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Charles Simeon: Pastor of a Generation
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This work is in the public domain in the United States of America, and possibly other nations. Within the United States, you may freely copy and distribute this work, as no entity (individual or corporate) has a copyright on the body of the work.
Scholars believe, and we concur, that this work is important enough to be preserved, reproduced, and made generally available to the public. To ensure a quality reading experience, this work has been proofread and republished using a format that seamlessly blends the original graphical elements with text in an easy-to-read typeface.
We appreciate your support of the preservation process, and thank you for being an important part of keeping this knowledge alive and relevant.
208 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1892
About the author
Handley Moule
289 books5 followersFrom Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Handley Carr Glyn Moule, DD was an evangelical Anglican theologian, writer, poet, and Bishop of Durham from 1901-1920.
Handley Carr Glyn Moule, DD was an evangelical Anglican theologian, writer, poet, and Bishop of Durham from 1901-1920.
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Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews
September 22, 2025
My particular religious history traces back to the English Protestants, but split from the Church of England back around the time of the Puritans. So I really know very little about it and those who worked through it to spread the Gospel. It was well within that tradition that Simeon found the Savior and brought thousands to the saving knowledge of Christ. Many things he had to struggle against in that church are very foreign to an American Baptist, but at the same time the lukewarm Christians and the violent, mocking lost are very familiar.
It’s well worth reading. First, because of the eternal hope demonstrated by his salvation and faithful life. Second, because it shows you that our struggles are really nothing new. Thirdly, because of the glimpses of the Savior’s work through a struggling sick man. Don’t expect a modern style biography though. It is organized somewhat chronologically, somewhat by topic.
It’s well worth reading. First, because of the eternal hope demonstrated by his salvation and faithful life. Second, because it shows you that our struggles are really nothing new. Thirdly, because of the glimpses of the Savior’s work through a struggling sick man. Don’t expect a modern style biography though. It is organized somewhat chronologically, somewhat by topic.
June 11, 2020
Charles Simeon’s life and pastoral ministry are worthy of attention. The particularly difficult start to his ministry in Cambridge (being locked out of his own church), his faithful and long preaching ministry, and his influence upon many men for the cause of Christ were an encouragement to me.
This biography, however, was merely okay. An older biography, the style is more formal, it is verges on hagiographic at points, and fails to get us inside the mind of the subject.
This biography, however, was merely okay. An older biography, the style is more formal, it is verges on hagiographic at points, and fails to get us inside the mind of the subject.
February 27, 2021
A tremendous introduction to a saint of God
Moule gives us a thoughtful and loving look at a man who believes the Scriptures and actually lived by them. This is not a book for anyone who wants a quick read, but you will be rewarded if you take the time to read and ponder this book.
Moule gives us a thoughtful and loving look at a man who believes the Scriptures and actually lived by them. This is not a book for anyone who wants a quick read, but you will be rewarded if you take the time to read and ponder this book.
November 10, 2021
This Book follows the life of Charles Simeon, a devoted christain preacher who lived and preached at Cambridge England for the Angligan Church.
Unfortunetly the book talks more about his colleagues and a little about his live, but without any real understanding of his achievements or the things that made him outstanding.
Unfortunetly the book talks more about his colleagues and a little about his live, but without any real understanding of his achievements or the things that made him outstanding.
November 29, 2023
Stylistically a late-Victorian biography, this work most helpfully recounts Simeon’s life and ministry through extensive quotations from his voluminous correspondence with his mentors, contemporaries, and protégés.
August 1, 2020
Excellent, if not somewhat antiquated in form, biography. I’m thankful for Ray Ortlund’s recommendation of it to me 10 years ago and wish I had read it sooner.
August 28, 2024
Loved the story, but it is a bit of a challenge to read. Much to thank God for, for Charles Simeon
June 9, 2025
If I had to describe Simeon's life in a phrase, it would probably be something like unswerving faithfulness and devotion. He was a truly extraordinary man.
This can be seen in how consistently faithful Simeon remained to his pastoral calling, even in the face of bitter and long-running opposition and adversity. In talking of the opposition he faced when he was the minister of Holy Trinity he said the following: "I wished rather to suffer than to act; because in suffering I could not fail to be right; but in acting I might easily do amiss. Besides, if I suffered with a becoming spirit my enemies, though unwittingly, must of necessity do me good; whereas if in acting I should have my own spirit unduly exercised, I must of necessity be injured in my own soul, however righteous my cause might be."
He was also faithful to his calling to preach and teach the word, with his preaching described as natural in style, lively and energetic. The biographer tells us that his matter was never trivial, and he never for a moment wandered into idle rhetoric. To expound the scripture before him as closely and clearly as he could, and then to bring its message to bear full on the conscience and will of his hearers, was his settled aim from the first, kept in view intelligently and with great pains. He described the aims of his preaching as "To humble the sinner, to exalt the Saviour, to promote holiness." This devotion is also expressed in his commitment to the University of Cambridge and its students, which he saw as vitally important in equipping coming generations to live in a God-honouring way.
