Reformed Churchmen

We are Confessional Calvinists and a Prayer Book Church-people. In 2012, we remembered the 350th anniversary of the 1662 Book of Common Prayer; also, we remembered the 450th anniversary of John Jewel's sober, scholarly, and Reformed "An Apology of the Church of England." In 2013, we remembered the publication of the "Heidelberg Catechism" and the influence of Reformed theologians in England, including Heinrich Bullinger's Decades. For 2014: Tyndale's NT translation. For 2015, John Roger, Rowland Taylor and Bishop John Hooper's martyrdom, burned at the stakes. Books of the month. December 2014: Alan Jacob's "Book of Common Prayer" at: http://www.amazon.com/Book-Common-Prayer-Biography-Religious/dp/0691154813/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1417814005&sr=8-1&keywords=jacobs+book+of+common+prayer. January 2015: A.F. Pollard's "Thomas Cranmer and the English Reformation: 1489-1556" at: http://www.amazon.com/Thomas-Cranmer-English-Reformation-1489-1556/dp/1592448658/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1420055574&sr=8-1&keywords=A.F.+Pollard+Cranmer. February 2015: Jaspar Ridley's "Thomas Cranmer" at: http://www.amazon.com/Thomas-Cranmer-Jasper-Ridley/dp/0198212879/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1422892154&sr=8-1&keywords=jasper+ridley+cranmer&pebp=1422892151110&peasin=198212879

Friday, January 2, 2015

2 January 1861 A.D. William H.G. Thomas Born—Church of England Theologian



2 January 1861 A.D.  William H.G. Thomas Born—Church of England Theologian










William H. G. Thomas (1861 to 1924)


Church of England


Preachers' Preacher


William Henry Griffith Thomas was born at Oswestry, Shropshire, England. Forced by economic circumstances to leave school at age 14, he attained his education by diligent study and sacrifice. At age 16 he was asked to teach a Sunday School class. For four months he did his best, but realized that he could not teach something he himself had not experienced. God used two young men of the church to bring him to Christ on March 23, 1878. Given opportunities for promotion within the Anglican church, he quickly rose from one position to another, until he was called to pastor at St. Paul's Church, Portman Square. Soon the church had six prayer meetings a week, plus many clubs and societies. However, Griffith Thomas emphasized the study of the Word. Spiritual growth followed within his church. In 1910 he moved with his family to Toronto, and from there to Philadelphia. He helped found Dallas Theological Seminary. He became famous for his advice to young preachers: "Think yourself empty, read yourself full, write yourself clear, pray yourself keen--then, enter the pulpit and let yourself go!"

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