John VIDLER

VIDLER, JOHN (b. Sandhurst, Kent, England, 19 Sept 1801; d. Jamberoo, NSW, 17 April 1892). Wesleyan Methodist local preacher.

As a youth John Vidler associated with a gang of smugglers. He was converted under the ministry of the Wesleyan Methodist evangelist, Rev John Smith, at 19. He began preaching, and under his preaching his father and uncle were converted. Influenced by a convict's letter deploring the lack of religious ordinances in NSW, Vidler emigrated in 1838, and commenced farming in the Illawarra district. He commenced preaching in his temporary hut at Dapto, and formed a Methodist class of thirty. A young lady invited him to visit Jamberoo, 'for the Word of God is not at all in that place'. He went, and people were converted. After farming at Campbelltown for a short time, Vidler settled at Jamberoo. He became the pioneer of Methodism in the Shoalhaven River district. For seventy years he proclaimed the gospel, preaching in many centres from Wollongong to Gerringong, and winning many for Christ.

J Colwell, Illustrated History of Methodism (Sydney, 1904)

ERIC G CLANCY