Thomas Quintin STOW

STOW, THOMAS QUINTIN (b. Hadleigh Suffolk, England, 7 July 1801; d. Adelaide, SA, 19 July 1862). Independent (later Congregational) pastor.

Stow's ministry began in England as an Independent (Congregational) pastor at Framlingham, Suffolk, then Buntington, Herefordshire, and subsequently at Halstead, Essex. During his time at Halstead he received a call from the Colonial Missionary Society to proceed to the new colony of SA. The Society had been urged to take this action by the Rev Thomas Binney, the most outstanding nonconformist preacher of his day in London. Stow's cause was also championed by George Fife Angas (q.v.), one of the great forces behind SA's settlement. Like Binney, Stow was a champion of the dissenting cause, a great proponent of religious liberty and a devoted adherent of the voluntary principle. All these factors suited him well for the appointment.

He arrived in SA on 16 Oct 1837, his outfit supplied at Angas' expense, and became the first clergyman in the colony other than the Colonial Chaplain, the Rev C B Howard (q.v.). His resourcefulness and independent spirit was soon evident to his congregation. The large marquee supplied by his patrons proved unsuitable and he helped build his first chapel, constructed of pines and reeds, working with labourers and carters. He had a great reputation as a preacher and missionary. It is probable that his greatest impact on SA was during his first three years, when the income supplied from England enabled him to minister unceasingly. His sermons, while flowery, had impact. Many nondissenters came to hear him and his opinions were much valued.

His influence waned when his English salary diminished and his congregation were unable to make up the deficit. He was forced to make an income as a teacher and then as a farmer. His preaching and pastoral work suffered as a result, some more influential members of his congregation left, and dissension entered his church. Despite these adversities, his abilities were much touted and he was seen for many years as the most popular preacher in Adelaide.

His most distinguished mark on wider society was his stiff resistance to the introduction of state aid to religion from 1846 until 1851. The successful abolition of this measure was accorded to him by many. There were those, like the Baptist, George Fife Angas, who used Stow's standing as an example of the strong role played by evangelical religion in the formation of SA political values. He had numbers of his sermons published during his life. Following his death, the citizens of Adelaide showed their esteem for his ministry and opinions by erecting a rather handsome monument. A greater tribute—one writer called it 'a monument to his zeal'—was the building of the Stow Memorial Church, now Pilgrim Church, in Flinders Street, Adelaide.

G E Loyau, The Representative Men of South Australia (Adelaide, 1883); J J Pascoe, History of Adelaide and Vicinity (Adelaide, 1901); D Pike, Paradise of Dissent (Melbourne, 1967, 2nd ed)

ROB LINN