John Tiller b. 8 Oct 1865 Para Plains, Salisbury, South Australia, Australia d. 26 Apr 1934 108 Carlton Parade, Torrensville, South Australia, Australia: Our Family History

1865 - 1934 (68 years)

Name	John Tiller [1]
Birth	8 Oct 1865	Para Plains, Salisbury, South Australia, Australia [2]
		Birth Registration - John Tiller John Tiller born 8 October 1865, Para Plains, South Australia, Australia, Father Richard Tiller, Mother Sarah Tucker, district Code Ade, Book 38, Page 101.

Gender	Male
Burial	1934	West Terrace Cemetery, 161 West Terrace, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia
Residences	24 Apr 1934	108 Carlton Parade, Torrensville, South Australia, Australia [3]
Residences	At the time of his death, Rev. John Tiller was residing at 108 Carlton Parade, Torrensville, South Australia, Australia.
Death	26 Apr 1934	108 Carlton Parade, Torrensville, South Australia, Australia [4, 5]
		Death Notice - Rev. John Tiller This death notice was published in the Chronicle Newspaper, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia, Thursday 26 April 1934, Page 46.

Probate	31 May 1934	Adelaide, South Australia, Australia [6]
	The Granting of Probate John Tiller of Torrensville 1,179 pounds.

		Granting of Probate - John Tiller Granting of probate notice for John Tiller, published in the Chroncile Newspaper, Adelaide, South Australia, Thursday 31 may 1934, page 40.
Person ID	I0637	Tucker Family Tree \| The descendants of James Tucker
Last Modified	12 Jun 2015

Father	Richard Hall Tiller, b. 22 Jan 1838, Fordingbridge, Hampshire, England d. 27 Dec 1908, Grace Plains, South Australia, Australia (Age 70 years)
Mother	Sarah Tucker, b. 5 May 1838, Melbourne, nr Swindon, Wiltshire, England d. 7 Sep 1909, Dalkey, South Australia, Australia (Age 71 years)
Marriage	3 Nov 1859	Wesleyan Chapel, Mt. Barker, South Australia, Australia [7, 8]
	In 1847, there were seven Wesleyan Churches in South Aus. and Mt. Barker was one of them. When the mill was built, it was used as a place of worship and Sunday School was also held in it. Later, a slab church was built in Cameron Street, of red gum posts with an earthen floor and bags for windows. The first stone church, which is now the Lecture Hall was opened in 1851. The Rev. J. Hall preached morning and evening, the collection for the day amounting to ?44-2-6 (a record even for today). The Rev. J. Dann, D.D., who was 21 years of age, walked from Adelaide to Mt. Barker to take charge of this church. The parsonage was built in 1857. The present fine structure, the Dunn Memorial Church built in 1881, donated to the Mt. Barker Methodists by the late John Dunn, now stands alongside the old church. In 1847, there were seven Wesleyan Churches in South Aus. and Mt. Barker was one of them. When the mill was built, it was used as a place of worship and Sunday School was also held in it. Later, a slab church was built in Cameron Street, of red gum posts with an earthen floor and bags for windows. The first stone church, which is now the Lecture Hall was opened in 1851. The Rev. J. Hall preached morning and evening, the collection for the day amounting to ?44-2-6 (a record even for today). The Rev. J. Dann, D.D., who was 21 years of age, walked from Adelaide to Mt. Barker to take charge of this church. The parsonage was built in 1857. The present fine structure, the Dunn Memorial Church built in 1881, donated to the Mt. Barker Methodists by the late John Dunn, now stands alongside the old church. The address of the Dunn Memorial Uniting Church is 13 Mann Street Mount Barker, South Australia.

		Marriage Registration - Sarah Tucker and Richard Tiller Sarah Tucker married Richard Tiller 03 November 1859 at the Wesleyan Chapel (now known as the Dunn Memorial Uniting Church, Mt Barker, South Australia.

