Francis Hume Lyall Paton (1870 – 28 September 1938),[1] commonly referred to as Frank, was a Presbyterian missionary and minister in Victoria, Australia.
Paton was born in Aniwa, New Hebrides, to Rev. Dr. John Gibson Paton (24 May 1824 – 28 January 1907), one of the first missionaries to the New Hebrides (now Vanuatu), and his second wife Margaret "Maggie" Paton, née Whitecross, (1841–1905), whom he married in 1864.[2]
He gained his MA degree in Glasgow and Melbourne, was ordained in Melbourne in November 1895, and worked as a missionary in West Tanna, New Hebrides, from 1896 to 1902, when he was forced to leave through ill health.[3] He was then appointed the Presbyterian Church's foreign mission agent before taking charge of the Dunolly church 1904–1907 and serving as the Presbyterian church of Victoria's foreign mission secretary, 1908–1925.[4]
In 1922 he was elected moderator (synod president) of the Presbyterian Church in Victoria.[5]
He was a delegate to the Council of Churches in Victoria and succeeded A. E. Illingworth as president in 1924,[6] but was unable through illness to see out his full year, and from March 1925 his duties were performed by the vice-president, W. S. Pearse.[7] Nevertheless, in June 1925 he was able to take charge of the Deepdene Presbyterian church.
He retired around 1936 and died at his Deepdene home after a long illness,[1] and his remains were buried at the Burwood cemetery.[8]
The Presbyterian church in Deepdene was renamed in his honor, and a window dedicated to his memory installed in 1946.[9]
Paton married Clara Sophia Hayer (3 Septmber 1875 – 18 Jul 1966) on 19 February 1896.[10] Their family included:
They had a home at 44 Deepdene Road, Deepdene, Victoria.