HARDING, ISAAC (1815-97) was born at Wanstrow, Somerset, England, three months after the death of his father. At two years he was adopted by a childless uncle and aunt, and eventually he was confirmed in the Anglican church. Shortly afterwards he joined the Wesleyan Methodist church and soon became a local preacher. At the age of 21 he entered the ministry and was ordained at Newcastle-on-Tyne (1840). During the dissensions in British Methodism (1849-53) he rendered yeoman service by his loyalty and eloquence and his writings.

In response to a call for volunteers for Australia, Harding offered and sailed for Victoria in 1852. Landing at the height of the gold rush he engaged in strenuous labour, enduring hardships, establishing schools and erecting churches. He was one of the originators and the first editor of the Victorian Wesleyan Chronicle. In 1858 he was transferred to New Zealand, his first sphere being Auckland. The discovery of gold in Otago led to Harding's transfer to Dunedin, where the Rev James Buller had arranged for the erection of a church for him on Bell Hill. Harding held his first services in the Athenaeum and then occupied a canvas tent at the corner of Stafford and Melville streets. He speedily took the whole of Otago for his circuit and during two years churches were erected at Tuapeka, Clutha, Tokomairiro, Waikouaiti, Oamaru and elsewhere. In the course of one journey he went to Gabriel's Gully, thence proceeding through Teviot to Dunstan, up the Kawarau to Arrow and Queenstown, thence to Invercargill and Dunedin. In this journey he used four horses and made some very long daily journeys. He opened preaching services in 23 centres and had canvas and frame churches erected on the goldfields at Hogburn, Shotover, Alexandra, Clyde, Hyde and other places. A robust constitution, volcanic energies and an indomitable will gave him a rich endowment for pioneering work.

Harding was a man of unusual mental ability, a profound thinker and book lover. He was a contributor to leading magazines and reviews in England. His letters written from Auckland and Dunedin and published in the London Times over the signature 'Uncle John' did remarkable service to New Zealand and its intending colonists. In 1859 he published a lecture entitled Young Men for the Colonies, and a controversial pamphlet addressed to Governor Gore Browne on correspondence between him and Bishop Pompallier. In 1860 he published a pamphlet addressed 'To the intelligent Roman Catholic laymen of the province of Auckland,' regarding the inspection of schools receiving government grants. After leaving Otago Harding served at Wellington (1864-66) and Wanganui (1867). In 1868 he was transferred to Queensland, where in 1872 he founded the Methodist book depot in Brisbane. He died on 17 Jul 1897.

M.A.R.P.

Reference: Volume 1, page 194

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