Carment URQUHART

URQUHART, CARMENT (b. Glasgow, Scotland, 23 Feb 1885; d. Perth, WA, 3 Nov 1945). Baptist minister founder of Perth Bible Institute (now Perth Bible College).

Son of the Rev John Urquhart, in 1909 he left New Zealand and settled in Vic. From the East Melbourne Baptist Church he entered the Victorian Baptist College (1910-12), subsequently serving in pastorates at Lake Charm, Daylesford (Kerang Circuit) and Kyneton (c. 1920-1). Soon after the death of his first wife in 1921, he moved to WA with his two young daughters, Heather and Lois, and a sister, Marion, to become pastor of the Maylands and Victoria Park Baptist Churches (1922-8). He married a second time early in 1925 (to Lilian O White). Later that year he graduated BA (University of WA). Three children were born to his second wife: Lindsay, Arthur, Emily.

In 1928 he founded the Perth Bible Institute, which until 1957 was the only Protestant institution in Western Australia offering biblical and theological studies. During 1930-5, while still principal of the Institute, he pastored Mt Hawthorn and Osborn Park Churches. From 1931 the Institute offered a full course of training; in 1935 he relinquished Mt Hawthorn pastorate to devote all his attention to his work as principal of PBI, and continued in that capacity until his sudden death ten years later. Regarding evolution and 'the higher criticism' as threats to the Christian faith, Urquhart wrote books directed against them, as well as others of a less apologetic nature.

RICHARD K MOORE