![Reynolds Waters, Presbyterian minister](http://web.archive.org./web/20170724005236im_/https://www.fairfaxstatic.com.au/content/dam/images/g/w/g/6/n/v/image.related.articleLeadNarrow.300x0.gwiwsn.png/1496367604367.jpg)
The Reverend Reynolds Waters had a proud record â he married his three children and one of his grandsons and baptised his seven grandchildren. There is no record of how many other weddings and baptisms he celebrated, but his more than 60 years of active Christian ministry are remembered with gratitude in Victoria, South Australia, the US and Scotland.
Born in Caulfield, the fifth son in a family of five boys and three girls, Reynolds started school in Warrnambool where his father became principal of the Technical School. In 1938, when his father was appointed principal of Richmond Technical School, the family moved to Essendon and Reynolds continued his education at University High School, where he was a prefect and captain of athletics.
He was accepted as a candidate for the ministry of the Presbyterian Church in 1944, completing an arts degree at the University of Melbourne and theological studies at Ormond College Theological Hall. He married Joan (nee Neylan) in 1951.
Later in the same year Reynolds was appointed to the Eaglehawk Presbyterian Church and ordained. The parish included Marong, Woodstock-on-Loddon, Big Hill and Kangaroo Flat â four services one Sunday, five the next.
After three years he accepted a call to Glenroy, becoming the first full-time minister in a 50-year-old church experiencing rapid growth due to the postwar development of Melbourne suburbs. Houses sprouted like mushrooms along the unmade footpaths, families moved in, many infants were baptised and Sunday school attendance soared.
Additional work was undertaken when Reynolds was appointed part-time Chaplain 4th Class 3/50021 in the Citizen Military Forces to serve at Broadmeadows Army Camp. The part-time role was to do with "religious ministry and pastoral care to members of the force and their families".
In 1957 the Waters, with their four-year-old daughter Jan, headed for America. Encouraged to do postgraduate studies in Christian education in the USA, Reynolds accepted an invitation to be assistant pastor of the Paxton Presbyterian Church in Harrisburg, the capital of Pennsylvania. The contrast with Glenroy was stark; this church was established in 1732.
Two years later the family returned to Australia via Scotland, where Reynolds served for three months as locum at the Old Parish Kirk in Kirkcaldy, Fife, an even older church with written records going back to1244 and a tower dating from the 15th century.
Reynolds appreciated the opportunity of being, for a brief time, part of the Church of Scotland, from which the Presbyterian Church of Australia had come. He earned his passage home as Protestant chaplain on migrant ship SS Fairsky carrying 1400 "Ten-pound Poms".
In 1960 Reynolds began a seven-and-a-half year ministry at St Andrew's, Mount Gambier, again in a period of rapid growth in the church and Sunday school â and indeed, in the Waters family, with the birth of two children, Michael and Kate.
In 1966 Reynolds travelled overseas again, this time representing the Presbyterian Church of South Australia in letting churches in Scotland and Northern Ireland know of the warm welcome that would await immigrants to South Australia. Again he returned as a ship's chaplain.
Reynolds was called to St David's, Newtown, Geelong in 1964, where his congregation included boarders from Morongo Presbyterian Girls School and Geelong College. As well as serving on numerous church committees, he was also involved in community groups such as Christian Education in State Schools, the Marriage Guidance Council and Rotary.
Houses sprouted like mushrooms along the unmade footpaths, families moved in, many infants were baptised and Sunday school attendance soared.
In 1971 a call came from St. Leonard's, Brighton Beach and Reynolds enjoyed a satisfying and productive ministry of 13 years during which the Uniting Church came into being. In this period he served as presbytery secretary and chairman and had a 15-month exchange with the minister of Natrona Heights Presbyterian Church, Pittsburgh, while Joan completed postgraduate studies in early childhood education at the University of Pittsburgh.
Reynolds' last full-time appointment was at St Columba's Uniting Church, Balwyn Heights, where he served for seven years until his retirement in 1992.
Previously a Bourke Presbytery representative on the Council of Carnsworth UC Nursing Home in Kew, he was elected chairman in 1992 and was deeply involved in the complex negotiations around major building projects. Carnsworth continued to develop in the next few years, expanding and upgrading its buildings and in 1997 celebrated 50 years of service to the elderly.
For the next 19 years Reynolds acted as relief minister for varying periods at Kew, Norfolk Island, Warranwood, North Ringwood, Croydon North, Merimbula, Hartwell, Deep Creek (East Doncaster), Mooroolbark, Glen Iris and Burwood. He conducted worship for the last time at The Avenue UC in September 2011. In 2012 Reynolds was diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease.
In 2016 the Moderator, on behalf of the Synod of Victoria and Tasmania, presented Reynolds with a certificate of marking the 65 years of his faithful service as an ordained minister.
He is remembered as a father with joy and pride in the good lives and achievements of his children, his pleasure in his grandchildren as they grew into adulthood and in his great- grandchildren as they enlivened family gatherings. He died at home on May 4 in the care of his family. He is survived by his wife Joan, son Michael and daughters Jan and Kate, seven grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.
* Written with the assistance of the family.