In his teaching, both from the pulpit and the lecture hall, his great hope and effort were to be biblical and altogether loyal to the revelation of scripture. The 39 Articles were the exact expression of his own deepest convictions on all the great points of revelation. He was an Augustinian, holding firmly to the sovereignty of grace, but otherwise generally demurring from entering the Calvinist/Arminian controversy and preferring to emphasise common rather than divergent lines. He held that there is a great advantage to the soul in baptism, as we are thereby brought under the covenant, but it was clear that this involved a change of state rather than a change of nature. He urged other ministers of the word, and himself, to get at the heart with the truth, not at the feelings by brilliancy. In other words, he is a fine example of an evangelical Anglican churchman.
This was an enjoyable introduction to his life, but probably not the definitive biography of Charles Simeon. I finish with a couple more quotes from Simeon that particularly struck me as I read the book:
"I find that an exceedingly close walk with God is necessary for the maintaining of fervour in intercession. Sometimes an extraordinary sense of want may beget fervour in our petitions, or a peculiar mercy enliven our grateful acknowledgements; but it is scarcely ever that we can intercede with fervour unless we enjoy our habitual nearness to God."
"I would have the whole of my experience one continued sense - first, of my nothingness, and dependence on God; second, of my guiltiness and desert before him; third, of my obligations to redeeming love, as overwhelming me with its incomprehensible extent and grandeur. Now I do not see why any one of these should swallow up another. That they are separable in imagination, like rays of light, I well know: but that they should be combined in action, I am well convinced."
This can be seen in how consistently faithful Simeon remained to his pastoral calling, even in the face of bitter and long-running opposition and adversity. In talking of the opposition he faced when he was the minister of Holy Trinity he said the following: "I wished rather to suffer than to act; because in suffering I could not fail to be right; but in acting I might easily do amiss. Besides, if I suffered with a becoming spirit my enemies, though unwittingly, must of necessity do me good; whereas if in acting I should have my own spirit unduly exercised, I must of necessity be injured in my own soul, however righteous my cause might be."
He was also faithful to his calling to preach and teach the word, with his preaching described as natural in style, lively and energetic. The biographer tells us that his matter was never trivial, and he never for a moment wandered into idle rhetoric. To expound the scripture before him as closely and clearly as he could, and then to bring its message to bear full on the conscience and will of his hearers, was his settled aim from the first, kept in view intelligently and with great pains. He described the aims of his preaching as "To humble the sinner, to exalt the Saviour, to promote holiness." This devotion is also expressed in his commitment to the University of Cambridge and its students, which he saw as vitally important in equipping coming generations to live in a God-honouring way.
In his teaching, both from the pulpit and the lecture hall, his great hope and effort were to be biblical and altogether loyal to the revelation of scripture. The 39 Articles were the exact expression of his own deepest convictions on all the great points of revelation. He was an Augustinian, holding firmly to the sovereignty of grace, but otherwise generally demurring from entering the Calvinist/Arminian controversy and preferring to emphasise common rather than divergent lines. He held that there is a great advantage to the soul in baptism, as we are thereby brought under the covenant, but it was clear that this involved a change of state rather than a change of nature. He urged other ministers of the word, and himself, to get at the heart with the truth, not at the feelings by brilliancy. In other words, he is a fine example of an evangelical Anglican churchman.
This was an enjoyable introduction to his life, but probably not the definitive biography of Charles Simeon. I finish with a couple more quotes from Simeon that particularly struck me as I read the book:
"I find that an exceedingly close walk with God is necessary for the maintaining of fervour in intercession. Sometimes an extraordinary sense of want may beget fervour in our petitions, or a peculiar mercy enliven our grateful acknowledgements; but it is scarcely ever that we can intercede with fervour unless we enjoy our habitual nearness to God."
"I would have the whole of my experience one continued sense - first, of my nothingness, and dependence on God; second, of my guiltiness and desert before him; third, of my obligations to redeeming love, as overwhelming me with its incomprehensible extent and grandeur. Now I do not see why any one of these should swallow up another. That they are separable in imagination, like rays of light, I well know: but that they should be combined in action, I am well convinced."
October 6, 2023
Disclaimer: I only listened to this one of LibriVox.
In this biography, a companion of Charles Simeon writes about the life and legacy of his dear friend. Simeon though peculiar in many ways such as living on a college campus his entire adult life, never marrying, and even the manner in which he was saved, is worthy of attention as one who endured years and decades of persecution for Christ’ sake. As a model of someone who endured to the end and preached the word in and out of season, Simeon is admirable figure. Living from 1759 to 1836, Simeon held a unique place as an Anglican in a church that was loosing steam since the time of the Puritans and then Wesleys. He preached the gospel and worked to bring about evangelical reform in a world of nominalism. There is good cause why his legacy of suffering for Jesus and preaching faithfulness and passionately still lives on today.
