Thomas Quinton Stow (7 July 1801 – 19 July 1862), generally referred to as the Rev. T. Q. Stow, but also as Quinton Stow, was an Australian pioneer
Congregational
Congregational churches (also Congregationalist churches or Congregationalism) are Protestant churches in the Calvinist tradition practising congregationalist church governance, in which each congregation independently and autonomously runs its ...
Hadleigh, Suffolk
Hadleigh () is an ancient market town and civil parish in South Suffolk, East Anglia, situated, next to the River Brett, between the larger towns of Sudbury and Ipswich. It had a population of 8,253 at the 2011 census. The headquarters of B ...
, England, and began preaching at 17 years of age; he later studied for the Congregational ministry at the missionary college, Gosport under
David Bogue
David Bogue (18 February 175025 October 1825) was a British nonconformist religious leader.
Life
He was born at Hallydown Farm, in the parish of Coldingham, Berwickshire, Scotland, the son of John Bogue, farmer, and his wife, Margaret Swanston. ...
. From 1822-25 Stow was minister at
Framlingham
Framlingham is a market town and civil parish in Suffolk, England. Of Anglo-Saxon origin, it appears in the 1086 Domesday Book. The parish had a population of 3,342 at the 2011 Census and an estimated 4,016 in 2019. Nearby villages include Ea ...
, Suffolk; later at Buntingford, Hertfordshire, then was transferred to
Halstead
Halstead is a town and civil parish in the Braintree District of Essex, England. Its population of 11,906 in 2011Essex
Essex () is a county in the East of England. One of the home counties, it borders Suffolk and Cambridgeshire to the north, the North Sea to the east, Hertfordshire to the west, Kent across the estuary of the River Thames to the south, and Grea ...
. In 1833 Stow published the ''Memoirs of R. Taylor, LL.D.'', this was followed by ''The Scope of Piety'' (1836). At Framlingham Stow married Elizabeth, described as a "handsome brunette . . . the rage of London society". She was a daughter of William Eppes of Bristol and his wife Elizabeth, ''née'' Randolph, descendant of an old
Virginia
Virginia, officially the Commonwealth of Virginia, is a state in the Mid-Atlantic and Southeastern regions of the United States, between the Atlantic Coast and the Appalachian Mountains. The geography and climate of the Commonwealth ar ...
family.
Career in Australia
On 12 October 1836 the
Colonial Missionary Society The Colonial Missionary Society was formed in May 1836 as a "distinct society for the Colonies" following the report of a deputation to Canada by representatives of Congregational churches from Britain. Its principal mission effort was directed towa ...
in England accepted Stow and sent him to South Australia. Stow arrived at
Adelaide
Adelaide ( ) is the capital city of South Australia, the state's largest city and the fifth-most populous city in Australia. "Adelaide" may refer to either Greater Adelaide (including the Adelaide Hills) or the Adelaide city centre. The dem ...
on the ''Hartley'' in October 1837. Stow began holding services in a marquee but shortly afterwards, partly with his own hands, built the first church in South Australia. It was constructed of pine logs thatched with reeds and stood in North Terrace. In November 1840 a more substantial church was opened in Freeman Street (now Gawler Place), and there Stow worked for many years. He also for a time taught a school at the corner of Freeman and
Pirie Street
Pirie Street is a road on the east side of the Adelaide city centre, South Australia. It runs east–west, between East Terrace and King William Street. After crossing King William Street, it continues as Waymouth Street. It forms the souther ...
s. From 1846 Stow fought in opposition to state aid for religion. Stow's health, however, declined and in 1855 he found it necessary to have an assistant, and in October 1855 the Rev.
C. W. Evan
Cadwallader William Evan ( – 21 August 1876), generally referred to as Rev. C. W. Evan, was a Congregationalist minister in colonial South Australia, the first to serve at the Stow Memorial Church, Flinders Street, Adelaide.
History
Evan was b ...
arrived. In September 1856 Stow resigned his pastorate, but continued to preach and work for his church as much as his health would allow. In February 1862, hoping that a change of climate might be good for him, Stow went to Sydney to supply the pulpit in th Pitt Street Congregational church and in March became so ill that he could not be taken back to Adelaide. Stow died at the house of
John Fairfax
John Fairfax (24 October 1804 – 16 June 1877) was an English-born journalist, company director, politician, librarian and newspaper owner, known for the incorporation of the major newspapers of modern-day Australia.
Early life
Fairfax was bo ...
on 19 July 1862. Stow was survived by his wife and four sons.
Legacy
Stow was an outstanding preacher in early Adelaide, he was a good speaker who incorporated humour and satire. Stow helped form the character of the growing settlement of Adelaide, which was appreciated at the time. Stow was twice given substantial pecuniary testimonials to which men of all sects contributed. The Stow Memorial Church (now Pilgrim Uniting Church) in Adelaide was named for him. Stow Hall, built 1872 at 16 Flinders Street, has been a popular venue for amateur theatre productions.
He was married in England and brought his wife Elizabeth Randolph Stow, née Eppes, (c. 1797 in Newfoundland – 8 July 1867), who survived him, and four sons with him:
* Judge Randolph Isham Stow (1828-1878).
* Jefferson Pickman Stow (1830–1908), who went to the
Northern Territory
The Northern Territory (commonly abbreviated as NT; formally the Northern Territory of Australia) is an Australian territory in the central and central northern regions of Australia. The Northern Territory shares its borders with Western Aust ...
The South Australian Advertiser
''The Advertiser'' is a daily tabloid format newspaper based in the city of Adelaide, South Australia. First published as a broadsheet named ''The South Australian Advertiser'' on 12 July 1858,Augustine Stow (1833–1903), a member of parliament for several years between 1863-1871, chief clerk in the South Australian supreme court.
* Wycliffe Stow (c. 1836–1897) was one of the two sons (with Augustine) able to be at his father's side when he died.