Wesley Allan Rodger, who was the minister of our congregation from 1896-1917, features in a new book written by his great granddaughter, Helen May Williams.
June is a historical novel, in part based on the author’s mother June’s handwritten memoirs. June’s grandfather died before she was born, but his memory was still fragrant in the town as June grew up.
One anecdote from an unpublished family memoir which is drawn upon in the book highlights his generosity:
‘On one occasion his wife had a rude shock when he had to confess that, having just received his quarter’s salary, he had given it to the milkman, who would otherwise have had to sell his horse and cart and stock to pay some pressing debts. The Rodger family had indefinite free milk I believe, but the money was never repaid’. In fact, whenever he went out, his wife ‘would only allow him to take sixpence in his pocket, because she knew he would give away to needy parishioners whatever sum he carried with him at the time’. When he died after a protracted illness, and his wife finally went to pay large outstanding bills at the butcher’s, grocer’s, etc., ‘payment was generally refused, with words of gratitude to her husband. This was just one small token of the love and respect of the people he ministered to in Stranraer’.
The Rodger family (Wesley, Anne and their 9 children), pictured in the garden of the former Stranraer manse
His obituary in the RP Witness (Aug 1918) described him as follows: ‘a man of strong and deep evangelical convictions, of strikingly earnest speech and impressive pulpit manner, Mr Rodger exercised a powerful influence as a preacher. He never wearied telling the story of Redeeming Love, and he was never slack to embrace his opportunities. In social fellowship he excelled in geniality, and was ever brotherly and kind’.
Rev. Wesley Allan Rodger
His grave at the Glebe Cemetery, Stranraer
Session records from 1896 show that his initial salary was to be £150 per annum. The following extract, from a meeting of Session held in the manse in March 1917, records Rev. Rodger’s request to resign the pastorate due to health reasons.
The book can be purchased online from a number of different retailers, including the publisher, Cinnamon Press.
Helen meeting with Stephen and Margaret Clark as part of her research in March 2019