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Reverend John Clark McDonald
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Date of Birth1852
Date of Death3 October 1925OccupationMinisterPlace of ResidenceThe Manse, Kite Street, Orange, NSWSpouseMary MargaretEmily Glasson
Date of Death3 October 1925OccupationMinisterPlace of ResidenceThe Manse, Kite Street, Orange, NSWSpouseMary MargaretEmily GlassonImage
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BiographyReverend John Clark McDonald was the minister at St John’s Presbyterian Church in Kite Street, Orange, from 1901 to 1919. Indeed, as it was noted during the church’s centenary in 1967, Rev McDonald was the longest-serving minister in the church’s history.
John was born in Turriff, Scotland, in 1852. Always a keen student of theology, he graduated from Aberdeen University in 1876, then entered the Theological Hall at Aberdeen for a period of four years. On the completion of his studies John married, then travelled to Australia with his wife, Mary Margaret. He first joined the Presbyterian Church at Wagga Wagga, followed by Mudgee, then Coonabarabran and finally Orange, arriving in November 1901.
A man of high ideals, Rev McDonald took an active interest and played a prominent role in the advancement of Orange. Both he and Mary Margaret were involved with the Benevolent Society and were well-respected by the local community, including those outside their congregation.
On Tuesday, 27 May 1913, the ladies of the congregation of St John's hosted an afternoon tea in the Oddfellows' Hall in honour of the Rev and Mrs McDonald. Not only was it Mary Margaret’s birthday; it was also the couple’s wedding anniversary. One of the hosts revealed that though they had all loved and admired Mrs McDonald since they had known her, they had never before given her any tangible token of their esteem.
Unfortunately, Mary Margaret suffered from ill-health, and passed away on 7 December 1913, aged 43. She is buried in the old Presbyterian section of Orange Cemetery.
In January 1916 Rev McDonald conducted the dedication of a memorial window at St John’s. The window was presented by the ladies of the congregation in memory of the late Mrs McDonald and was placed above the seat she used to occupy. The window portrays Mary of Bethany at the feet of the Saviour and has a brass plate bearing the inscription:
This window, in memory of Mary Margaret McDonald, who died on 7th December 1913, was erected by the women of the congregation.
In late February 1919 Rev McDonald relocated to Blackheath, and in March married Emily Glasson, the daughter of the late Mr Robert and Mrs Glasson, of Yullundry, Cumnock. Many townspeople attended his farewell at the Australian Hall, including the mayor, Ald W E Bouffler, who presented the reverend with an album containing photographs of local vistas, a gift from the local community. The album contains a colourful handwritten inscription which reads:
To the Rev. J. C. McDonald, M.A. Orange, 27th February, 1919.
Reverend and Dear Sir, We have learned with feelings of very deep regret of your intended departure from Orange after a residence of almost twenty years. During the whole of this time you have taken an active and prominent part in all movements calculated to advance the town and district, and to promote the best interests of the people. By your high ideals, your breadth of vision, and your high souled charity, you have earned the regard of all denominations. While faithfully discharging the duties of your sacred office, with regard to your own church, you have always evinced a tolerant, kind, and generous spirit to those of other religious beliefs. In all local patriotic movements inaugurated during the recent war, you have borne an honorable and distinguished part, for which we honor you both as a patriot and Christian gentleman. In appreciation of your manly and admirable qualities, the residents of our town and district gladly unite in mailing this public recognition of your worth as a citizen and as a minister of religion. In taking up your new sphere of pastoral duty at Black heath, you carry with you our heartiest wishes that you may enjoy many happy years of Christian and charitable labor, at that centre. Signed on behalf of the citizens,
W E Bouffler, Mayor, F J Mulholland, Town Clerk.
On rising to respond, the Rev J C McDonald was loudly applauded. He said it was overwhelming to sit there and hear all the kind remarks, and said if he had succeeded half as well as his good friends had said, he would be highly satisfied. He thanked them for the presents, which included a wallet filled with bank notes, and said he would leave Orange feeling that he had met with the approval of its people.
Rev McDonald returned to Orange four years later to lay the foundation stone for the Presbyterian Church Hall, which reads:
"To the Glory of God this stone was laid by the Rev John C. McDonald M.A. 29th Sept 1923".
It was to be John’s last visit to Orange. He died two years later at his residence, Balgownie, in Hornsby, on 3 October 1925, aged 73. He was buried at Macquarie Park.
On 12 August 1928, John’s widow, Emily, attended St John’s Church in Orange to witness the unveiling of a memorial window and a mural tablet dedicated to the memory of her late husband. The window depicts the aged Simeon in the temple, with the Infant Jesus in his arms, and uttering the words, "Lord, now lettest Thou Thy servant depart in Peace.” The tablet bears the following inscription:
This Window, in Memory of the late Rev John Clark McDonald, M A, Minister of this Congregation, 1901/1918, who died October 3, 1925, was Erected by His Widow and Friends.