		Methodist Church, Mt Barker, South Australia, Australia The Dunn Memorial Church, Mt Barker, stands alongside the old Wesleyan Chapel,which is now used as the Lecture Hall.
Family ID	F0063	Group Sheet \| Family Chart

Family Eliza Jane Matthews, b. Abt 1862, South Australia, Australia d. 10 May 1948, Stepney, South Australia, Australia (Age ~ 86 years)

Marriage 13 Apr 1892 Kensington, South Australia, Australia

Children

+	1. Walter Eric Roy Tiller, b. 26 Apr 1893, Broken Hill, New South Wales, Australia d. 4 Oct 1945, South Australia, Australia (Age 52 years)
+	2. Myrna Charis Tiller, b. 23 Oct 1895, Kadina, South Australia, Australia d. 28 May 1968 (Age 72 years)
+	3. John Bruce Tiller, b. 18 Nov 1896, Kadina, South Australia, Australia d. 1937 (Age 40 years)
+	4. Kenneth Charles Clyde Tiller, b. 24 Oct 1900 d. 7 Oct 1983 (Age 82 years)
+	5. Iris Adelphe Tiller, b. 28 Jul 1903, Boulder, Western Australia, Australia

Family ID F0234 Group Sheet | Family Chart

Last Modified 8 Jul 2022

Photos » Slide Show		John Tiller John Tiller, son of Richard Tiller and Sarah Tiller (nee Tucker).
		The Family of Richard and Sarah Tiller (nee Tucker) Back row (l to r): Henry Steven Tiller, Harriett Tiller, Charles Tiller,Henrietta Grace Rosedew Tiller, George Tiller, Mary Tiller, Richard Tiller Front row (l to r): Eliza Tiller, Richard Hall Tiller (father), John Tiller, Sarah Tiller (nee Tucker)(mother), Sarah Tiller (daughter) Sitting at front: Rosetta Eveline Blanche Tiller
		The Children of Richard and Sarah Tiller Back l to r: Henrietta, John Mary, Charles, Harriett Front 1 to r: George, Eliza, Sarah, Rose and Richard
		Uniting Church, Gladstone, South Australia, Australia The Uniting Church (formerly known as Methodist), Gladstone South Australia, was built by the Rev. John Tiller who personally quarried the stone for its construction.

Documents » Slide Show		A Real Church Builder - Rev John Tiller Article published in the Geraldton Guardian Newspaper, Geraldton, Western Australia Saturday 22 October 1921, Page 3 on John Tiller building a Church in Gladstone, South Australia
		Gladstone Methodist Church - Laying of Foundation Stones - Rev. John Tiller Article published in the Laura Standard and Crystal Brook courier Newspaper, South Australia, Australia, Friday 4 November 1921, page 3.
		Parson Who Quarried Stone for New Church This article on the Rev. John Tiller was published in the Recorder Newspaper, Port Pirie, South Australia, Saturday 28 April 1934, Page 3.

Notes

John could have received some of his education at Salisbury, then at Grace Plains School, He worked on the farm at Grace Plains and at Kybunga on land taken up by his father, Richard. Whilst working in a paddock, John had an experience that made him very sure that God was calling him to be a Pastor to people and to offer himself for the ministry. He came home and told his parents he had heard God's call. It is not known how old he was at the time.
He attended Prince Alfred College for one year in 1887, then in 1889 he went to England for a year. The Bible Christian Church had no Theological College in Australia so it was necessary to gain training at Shebbear College in North Devon. By this time he was engaged to Jane Matthews, school teacher, and she helped finance some of the expenses for the year away. He was back in time to officiate at the marriage of his brother Richard to Eliza Marshman, Grace Plains in July 1891.
His appointments were:
1890 Probationary year at Silverton, near Broken Hill
1891 Port Broughton
1892 Broken Hill; ordained in Adelaide at the Franklin St. Church (now Central Mission)
1894 Kadina
1897 Wirrabara
1900 With the Methodist Union of Bible Christian, Wesleyan and Primitive Methodist, he volunteered to go to Western Australia. He remained there until 1920 and had 10 circuits and was President of the Western Australian Methodist Conference in 1915 and Chairman of Districts in Western Australia in 1905 and 1915. Some of his circuits were Bunbury, York, Guildford, Boulder City, West Perth and Geraldton.
1920 Gladstone South Australia
1922 Supernumerary for one year, probably for health reasons
1923 Kadina
1926 Salisbury
1930 Torrensville
1933 Became Supernumerary

