Charles Alfred White


Charles Alfred White, commonly referred to as C. A. White, was a Presbyterian minister in New South Wales, Australia. He compiled a definitive history of the Presbyterian Church in Australia to c. 1950.

History

White was born in Warialda near Myall Creek, New South Wales, a son of Alfred James White and Maria Isabella White, née Alderson.
He was educated at Inverell Primary School and Armidale Grammar School, and studied philosophy at Sydney University, gaining his B.A. degree, with honours, in 1895, meanwhile studying Theology under George Grimm, James Cosh, and Dr. John Kinross.
He was licensed and ordained in the Presbyterian Church in 1896, and inducted to the parish of Windsor 12 December 1896, serving for four years, being "translated" to the parish of Wollongong in 1900; to Stanmore in 1903; and Auburn in 1912.
He was appointed the church's Foreign Missionary secretary in 1916, then minister of Park Church, South Brisbane from 1920 to 1924, when he resigned for personal reasons. He served at the Bowenfels parish from 1925 and North Strathfield 1931–1937.

Other responsibilities

White retired in 1937, devoting much of his time to the church hostel in the Haymarket area. He also performed relief duties for the many younger ministers who joined the Australian Army to work as padres in WWII.
In 1945 he was granted leave to complete his history.
White died of a heart attack at his home in Mowbray Road, Chatswood. After a memorial service at St Andrews Church, Chatswood, his remains were ashed at the Northern Suburbs Crematorium.

Publications

  • White, Charles Alfred Challenge of the Years — a history of the Presbyterian Church in Australia Angus & Robertson.
The book includes a list of ministers and missionaries over the first 150-odd years of the church in Australia.

Family

White was a brother of Ada Emily White; Clara Ann Margaret White; Emily Elizabeth White and Jessie Maria White
No record of marriage or children has been found.