John was born in Turriff, Scotland, in 1852. Always a keen student of theology, he graduated from Aberdeen University in 1876, then entered the Theological Hall at Aberdeen for a period of four years. On the completion of his studies John married, then travelled to Australia with his wife, Mary Margaret. He first joined the Presbyterian Church at Wagga Wagga, followed by Mudgee, then Coonabarabran and finally Orange, arriving in November 1901.
A man of high ideals, Rev McDonald took an active interest and played a prominent role in the advancement of Orange. Both he and Mary Margaret were involved with the Benevolent Society and were well-respected by the local community, including those outside their congregation.
On Tuesday, 27 May 1913, the ladies of the congregation of St John's hosted an afternoon tea in the Oddfellows' Hall in honour of the Rev and Mrs McDonald. Not only was it Mary Margaret’s birthday; it was also the couple’s wedding anniversary. One of the hosts revealed that though they had all loved and admired Mrs McDonald since they had known her, they had never before given her any tangible token of their esteem.
Unfortunately, Mary Margaret suffered from ill-health, and passed away on 7 December 1913, aged 43. She is buried in the old Presbyterian section of Orange Cemetery.
In January 1916 Rev McDonald conducted the dedication of a memorial window at St John’s. The window was presented by the ladies of the congregation in memory of the late Mrs McDonald and was placed above the seat she used to occupy. The window portrays Mary of Bethany at the feet of the Saviour and has a brass plate bearing the inscription:
This window, in memory of Mary Margaret McDonald, who died on 7th December 1913, was erected by the women of the congregation.
In late February 1919 Rev McDonald relocated to Blackheath, and in March married Emily Glasson, the daughter of the late Mr Robert and Mrs Glasson, of Yullundry, Cumnock. Many townspeople attended his farewell at the Australian Hall, including the mayor, Ald W E Bouffler, who presented the reverend with an album containing photographs of local vistas, a gift from the local community. The album contains a colourful handwritten inscription which reads:
To the Rev. J. C. McDonald, M.A. Orange, 27th February, 1919.
Reverend and Dear Sir, We have learned with feelings of very deep regret of your intended departure from Orange after a residence of almost twenty years. During the whole of this time you have taken an active and prominent part in all movements calculated to advance the town and district, and to promote the best interests of the people. By your high ideals, your breadth of vision, and your high souled charity, you have earned the regard of all denominations. While faithfully discharging the duties of your sacred office, with regard to your own church, you have always evinced a tolerant, kind, and generous spirit to those of other religious beliefs. In all local patriotic movements inaugurated during the recent war, you have borne an honorable and distinguished part, for which we honor you both as a patriot and Christian gentleman. In appreciation of your manly and admirable qualities, the residents of our town and district gladly unite in mailing this public recognition of your worth as a citizen and as a minister of religion. In taking up your new sphere of pastoral duty at Black heath, you carry with you our heartiest wishes that you may enjoy many happy years of Christian and charitable labor, at that centre. Signed on behalf of the citizens,
W E Bouffler, Mayor, F J Mulholland, Town Clerk.
On rising to respond, the Rev J C McDonald was loudly applauded. He said it was overwhelming to sit there and hear all the kind remarks, and said if he had succeeded half as well as his good friends had said, he would be highly satisfied. He thanked them for the presents, which included a wallet filled with bank notes, and said he would leave Orange feeling that he had met with the approval of its people.
Rev McDonald returned to Orange four years later to lay the foundation stone for the Presbyterian Church Hall, which reads:
"To the Glory of God this stone was laid by the Rev John C. McDonald M.A. 29th Sept 1923".
It was to be John’s last visit to Orange. He died two years later at his residence, Balgownie, in Hornsby, on 3 October 1925, aged 73. He was buried at Macquarie Park.
On 12 August 1928, John’s widow, Emily, attended St John’s Church in Orange to witness the unveiling of a memorial window and a mural tablet dedicated to the memory of her late husband. The window depicts the aged Simeon in the temple, with the Infant Jesus in his arms, and uttering the words, "Lord, now lettest Thou Thy servant depart in Peace.” The tablet bears the following inscription:
This Window, in Memory of the late Rev John Clark McDonald, M A, Minister of this Congregation, 1901/1918, who died October 3, 1925, was Erected by His Widow and Friends.
Connections
SubjectsChurchesPeopleReverend John Clark McDonaldPlaceSt John's Presbyterian Church, Kite Street, Orange, NSWOrganisationSt John's Presbyterian ChurchCollectionOrange City Library Reverend J C McDonald M A Album
PeopleReverend John Clark McDonaldPlaceSt John's Presbyterian Church, Kite Street, Orange, NSWOrganisationSt John's Presbyterian ChurchCollectionOrange City Library Reverend J C McDonald M A AlbumReverend John Clark McDonald. Central West Libraries, accessed 22/05/2025, https://centralwest.recollect.net.au/nodes/view/27712
