Charles Simeon’s 250th Birthday was last week. He was born on September 24, 1759. Who was Charles Simeon you ask? Great question. I have used this article from the Anglican Library and one from John Piper to tell his story.

Simeon was a man of faith to whom we are deeply indebted. He was an Evengelical Anglican who took a stand in day and age when it was challenging to do so. Because he did so, Evangelical Christianity within the Anglican Church is alive today.

He went to Cambridge to study at the age of 19. It was there that he had a conversion experience. What brought that about was his being required to go to Holy Communion service. He did not feel worthy. This led him to some intense soul searching. As he prepared for Holy Communion on Easter Sunday, 1779, he read about the Day of Atonement from the Old Testament. God was working on his heart and He trusted in Christ for salvation. He wrote about it later.

“What! may I transfer all my guilt to another? From that moment on I sought to lay my sins on the sacred head of Jesus, and on the Wednesday began to have a hope of mercy; and on the Thursday that hope increased; and on Friday and Saturday it became more strong; and on the Sunday (Easter Day, April 4, 1779) I awoke early with those words upon my heart and lips, Jesus Christ is risen to-day; Hallelujah! Hallelujah! From that hour peace flowed in rich abundance into my soul; and at the Lord’s Table in our chapel I had the sweetest access to God through my blessed Saviour.” (Memoirs, p.9)

During the next several years as a student at Cambridge he felt alone in his faith. He was ordained a Deacon in the Church of England at the age of 23. His Bishop appointed him to be the Vicar (Pastor) of Trinity Church, Cambridge. He had prayed to God before about this, walking by the church and saying, “How should I rejoice if God were to give me that church, that I might preach the Gospel there and be a herald for Him in the University.” He did not know what he was getting himself into. The people of Trinity Church did not want him and made that abundantly clear.

The congregation did not care for Simeon’s biblical preaching and would have preferred the assistant, Mr. Hammond, to become rector of the parish. They showed their displeasure toward Simeon by not attending and locking the small doors of their pews (which most churches had at the time). At times, they even locked the doors of the church to prevent Simeon from holding additional services.

The church members locked up their pews for 10 years! This was so no one could sit there. Incredible as it sounds, this did not deter Simeon. He faithfully kept preaching the Word and over time, he won over his congregation. People would stand in the aisles and in the back to hear him preach. He remained single his whole life, living simply in a room at Cambridge and gave his excess income to the poor.

He was the Vicar of Trinity Church for 54 years! His impact is felt today through his influence upon William Wilberforce, who fought to end slavery in the British Empire, and in the start of The Church Missionary Society in England, which later became InterVarsity Fellowship. The great Evangelical Anglicans of the 20th Century, John Stott and JI Packer, were hugely influenced by the ministry of Simeon (100 years later).

Towards the end of his life, he was asked how he was able to endure the type of persecution he had faced in his ministry. He replied:

We must not mind a little suffering for Christ’s sake. When I am getting through a hedge, if my head and shoulders are safely through, I can bear the pricking of my legs. Let us rejoice in the remembrance that our holy Head has surmounted all His suffering and triumphed over death. Let us follow Him patiently; we shall soon be partakers of His victory.

Shane+