W. L. Jarvis Explained

Wilfred Lemuel Jarvis (28 January 1895^[1] – 30 October 1977) was a Baptist evangelist and gospel singer in Brisbane and Sydney, Australia.

History

Jarvis was born in Cheshire, England, a son of Harriett Ann Jarvis (c. 1870 – 26 August 1933)^[2] and Arthur Charles Jarvis (c. 1868 – March 1934).^{[1] [3]} The family moved to Australia around 1910,^[3] and A. C. Jarvis was soon preaching at the Jireh Baptist Church and pastor of the Ipswich Baptist church 1919–1920,^[4] followed by Burnie, and other towns in Tasmania 1921–1923, then returned to New South Wales.^[5]

Jarvis volunteered for service with the First AIF on 19 July 1918, giving his occupation as "theological student", but was not required to serve overseas as the Armistice intervened, and was discharged in November 1918.^[1]

In the 1920s he toured Australia and New Zealand, popular for his forceful preaching and musicality. He was an excellent pianist, vocalist and expert leader of community singing.^[6] He was assisted by his father, A. C. Jarvis, in Tasmania in 1922.^[7]

In 1932 he was assistant to Rev. C. James Tinsley, president of the Australian Baptist Union and of Stanmore Baptist Church.

He was appointed pastor of the Bathurst Street Baptist Church, reckoned the "mother church" of Baptists in NSW, in 1935^[8] and left in 1937.

He was elected president of the Council of Churches in New South Wales in 1937, at a time of upheaval, the Church of England having quit the organisation.^[9]

In 1952 he was elected President-General of the Baptist Union of Australia and a vice-president of the Baptist World Alliance.^[10]

Publications

• The King of Kings (1920)
• Cheer Up the Heart Campaign Song Book (1932)^[11]

Family

Jarvis was a brother of Charles Jarvis; Edwin Jarvis, and Grace Jarvis.

Jarvis married Bessie May Stumbles (17 May 1891 – 9 December 1971),^{[12] [13]} Sunday-school teacher at Jireh^[14] in Brisbane in 1920. Their children include:

• Doreen May Jarvis (8 February 1923 –)^[15] married C. D. Ransley
• Wilfred Arthur Henry Jarvis (3 June 1924 – 1 Oct 2021)^{[16] [17]} engaged to Hilary Lexey Kelshaw in 1945; professor of psychology, married Pamela Salkeld
• David Ronald Jarvis (5 July 1926 –)^[18]
• Edith May Jarvis (23 August 1927 –)^[19]

Stanley Jarvis (died 18 February 1933), a Methodist preacher in Western Australia, South Australia and the Northern Territory 1923–1927, is most likely not related.

Notes and References

1. Web site: NAA:B2455 Jarvis Wilfred Lemuel . National Archives of Australia . 21 September 2024.
2. News: Death of Mrs A. C. Jarvis . . Queensland, Australia . 28 August 1933 . 21 September 2024 . 11 . National Library of Australia.
3. News: Obituary . . Tasmania, Australia . 13 March 1934 . 22 September 2024 . 2 . National Library of Australia. No other obits found.
4. News: Rev. A. C. Jarvis Resigning . . LXI . 10,672 . Queensland, Australia . 14 May 1920 . 22 September 2024 . 4 . National Library of Australia.
5. News: Baptist Association . . 15,480 . New South Wales, Australia . 27 May 1926 . 22 September 2024 . 5 . National Library of Australia.
6. News: Searchlight. . . 40 . 39 . New South Wales, Australia . 2 October 1925 . 22 September 2024 . 2 . National Library of Australia.
7. News: Evangelistic Mission. . . Tasmania, Australia . 3 August 1922 . 22 September 2024 . 6 . National Library of Australia.
8. News: The Churches . . 30,447 . New South Wales, Australia . 3 August 1935 . 22 September 2024 . 9 . National Library of Australia.
9. News: Change in Council of Change in Council of Churches . . II . 55 . New South Wales, Australia . 25 May 1937 . 20 September 2024 . 7 . National Library of Australia.
10. News: Baptist Church . . 25 . 2657 . Western Australia . 9 October 1952 . 21 September 2024 . 9 . National Library of Australia.
11. Web site: Cheer Up the Heart: Wilfred L. Jarvis "Back to the Bible" Crusade . Australian Baptist Publishing House . 22 September 2024. Free to read, scored for piano
12. Web site: Record details of Bessie May Stumbles . 2024-09-22 . www.familyhistory.bdm.qld.gov.au . en-AU.
13. News: 1971-12-10 . Family notices . Sydney Morning Herald . Ryerson Index.
14. News: Jireh Baptist Church . . 13,845 . Queensland, Australia . 9 April 1917 . 22 September 2024 . 9 . National Library of Australia.
15. News: Family Notices . . CXVIII . 17,273 . Tasmania, Australia . 14 February 1923 . 22 September 2024 . 1 . National Library of Australia.
16. News: Family Notices . . XLIV . 133 . Tasmania, Australia . 4 June 1924 . 22 September 2024 . 1 . National Library of Australia.
17. Web site: Wilfred Arthur Henry JARVIS Death Notice . 2024-09-22 . Sydney Morning Herald.
18. News: Family Notices . . 27,617 . New South Wales, Australia . 10 July 1926 . 22 September 2024 . 14 . National Library of Australia.
19. News: Family Notices . . 27,988 . New South Wales, Australia . 17 September 1927 . 22 September 2024 . 16 . National Library of Australia.