The Life And Ministry Of Edgar Flegg
Earthen Vessel 1900:
Dear Brother,—In response to your request I send you a brief outline of my life. I was born in London, in the year 1867. I was blessed with godly parents, brought up under Christian influence and training, and the subject of many earnest prayers on the part of my parents. These things, together with the godly instruction I received at Soho Sunday School, were the means of preventing me from running into the depths of outward sin, into which some are permitted to go.
About the year 1880, I was much affected by my brother being baptized, and became greatly concerned with respect to my condition before God. From this time I commenced attending the week-night services with my brother, and, although I often felt condemned under the Word, I continued to attend, feeling that I could not stay away. Thus some time passed with me until one evening as I was going home, such a sight and sense of my sins was given me as to create feelings which I cannot describe. In the open air, with agony in my heart, I tried to plead for mercy, feeling myself utterly lost and undone. The burden clung to me, and there seemed for a time no ray of hope, As time went on I feared that all 1 had felt and thought I had experienced was merely the result of my Christian surroundings and associations; and I was tempted to wish that I had plunged into the depths of sin, that I might be sure that I was really called of God. However, from whatever source my emotions might arise, I could not but feel that I loved the house of God, and the people of God, nor could I do other than attend the services.
Some time after this it was my privilege to become possessed of a book entitled “The Kingdom of Grace,” by Dr. Krummacher. A sermon in this book, on God as a Master Builder, I read with great delight, and God was pleased to make it the means of bringing joy and peace into my soul. The house of God became increasingly precious to me, and I greatly profited under the faithful ministrations of Mr. Box. I was baptized by him, with eight others, on August 80th, 1884.
My first attempt to speak in the name of the Lord was made at Newton Longville, in Buckinghamshire. I was spending a holiday there with two fellow members from Soho. For some reason no minister came on the Lord’s-day, and the friends pressed us to take the services. One of my brethren took the afternoon service on condition that I would undertake the evening. The words I spake from were” It is well.” On my return to London I was asked to supply several pulpits, but always declined, except in the case of the illness of a minister, just to fill up a gap. Invitations, however, continued to flow in, and I became greatly exercised in my mind on the matter. I consulted my pastor, Mr. J. Box, and after preaching several times before the Church at Soho, I was sent forth with the approval of the Church to exercise my gifts, as the Lord might open doors for me.
From that time I sought to honour and exalt the Lord Jesus Christ in preaching the Gospel in various parts of London and the country, until in January, 1894, I commenced my labours as pastor of the Church at Bexley Heath. Here the Lord has been pleased to greatly bless His Word in comforting His people and quickening souls into life. During my pastorate the freehold of the chapel has been purchased, and the chapel enlarged and renovated.
We are dwelling in peace, and I am happy in my work. I fall at His feet adoringly, and say, “Who am I, O Lord God, and what is my house, that Thou hast brought me hitherto?” “By the grace of God I am what I am.”
Yours, in the Master whom we serve,
E. W. Flegg
Bexley Heath, June, 1900
Edgar William Flegg (1867-1914) was a Strict and Particular Baptist preacher. Between 1894-1904 he served as pastor for the church at Bexleyheath and between 1906-1914 he served as pastor for the church at Homerton.
