The Dictionary of Australasian Biography/Stow, Rev. Thomas Quentin
Stow, Rev. Thomas Quentin, who was born at Hadleigh, Suffolk, on July 7th, 1801, emigrated to South Australia in 1837, and became the first minister of the Congregational Church erected in North Terrace, Adelaide. He was, in fact, the first regular clergyman of any religious body who officiated in South Australia, with the exception of the Rev. C. B. Howard, the Colonial Chaplain. The church in North Terrace was built of pines and reeds, Mr. Stow assisting the labourers in the erection of the building. In England he had commenced his pastorate at Framlingham, Suffolk, and afterwards preached at Buntingford in Hertfordshire, and at Halstead in Essex, leaving the latter place to go to South Australia under the auspices of the Colonial Missionary Society. For a short time after his arrival in Adelaide, in Oct. 1837 he preached in a tent, and after leaving North Terrace occupied the pulpit of the Freeman Street Church. He died at Sydney whilst on a visit on July 19th, 1862. Mr. Stow was one of the most able opponents of the introduction of state aid to religion from 1846 to 1851, and the failure of the attempt was largely owing to his vigorous efforts. The esteem in which he was held is attested by the erection of the Stow Memorial Church in Adelaide, which was built to perpetuate the public esteem in which he was held.