His compassion for new arrivals and his involvement in the philanthropic societies of Sydney, such as the Benevolent Society, was strong. He gave public lectures on scientific themes, reflecting the contemporary optimism about the effects of science in lifting man's moral level.

Saunders' major public ministry was as an unflagging supporter for the cause of temperance. He served as secretary of the NSW Temperance Society and edited the monthly Australian Temperance Magazine from 1838 to 1840. He was the central figure in this movement, giving lectures and travelling widely in the cause. When ill health necessitated his return to England a public farewell was held at which a testimonial of £300 was presented to him. His evangelical and nonsectarian work earned him widespread community respect so that after his death in 1859 the Sydney Morning Herald opened a subscription for his widow and £650 were sent to her.

Saunders' letterbook and other ms relating to his time at the Bathurst Street Church are in the Mitchell Library Sydney. He published one sermon, Invitations to Fellowship (Sydney, 1842).

K R Manley and M Petras, The First Australian Baptists (Sydney, 1981); K R Manley, In the Heart of Sydney: Central Baptist Church 1836-1986 (Sydney, 1987)

K R MANLEY