Frederick W. WOODS

WOODS, FREDERICK W (b. Glossop, near Manchester, England, 01.09.1872; d. Toronto, Canada, 1 May 1939). Brethren itinerant evangelist.

Fred Woods came to Australia as a child. He was converted through the influence of his godly mother whilst living in Bundaberg. Apprenticed as a carpenter at the age of 19 he believed that God had called him into a life of fulltime Christian ministry which he then commenced. ‘Being an architect he would construct a simple wooden structure for new groups of believers. His mother played a portable organ and traveled with her husband in rural Australia until Stacey was born.’ He itinerated initially in Queensland and then moved south to Victoria where he teamed with Thomas Baker. Following the latter's death he continued evangelistic work in Victoria and southern NSW. He is credited with visiting and preaching in every town in Victoria. He resided for some time in Bendigo where considerable growth resulted. In Victoria he also worked in tent evangelism with the Brethren evangelist Archie Law.

He itinerated in Tasmania for a number of months during 1918 and afterwards resided in Hurstville, Sydney. In 1922 he began the People's Gospel Mission, a program to reach the urban masses through evangelism using existing picture theatres as venues for Sunday evening services. During 1929 Woods preached in Palestine, Britain and America. Over 700 gathered at a meeting in Sydney to celebrate his return. He possessed a bright personality and developed an attractive way of presenting the gospel. He frequently drew large crowds to his public meetings. In 1937 he journeyed to Canada to be at the wedding of his son C Stacey Woods who later became Secretary of USA Intervarsity Fellowship. He did not return to Australia. A grandson, Stephen, is currently serving as a missionary in Florence, Italy.

Sources: personal communication, Yvonne K. Woods-Ritchie, 18.2.2002.

KEN J NEWTON

(original);

ammendations MH, 2014.