James Udy


James Stuart Udy OAM was an Australian Uniting Church minister, Master of Wesley College, University of Sydney, author and President of the World Methodist Historical Society from 1977 until 1983.

Early life and education

Jim Udy was a Methodist minister, and one of three brothers who became ministers of religion. Gloster Udy was his older brother, and Richard Udy was his younger brother. James attended Newington College, North Sydney Boys High School, Maitland High School, University of Sydney and took a PhD at Boston University. James married Anne Benua after meeting on a European bike tour that he took and together they had six children.

Military chaplain

Udy offered himself for service as a chaplain immediately after his ordination at Melbourne in January 1945. After his arrival on the island of Morotai with an engineer unit, he organised the construction of a chapel, which was dedicated on 25 July. Shortly afterwards, Udy was posted to 2/26 Supply Depot Company on the island of Labuan, where, after the Japanese surrender, another chapel was constructed by 2/14 Works Unit. During this period, Chaplain Udy worked extensively with repatriated Prisoners of War, and with their Japanese former captors.

Publications