James TAYLOR

TAYLOR, JAMES (b. Whitburn, Scotland, 23 Feb 1814; d. Richmond, Vic, 15 Sept 1896). Baptist pastor and journalist.

Born into a Church of Scotland family, James Taylor was educated for the ministry of that church at the University of Glasgow. At the completion of his studies, he accepted the pastorate of an Independent Church at Blackburn, from which in 1840 he went to Airdrie. In December 1842 he was baptised at Hope Street, Glasgow, then pioneered another Baptist work in that city. Within two years, the initial 16 members had grown to 350. Then he served at Heneage St, Birmingham, although dogged by ill-health.

At the prompting of its Birmingham auxiliary, the Baptist Missionary Society sent Taylor to Australia as its 'messenger' to investigate and promote Baptist work, making him a grant of £100 and paying his passage money. He and his family arrived at Melbourne in mid-1857. Urged to become minister of the pastorless Collins St Church he refused, insisting that he was an agent of the BMS. Nonetheless, when available, he supplied the pulpit. After persistent invitations, at length in January 1860 he accepted the pastoral office. His ministry brought new life to the church. His genial personality and persuasive preaching attracted many people. Before long, the chapel was too small, so that in 1861 it was enlarged to seat 1000. While building operations proceeded, services were held in the Theatre Royal, Bourke St, where many were converted. Returning to the enlarged chapel, congregations immediately filled it.

From his arrival, Taylor travelled far and wide, even into neighbouring colonies. He formed a Victorian auxiliary of the BMS in 1858, at the annual meeting of which steps were taken to form the Baptist Association of Victoria. He and his former Birmingham colleague, Isaac New (q.v.), were appointed joint editors of the Association's monthly journal, the Australasian Baptist Magazine, which began publication in July 1858. From October 1858 he edited the Christian Times and Australasian Weekly News. A year later, he resigned from both to begin his own magazine, the Australian Evangelist (1860-66).

At the same time, he engaged in a busy programme at his church designed to build up and consolidate the congregation. In addition to a midweek preaching service, there were two prayer meetings, a Thursday night Bible class for young people and, from 1862, a theological class from which graduates were competent to lead newly emerging churches in the colony. After a fruitful ministry which brought spiritual prosperity to the work, Taylor suddenly terminated his ministry at Collins St in October 1868.

Almost a decade later, in 1877 returned to the ministry when he accepted a call to the Richmond Baptist Church which he served with great acceptance until late 1892. His delight was his superintendency of a large Sunday school. After his retirement, as increasing infirmity permitted, he ministered without charge to churches which sought his help. Even near the end of his life, the old fire would break out with his winsome evangelistic appeal to the undecided and careless to 'come to the Saviour'.

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

BASIL S BROWN