Percival Watson (1881 – 1959) was an English Congregationalist who had a considerable career as a minister in

South Australia South Australia (commonly abbreviated as SA) is a States and territories of Australia, state in the southern central part of Australia. With a total land area of , it is the fourth-largest of Australia's states and territories by area, which in ...

and

Queensland Queensland ( , commonly abbreviated as Qld) is a States and territories of Australia, state in northeastern Australia, and is the second-largest and third-most populous state in Australia. It is bordered by the Northern Territory, South Austr ...

History

Watson came from Birmingham, where he was associated with the Rev. Dr. John Henry Jowett and the Carr's Lane Church, and in 1901 was sent to South Australia as a "home missionary". His first posting was to

Port Pirie Port Pirie is a small city on the east coast of the Spencer Gulf in South Australia, north of the state capital, Adelaide. Port Pirie is the largest city and the main retail centre of the Mid North region of South Australia. The city has an ex ...

, where he served as assistant to the Rev. George A. Hill. He was then called to the

Henley Beach Henley Beach is a coastal suburb of Adelaide, South Australia in the City of Charles Sturt. History Henley Beach draws its name from Henley-on-Thames, England. The land where it stands, sections 448 and 2080 in the Hundred of Yatala, was ini ...

Congregational Church, where he was ordained in 1904, and served as assistant to Rev. S. Lenton, then pastor from 1905 to 1908, when he was succeeded by Rev. F. Priest. He next served at Hindmarsh from 1908 to 1912, following the resignation of Rev. Thomas Hope, then

Gawler Gawler, established in 1839, is the oldest country town in the state of South Australia. It was named after the second Governor (British Vice-Regal representative) of the colony of South Australia, George Gawler. It is about north of the st ...

from 1912 to 1914. He was appointed military chaplain around April 1913. He served at

Summer Hill, New South Wales Summer Hill is a suburb of Sydney, in the state of New South Wales, Australia. Summer Hill is located 7 kilometres west of the Sydney central business district, in the Local government in Australia, local government area of the Inner West Cou ...

from 1914 to 1920, then Clayton Church, Kensington, SA. from 1920 to 1925. He moved to Queensland, serving in

Brisbane Brisbane ( ; ) is the List of Australian capital cities, capital and largest city of the States and territories of Australia, state of Queensland and the list of cities in Australia by population, third-most populous city in Australia, with a ...

from 1925 to 1947, first at the Wharf Street Congregational Church, Brisbane and then transferring to the City Congregational Church, Brisbane when the Wharf Street church closed. He left Brisbane in May 1947 for Pitt Street Congregational Church, Sydney, where he served from 1947 to 1950.

He is an exceedingly attractive and powerful preacher, having the rare gift of being able to simplify deep subjects, so that his whole congregation can understand the truths he desires to teach, and the power of the man behind the sermon is always felt. As a man Mr. Watson possesses a large-hearted, genial, and sympathetic disposition, and counts no work too hard if undertaken for the benefit of others.

Other appointments

*Principal, Queensland Congregational Theological College. *Chairman, Congregational Union (NSW) 1917–18 *Chairman, Congregational Union (SA) 1924–25 *Chairman, Congregational Union (Qld.) 1926–27, 1937–38, 1943–44. *President of the Congregational Union of Australia and New Zealand 1927–1929

Family

Percival Watson married (Ella) Gertrude Bell (1877–1967) of

Hamley Bridge, South Australia Hamley Bridge is a community in South Australia located at the junction of the Gilbert and Light rivers, as well as the site of a former railway junction. Named by the government of the day, in honour of the Acting Governor of South Australia L ...

on 14 February 1906. Gertrude was an aunt of neurosurgeon Sir Hugh Cairns. (Hugh's mother was Amy Florence Bell (1867– ), sister of Gertrude.) *Paul Bell Watson (1907–1971), manager of the Queensland Timber Stabilisation Board. *Joan Elizabeth Watson (1909–2002), teacher *Barbara Florence Watson (1913–1981), teacher, married George Guard on 26 February 1938

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Watson, Percival 1881 births 1959 deaths Australian Congregationalist ministers English emigrants to Australia Seminary presidents Clergy from Birmingham, West Midlands Clergy from South Australia