Notable South Australians/Rev. Allan W. Webb
Rev. Allan W. Webb,
BORN June 17, 1838, at Leamington, Warwickshire, where his father wa.s a portrait painter of good repute. His early education was obtained at Vicar's Grammar School, in that town. Left an orphan at thirteen, he went to reside with his uncle. Dr. Allan Webb, a physician of eminence in Calcutta. In India he went to La Martiniere College, and there received a good classical and mathematical education, with instruction in the vernacular languages of India. "When barely seventeen years of age he had to leave India in consequence of a total break -down in health, and sought its restoration in the more genial climate of Australia, landing in Adelaide in May, 1855. He here passed through the severely trying experiences of a youth seeking employment in a strange land, and ultimately found it as junior clerk in a merchant's office. When nineteen he left the Church of England, to be associated with the Wesleyan Church. Becoming convinced of the Scriptural view of baptism, he was immersed, and joined the Baptist Church. Continued to hold the position of book-keeper in the establishment of Messrs. J. Colton & Co., but spent much of his leisure in study, and in preaching round Adelaide as a lay preacher. In 1860 he was employed in Bush Mission Work, and for fully eighteen months preached from the extreme north of the settled districts to Mount Shanck in the South-east. Finding the toil of incessantly riding over the vast pastoral areas of South Australia too exhausting, he resigned, and accepted an invitation from the Baptist body to place himself under the tuition of the Rev. Silas Mead, LL.B., for special theological training, with a view to the ministry. Having qualified himself for this purpose, he initiated the Baptist Church at Alberton, where his labours were eminently successful. He here married Janet, youngest daughter of an old colonist. Captain Underwood, and removed to Sydney, N.S.W., where he acted as assistant minister to the Rev. S. C. Kent, of Camden College. In conjunction with this he had charge of the Independent Church at Petersham, and was registered as its first pastor. This arrangement lasted a year, when he went to Maitland, to take the pastorate of the Baptist Church, and commenced open-air preaching. Left Maitland at the end of three years, and took charge of a Baptist Church of fifty members in the Masonic Hall, Sydney. In six months the prospect became sufficiently encouraging to begin building the Harris-street Church, and here he laboured over nine years, enjoying the esteem and co-operation of the people. For eight years he was Co-Secretary of the Sydney City Mission. In 1876 he took the Wellesley-street Baptist Church, Auckland, N.Z. During his ministry the membership of the church was doubled, and the influence of the denomination greatly consolidated. He was instrumental in setting on foot a fund for building a new church, now grown to respectable proportions. During his residence in Auckland he took active interest in most of the social and benevolent institutions of that city, especially in the Young Men's Christian Association, Industrial Home, and Young Women's Institute. Left Auckland to occupy the pastorate of the Baptist Church, North Adelaide, in which sphere he exhibited that energy, force of character, and ability, which had long marked his varied career. He was Chairman of the Baptist Association, editor of a denominational magazine, Truth and Progress, and the first President of the Blue Ribbon Army in South Australia. He is now in Victoria, having accepted the pastorate of a church in that colony.