Excerpt from Eulogy from minutes of South Australian Conference 1935
" John Tiller entered our Ministry in 1889 and labored for 24 years in important circuits in this state and for 20 years he served the sister Conference of Western Australia, where he was called to the chair in 1915. He labored faithfully in our work and with much acceptance to our people. His preaching was vigorous and evangelical. In all his circuits the work of God prospered. by the Faithful attention to his pastoral duties he won many friends, who thank God for his life and ministry. He loved the people and was loved by them. His mind was enriched by a wide range of reading. He was tireless in service, free from personal consideration, and gave himself loyally to the service of the Church. After a brief eventide he was called suddenly to his reward on 24th April 1934 in the 68th year of his age and the 46th year of his ministry.
While John tiller was stationed at Gladstone, South Australia, the subject of a new Church was raise. The Trustees being unwilling to go into debt, the minister promised to quarry the stone if the parishioners would concentrate on money-raising.
With this end in view, he set about the job of spending every available spare moment in the stone quarry. Much rubbish had to be cleared; this accomplished, the job of blasting and drilling began. With the exception of a few days at the close of the job, Mr Tiller worked alone. To his credit he now has the satisfaction of seeing about 200 cubit yards of splendid stone on the job ready for the hands of the expert workmen.
The opening services were on 19th of February 1922. The President of the conference of that time Rev. J.H. Nield performed the opening ceremony. The cost of the new church was 2,250 pounds. After the special services held that day it was announced that the collections for the day had cleared the remaining debt. So the building was dedicated "free of debt". The congregation rose and all joined in singing the Doxology.
Perhaps no Methodist or any other Minister has been held in higher regard by the people of Gladstone. To his effort most of the success of the enterprise is due."

Extract from the areas express and Farmer Journal Friday March 3rd 1922
Friday, May 11th 1934 The Australian Christian Commonwealth
John Tiller - A Man Indeed

The Rev. john Tiller died on Anzac Day. The following tributes show how much he was beloved. His humble mind hid, from many, the fact that he was a fine student. He was a very strong man, and he loved beauty as a poet. He loved his dalias and chrysanthemums, and in return they gave to him their best. he was a prodigious worker in many gardens of the church, and were'er he worked the garden bloomed. The Chief tribute has been prepared by his beloved friend and colleague, Rev S.C, Mugford.
Mr Mugford writes: ' In 1890 John Tiller was my colleague in Silverton circuit for the bible Christian Church, He had been studying for his work at Shebbear College in England, and with the late Rev H Trewren and Rev H Wilkinson we wrought together in successful evangelistic work in the streets and churches. We were young and enthusiastic, and 'whether we slept in a cave or the shed, sleep came soft on the hardest bed, fresh we woke on the Morrow, He next laboured in Port Broughton and in 1892 2as sent to Broken Hill upon his ordination and marriage. After very trying but successful service there and Kadina, and Wirrabara, in 1900 he was transferred to West Australia. He spent 20 arduous years in that state, and was President of the Conference. Since returning to his homeland in 1920, several circuits have rejoiced in his fruitful ministry. he was an enthusiastic worker for the new church in Gladstone, raising the stone in the quarry prior to it s building, taxing his great strength to the utmost. He was a devoted minister. "First Thing first' and Jesus' call were supreme to him. Those things for which he 'was made to minister' joined him inseparably to his saviour. His calling, to his fellows and his church. These made him a loyal comrade, and a whole-hearted evangelist. He was a preacher of the 'word' and brought his powers of keen and analytical mind to focus in search of the truth. There was in him a combination of mystic and poet, finding expression in his rugged eloquence, which rejoiced, not in iniquity but in unearthing a new turn of a text as he read his Greek Testament, he was gladdened as one who had come across rich spoil, His pastoral work was diligent and constant, ever seeking to commend to others his saviour and theirs, and in labours abounding, the whole of his great physique was consecrated to the advancement of the Kingdom for his crowned king. He loved books, he loved his fellow men, and his garden. He was a gardener seeking to plant and grow moral and spiritual fruits. He knew there was a sepulchre in the garden, but it did not signify an end, but the gateway of a palace. So in his garden he passed to be 'for ever with the Lord on April 25th 1934'....

...The Rev,. A.W, Bray of Western Australia, pays tribute to his old friend:"our ministry has lost a devoted son of the Gospel of Jesus. His sincerity and devotedness were marks of his long and worthy ministry, and the work of God claimed all his powers."
The Rev. Doctor Shaw writes heartfelt words of affection: 'My most intimate and trusted companion in New Testament studies has passed on to the higher fellowship. It is impossible for me to say how very dear became the fellowship we realized in Christ.'
The secretary of the Conference Rev. E.M. Ingamells, B.A. says:' in my sorrow Mr. Tiller wrote me a very kind and beautiful letter, which was a true revelation of his own big loving heart. We shall always hold his in our memory as a good man and a faithful earnest Christian minister'

Rev D. C Harris writes: 'So cheerful and brave in spite of the 'slings and arros' of life, and confronting all difficulties with faith, and optimism, he was a man indeed.'

Rev. J.P.H. Tilbrook, M.A. from a sincere affection, adds a brief note: "We knew and love John Tiller, and had the greatest admiration for him and the work he did. Personally, I esteemed him very Highly, and found his words of counsel very helpful."

These are all high tributes and the beauty is, they are fairly earned. The love of Methodism is with Mrs. Tiller in her sad loss, in which God will comfort and sustain her.

Also from Western Australia, the Rev Milton R. Maley, chairman of the South-Western District, writes: 'John Tiller was a virile man, both in body and mind, with a wide vision of the Kingdom of God and the spiritual objectives of the Methodist Church.'

The Rev. Principal Lade, M.A. one among many who loved John Tiller dearly writes: "The brave strong soul has entered into the life for which God's grace, he proved himself worthy. We all loved your husband for his Christian cheerfulness and his unselfish devotion to his great work."

Our President, Rev.. J.C. Hughes, in a letter of sympathy says,"his gracious winning personality and his very fine work for god both in Western Australia and in our own state will long be remembered, not only by his brethren in the ministry, but by those of our people amongst who he laboured."

Sources

[S1] Cynthis Henley-Smith, The Tucker Family in Australia, (Gillingham Printers Pty Ltd Adelaide, South Australia), 1992, 137 - 139 (Reliability: 3).
[S7] South Australian Genealogy and Heraldry Society Inc, South Australian Birth registrations 1842-1906, (Macbeth Genealogical Services Pty Ltd), 8 Oct 1865, Book 38, Page 101 (Reliability: 3).
See attached extract of Birth Registration for John Tiller born 8 Oct 1865.
[S247] Chronicle Newspaper, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia, 26 Apr 1934, 46 (Reliability: 3).
See attached Death Notice
[S106] Adelaide Cemeteries Authority, 26 Apr 1934 (Reliability: 2).
Tiller John, Date of Death 26 April 1934, Age 68 Years, Last Abode Torrensville, Service Type Burial,
Cemetery West Terrace Cemetery.
[S247] Chronicle Newspaper, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia, 26 Apr 1934, 46 (Reliability: 3).
Rev. John Tiller died 24th April 1934 at his residence, 108 Carlton Parade, Torrensville, South Australia, Australia
[S247] Chronicle Newspaper, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia, 31 May 1934, 40 (Reliability: 3).
See attached newspaper clipping published in the Chronicle Newspaper Thursday 31 may 1934, page 40.
[S1] Cynthis Henley-Smith, The Tucker Family in Australia, (Gillingham Printers Pty Ltd Adelaide, South Australia), 1992, 100 (Reliability: 3).
[S27] South Australian Genealogy and Heraldry Society Inc, South Australian Marriages Registrations 1842 - 1916, (South Australian Genealogy and Heraldry), 3 Nov 1859, Registration number 40/54 (Reliability: 3).
See attached transcription of South Australia Marriages 1842-1937 - Sarah Tucker and Richard Tiller.