NEWBURY, Reverend Alfred Charles (1886-1948) The Rev Newbury served as a Congregational Minister in Victoria, New South Wales and South Australia. He attended Queen’s College at Melbourne University and the Victorian Congregational College.
At University he played for the football team. Accepted for training in the Ministry in 1908, he was ordained in 1911, served at North Richmond in 1910 and then Bendigo, Victoria before becoming pastor for seven years at Ascot Vale, Melbourne from November, 1914 until June 1921. He was then at Camberwell for three years. While in Melbourne, he was Secretary of the Victorian Congregational Men’s Association. At Ascot Vale he also served for two years as chaplain to the Australian Imperial Force (AIF) Gunnery Camp at Maribyrnong. He then ministered at the Chatswood Congregational Church, Sydney for seven years and acted as Secretary of the young people’s department of the New South Wales Congregational Union before moving as pastor to the Clayton Congregational Church at Norwood, Adelaide from 1930 to 1940. In 1937 he was President of the South Australian Refuge, Norwood. There followed seven years at Henley Beach, Adelaide from which he retired due to ill health a year before his death at 27 Thomas St, Unley. He alse served as an army chaplain during World War II. On 13 September 1911 at Albert Park, he married Nellie Rae Hume (1886-1915).
Alfred Charles Newbury was the son of Samuel Newbury and his wife, Jessie Susannah nee Dowsett. His father, Samuel Newbury (1854-1930), was headmaster of Albert Park Grammar School, Melbourne and his Diaries and Transcripts are held by the State Library of Victoria (SLV). Rev Alfred Charles Newbury was probably educated at Albert Park Grammar School befor entering Geelong College as a day student from 9 February 1897 until possibly 1898. At the time of his enrolment at Geelong College his address was 180 Bellarine St, Geelong. He won the Junior College Writing Prize in 1897 and participated in several 100yd or 120yd handicap running races in 1897 and 1898 at Geelong College.
He was the author of a book published in 1932:
The encircling love; Hymns and verses (Kensington S Aust, Clayton Congregational Church, 1931). His four brothers: Samuel Dowsett Newbury (1882-1953); Frank George Newbury (1886-1942); distinguished artist,
Albert Ernest Newbury (1891-1941); and Charles Frederick Newbury (1893-1961) were also educated at Geelong College.
He is listed on the Geelong College World War I Memorial Tablet as 'Newbury A C'
Sources: Hobart Mercury 7 March, 1908 p5; Argus 15 April, 1910 p6; Argus 14 May, 1910 p13; Argus 5 Mar 1914 p10; Argus 10 June 1921 p12; Adelaide Register 24 March 1923 p14; Barrier Miner 7 May 1930 p3 (includes image of Rev Newbury and his family); Adelaide Register News Pictorial 5 May 1930 p27; Adelaide Advertiser 13 Nov 1937 p30; Adelaide Advertiser (Obituary) 27 Sept 1948 p5.