More on Simeon
During his lifetime (1759-1836) he did more than an other to awaken the churches in England. On Sunday evenings he held talks for ministerial students. Weekly he gathered eager students in his rooms for “conversation parties”. Over 54 years, 1100 young ministers sat with him on Sunday evenings, absorbing his passion for Christ, and eventually igniting churches across the country. Others ended up as missionaries.
He didn’t limit his input to the weekly discussion group he ran. He biographer writes, “As soon as he was convinced that a young ordinand had true potential and was fully committed to Christ there was nothing he would not do for him.” He made himself as accessible as he could.
Many of the leaders he trained got their degrees but were unable to secure a church. Only the sons of privilege could afford to buy into influential parishes. So Simeon raised the funds to place his students in key churches.
A dynamic movement mobilizes workers committed to its cause. Somewhere at the heart of every church planting movement you’ll find a Charles Simeon doing whatever he can to empower a new generation of leaders.
“Charles Simeon:” (H. Moule)
