David Shearer (1832 – 13 November 1891) was a minister of religion in England and Western Australia, regarded as the founder of the

Presbyterian Church Presbyterianism is a part of the Reformed tradition within Protestantism that broke from the Roman Catholic Church in Scotland by John Knox, who was a priest at St. Giles Cathedral (Church of Scotland). Presbyterian churches derive their nam ...

in that State.

History

Shearer was born in Canisbay, near Wick, County Caithness, Scotland. He served as a teacher in

Free Church of Scotland Free Church of Scotland may refer to: * Free Church of Scotland (1843–1900), seceded in 1843 from the Church of Scotland. The majority merged in 1900 into the United Free Church of Scotland; historical * Free Church of Scotland (since 1900), rema ...

schools in Fordyce and Canibrook. He graduated Master of Arts at Edinburgh University in 1867, then served as minister of the English Presbyterian Church at

Gateshead Gateshead () is a large town in northern England. It is on the River Tyne's southern bank, opposite Newcastle upon Tyne, Newcastle to which it is joined by seven bridges. The town contains the Gateshead Millennium Bridge, Millennium Bridge, Sage ...

, England from 1872, having been licensed as a preacher in 1871. In 1879 he was sent to the colony of Western Australia to establish the Presbyterian Church there. The first services were held in St George's Hall, then at the Working Men's Institute. In December 1880 land was purchased on Pier Street, Perth for a church building, and the foundation stone laid in October, 1881. Under his direction further churches were founded at

Fremantle Fremantle () () is a port city in Western Australia, located at the mouth of the Swan River in the metropolitan area of Perth, the state capital. Fremantle Harbour serves as the port of Perth. The Western Australian vernacular diminutive for ...

and Albany. He was also for some time a member of the Perth Local Board of Education. He was noted for his hard work and dedication, and was highly respected by members of all faiths. He died after a long and painful illness, and was interred in a family vault in the Presbyterian Cemetery, East Perth. David Shearer and his wife Margaret F. Shearer (c. 1837 – 14 June 1909) had three sons and five daughters; the eldest, Elizabeth Grace Shearer, married Rev. John Virtue McNair, of

Geelong Geelong ( ) (Wathawurrung: ''Djilang''/''Djalang'') is a port city in the southeastern Australian state of Victoria, located at the eastern end of Corio Bay (the smaller western portion of Port Phillip Bay) and the left bank of Barwon River, ...

, on 11 November 1885. The fourth daughter Christina Kate married Arthur Morris Oliphant of Scotland on 8 April 1903. They had a home on Stirling Street, Perth.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Shearer, David Australian Presbyterian ministers Australian people of Scottish descent Scottish educators People from Caithness 1832 births 1891 deaths Scottish Presbyterian ministers ordained outside Scotland