• Entry type: Person
  • Entry ID: AWE0112

Wells, Lilian C

  • OBE
(1911 – 2001)
  • Born 15 December 1911, Moonee Ponds, Victoria, Australia
  • Died 3 April 2001
  • Occupation Moderator

Summary

Lillian Wells was the first moderator of the New South Wales synod of the Uniting Church (1977) . On 31 December 1977 she was appointed as an Officer of the Order of the British Empire (civil) for services to the church.

Details

In 1934, Wells obtained her MA (Hons) from the University of Tasmania and then completed her Diploma of Education, while teaching French and German at Methodists Ladies’ College in Kew, Victoria.
In 1938, she married Henry Wells, a minister of the Congregational Church. As well as raising three daughters, Wells worked in various positions with the local congregations, wherever her husband was appointed.
Positions held include: President, Congregational Union of NSW 1975-1977, President, NSW Congregational Women’s Fellowship; President Congregational Women’s Fellowship of Australia; Secretary, SA Congregational Union; Member, Australian Council of Churches; Associated with Pan Pacific and South-East Asian Women’s Association.
A Uniting Church Nursing Home at Parramatta is named after her.

Sources: obit by Geoffrey Barnes; http://assembly.uca.org.au/update/June.htm (accessed 30/8/01- link no longer active)

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Archival resources

  • National Library of Australia
    • [Biographical cuttings on Lilian Wells, President of the Congregational Union of NSW, 1975, containing one or more cuttings from newspapers or journals]

Published resources