Alexander Petrie Campbell


The Reverend Alexander Petrie Campbell OBE was an Australian-born Congregational church minister and chairman of the Congregational Union of Australia and New Zealand from 1937 until 1939.

Immediate family

Alex Campbell was born at Redfern, New South Wales, the second son of George Campbell, an English-born Congregational minister. Before entering the ministry, George was a Moulder Journeyman, the occupation he gave at the time of his first marriage to Ann Hamilton. They were married in 1856, but she died without bearing any children in 1865. George went on to marry Mary Adam Petrie, Alexander's mother, in 1872. She was born in Paisley, Scotland. Both parents were 43 years of age at the time of Alex's birth. George and Mary were married for 30 years before Mary died in 1903. George died in 1915.
Alex's brother George was older by just one year. He later worked as a Chemist, living in Petersham, Sydney with his wife.

Early life

He was educated at Newington College and the University of Sydney from where he graduated as a Bachelor of Arts in 1904. After studying theology at Camden College, Glebe, he was ordained in his father's church at Burwood. Campbell married Margaret Elizabeth Beale, daughter of piano manufacturer Octavius Beale, in 1909.

Ministry

Campbell's deep concern for social justice led him to serve the community at large. In 1929 he was elected president of the Rotary Club of Sydney and he became vice-president of the New South Wales Society for Crippled Children which had been established during his presidency of Rotary. With a pleasant voice, Campbell was a regular speaker on radio and he was an early proponent of Australian intercommunion. Congregationalists in New South Wales "revered him as an inspiring preacher, a wise administrator and a beloved pastor". He died at Wahroonga and was survived by his wife, daughter and three sons.

Honours