Robert SWANTON

SWANTON, ROBERT (b. Tallangatta, Vic, 13 Nov 1910; d. Melbourne, Vic, 30 March 1992). Presbyterian minister and professor.

Swanton grew up in NE Vic, attending the Tallangatta and Wangandery State Schools and Wangaratta High School for three years. His maternal grandfather was a founding member of the Tallangatta charge, so that on his mother's side he had a Presbyterian background. On his father's side, the tradition was that of Irish Methodism, but his father became a Presbyterian at marriage. From his father Robert Swanton learned strictly to observe the Sabbath. Both the doctrine of the Sabbath and Sabbath observance were to shape the man.

At Wangaratta High School Swanton's scholarly bents were evident. Unlike some bookish boys he played football in a school team. He came to Melbourne in order to attend University High School for a year, and lived in a Presbyterian Hostel. In this year he felt called to the ordained ministry. He went on to the University of Melbourne and was resident in Ormond College. At one stage he shared a room with Dr James Eric Clarke (q.v.). By this time the family had moved nearer to Wangaratta and had a farm. Swanton's studies at the University led to an MA for which his thesis was on John Dunmore Lang. He then graduated BD from MCD.

In later life Harold Swanton was to say to Robert—they were both bachelors—'You'd have done better to study domestic science at Wangaratta rather than all that Latin': Swanton never really learned to look after himself. Apart from his books, he rarely spent anything, and his frugality extended to a very simple and rudimentary cuisine. The institutional life of Ormond College would have suited him admirably.

Robert Swanton ministered at Hart and Koolunga in SA. He then won the Stewart Travelling Scholarship to undertake postgraduate study in Edinburgh. He also studied under Karl Barth at Basel. These studies were disturbed by the outbreak of World War Two. Swanton was ministering at Felixstowe in England in 1940 when a vacancy occurred at Hawthorn Presbyterian Church, Vic, which he accepted. He returned to Australia by ship. En route a torpedo struck the ship but did not explode. He disembarked in Sydney and travelled by train to Melbourne. He was inducted on 24 Oct 1940 and was minister for 28 years, retiring on 22 July 1968. The congregation contained many able professionals, including A J Waller, headmaster of the Junior School at Scotch College, until his death in 1945; Esler Barber, later Sir Esler Barber, a Judge of the Supreme Court, and Dr Colin Gilray, principal of Scotch College, both until 1954, John Harold McCracken from 1949, and Maxwell Bradshaw (q.v.).

Each Sunday, morning and evening, Swanton preached in the vast church. The acoustics were poor and great curtains of cloth were hung from the ceilings to dampen the echoes. On each side, in the mornings, Scotch College boarders filled the pews from front to back of the church. During Swanton's ministry 595 Scotch College boarders were admitted to Communion upon profession of faith. In the front there were girls from Methodist Ladies' College and Stratherne Presbyterian Girls' School. Swanton served on the Councils of both Scotch and Stratherne, and was later chairman of the Stratherne Council. The pews behind were so occupied as to give the impression of a solid congregation.

The sermon was rarely more than twenty minutes long. It was carefully crafted: a text, an introduction, three points well sign-posted, and a conclusion. There was no amplifier but occasionally his voice lifted the rafters. And his message, by the grace of God, melted stony hearts. Given ears to hear, one would leave with mind informed, heart stirred, and will bent to the very Word of God.

At the conclusion of Swanton's ministry at Hawthorn the congregation resolved 'His preaching has throughout been characterised by a prophetic note that will leave an enduring impression upon those who have waited on his ministry. He has manifested the gift of making the difficult places plain through his aptitude for clear and concise explanation. He has shown the ability to dissipate confusion of thought on an issue by presenting its kernel in few and telling words. The truth of the Gospel has been presented by him in all its fullness and richness, and that in such a manner as to arrest the attention, in part achieved by his preaching being clothed in a seemingly infinite variety of approach and subject matter and his constant drawing over a wide range of reading extending over many subjects. Withal, his ministry has throughout borne marks of earnestness, sincerity and love of truth.'

Swanton did not write books, but edited the Reformed Theological Review for over forty years. Largely owing to his painstaking work the Journal built up the great reputation it enjoys, a reputation that extends to many overseas countries as well as throughout Australia. Swanton gave relieving lectures to Presbyterian ordinaries in Systematic theology in 1957, but did not seek an academic appointment until after the creation of the continuing Presbyterian Church in 1974. He then became Principal and Professor of Systematic Theology in that Church's Theological Hall, where he deployed great strengths in theology and church history.

BRIAN BAYSTON