The qualms I have with this book is that it is so poorly organized and written. At times it feels like one is in an unlit room that you know contains great things but due to the lighting one simply can’t locate them. In other words, the author doesn’t do a great job of explained what and why things are happening. Furthermore, one often feels that they are observing the man rather than getting to walk in his shoes and thinking his thoughts after him. Thus despite the great subject of the book, the delivery obscures what is supposed to be laid bare.
In this biography, a companion of Charles Simeon writes about the life and legacy of his dear friend. Simeon though peculiar in many ways such as living on a college campus his entire adult life, never marrying, and even the manner in which he was saved, is worthy of attention as one who endured years and decades of persecution for Christ’ sake. As a model of someone who endured to the end and preached the word in and out of season, Simeon is admirable figure. Living from 1759 to 1836, Simeon held a unique place as an Anglican in a church that was loosing steam since the time of the Puritans and then Wesleys. He preached the gospel and worked to bring about evangelical reform in a world of nominalism. There is good cause why his legacy of suffering for Jesus and preaching faithfulness and passionately still lives on today.
The qualms I have with this book is that it is so poorly organized and written. At times it feels like one is in an unlit room that you know contains great things but due to the lighting one simply can’t locate them. In other words, the author doesn’t do a great job of explained what and why things are happening. Furthermore, one often feels that they are observing the man rather than getting to walk in his shoes and thinking his thoughts after him. Thus despite the great subject of the book, the delivery obscures what is supposed to be laid bare.
October 17, 2013
Charles Simeon is not as well known as some of the other great saints of church history. He did not write as much as Spurgeon or preach to crowds as large as Whitefield's or establish a massive movement like Wesley. Yet his life and ministry were not of the common sort. He served as minister of the same church for over 50 years, a ministry which began under a cloud of opposition but ended in the sunshine of respect and admiration.
This biography is perhaps written in the style of a bygone era. It has almost the feel of a gentleman well acquainted with Simeon and his papers inviting into his study for a leisurely survey of his life. But whether the style appeals to you or not, the force of Simeon's life, his character, his piety, his love of God and man, his passion, are what speak loudest through the pages. This is spiritual biography at its best: the life of a truly godly man drawing other men on toward godliness. Read to have your heart warmed, your soul stirred, and your desires drawn heavenward.
*I read this in a kindle edition
This biography is perhaps written in the style of a bygone era. It has almost the feel of a gentleman well acquainted with Simeon and his papers inviting into his study for a leisurely survey of his life. But whether the style appeals to you or not, the force of Simeon's life, his character, his piety, his love of God and man, his passion, are what speak loudest through the pages. This is spiritual biography at its best: the life of a truly godly man drawing other men on toward godliness. Read to have your heart warmed, your soul stirred, and your desires drawn heavenward.
*I read this in a kindle edition
April 12, 2017
I have a particular connection with Simeon because he went to my secondary school... I picked this up from my college library having spotted it on an off-chance. It is a new edition made by scanning an original straight into a computer without editing, so it was replete with typos, making it a challenge to read at times.
Anyway, the book itself told me everything about Simeon I had wanted to know, and was at times quite inspiring, not to mention historically interesting on occasion.
The text can be found online here:
https://archive.org/details/charlessi...
Anyway, the book itself told me everything about Simeon I had wanted to know, and was at times quite inspiring, not to mention historically interesting on occasion.
The text can be found online here:
https://archive.org/details/charlessi...
January 14, 2014
He was clearly a remarkable man but this is a very dull book. The closing chapters give the most illuminating account of his character and love for Jesus and it was exciting to hear of how hospitable he was, particularly with students.
It was, however, written in a very Victorian way- bulky text, unwieldy quotes and a generally pretty opaque way of dealing with each subject in turn. A bit of a struggle to read, felt a lot longer than its 200 pages.
It was, however, written in a very Victorian way- bulky text, unwieldy quotes and a generally pretty opaque way of dealing with each subject in turn. A bit of a struggle to read, felt a lot longer than its 200 pages.
January 24, 2016
While Charles Simeon is a great historical figure to study, this book is dated and poorly written. It's rather unfortunate, but Moule needed a good editor to set him straight. Thus, the book only suffers from the biographer, not the subject. Simeon was a giant of the faith to be studied by all pastors.
April 4, 2021
A hidden beauty
Really a wonderful read. I had to read this for class, but I am so blessed by what I learned from his life - compassion and relentless pursuit to proclaim Christ's name.
Really a wonderful read. I had to read this for class, but I am so blessed by what I learned from his life - compassion and relentless pursuit to proclaim Christ's name.
January 30, 2016
Wonderful biography of Simeon. A real example to follow. Easy read, but much depth.
Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews