Australian Dictionary of Biography

Matthew McGavin (1807-1874), Presbyterian minister, was born on 23 October 1807 in Irvine, Ayrshire, Scotland, son of Robert McGavin, grocer, and his wife Mary, née Reid. Trained at the United Presbyterian Church's Synod Hall (M.A., 1830), he was ordained on 15 June 1831 at Stonehouse. The parish had apparently been depleted because the call was signed by only 94 members and 66 adherents, small numbers for Scotland. Under his ministry at Stonehouse, however, the church made numerical progress, many members joining from Glassford, Dalserf and Lesmahagow.

McGavin accepted a call to the church, known as Wellwynd, at Airdrie in Lanarkshire and was inducted there on 2 March 1841. A new church was built, opened and dedicated in 1847, and surrounding districts, Chapelhall, Coatdyke, Cadder and Rawyards, were drawn within the bounds of the parish. A gifted musician, he composed a Psalm tune known as 'Clydesdale', still used in some Presbyterian churches, and with Andrew Thomson, organist at Paisley, published The Precentor's Guide to the Selection of Tunes (1853). After a record period of 'unbroken peace' he resigned his parish at Airdrie in February 1863. A deputation of the congregation asked him to delay this step, but he told them that their only course was to acquiesce because his mind was made up.

McGavin arrived in Brisbane in August 1863 and immediately took over the work based on the Creek Street Church, vacant for some time following the ministry of Rev. Thomas Bell. Under McGavin's vigorous ministry the work grew and prospered. He was moderator of synod in 1868. The building of a more enduring church than the earlier wooden structure had been started but the funds ran out and the new church was never completed. For some years the congregation worshipped in the composite building, part Gothic in style, having a nave without transepts. In aid of the Queensland Presbyterian Sabbath School Union McGavin gave and published two lectures on The Claims of Popery (Brisbane, 1874). Soon afterwards he suffered a serious illness and went to Sydney for treatment. He died at Milson's Point on 16 December and was buried in the Presbyterian section of Willoughby cemetery. He was married twice in Scotland: first, on 25 March 1832 to Elizabeth, née Chep, who bore him three sons and four daughters; and second, on 12 May 1857 to a widow, Grace Drummond née Ewing, who survived him.

The Creek Street parish later sold its property for a large sum to the neighbouring National Bank of Australasia Ltd, and transferred its work to Leichhardt Street (St Paul's Terrace), on that hill building the fine Gothic church which remains one of the architectural adornments in Brisbane.