James Mathers

James Mathers (6 June 1854 – 12 April 1911) was an Irish born missionary who emigrated to New South Wales and worked among Sydney's inner city poor for the Sydney City Mission. Early life James Mathers was born in Lurgan, County Armagh, son of Scottish born parents and raised in Glasgow. Mathers joined the Free Church of Scotland after being converted at the Moody and Sankey mission in 1874. His younger brother Thomas was also moved by the 1874 mission to evangelise and also moved with his family to Sydney. Career Scotland Mathers began work for the Caledonian Railway Company (DC), before moving into construction engineering. Following his conversion he pursued evangelistic activity as a lay missionary in several city missions in the region of Glasgow. His mission work included open-air preaching and organising worship music for bands at Dykehead and Motherwell missions.