The Life And Ministry Of Henry Boulton

Earthen Vessel 1889:

My dear departed father, Henry Boulton, was born in Whiskin Street, Clerkenwell, August 27, 1843, of godly parents, whose desire was to train up their children in the fear of the Lord. The early impressions that he received under the teaching of his godly mother were often the cause of deep and solemn thoughts concerning the future. His parents were Strict Baptists, but more often they attended Woodbridge Street Chapel, then under the pastoral care of Mr. Luckin. When about six years of age, he was sent to the Sabbath School connected with Woodbridge Street, and continued there for many years; and occasionally he referred in the pulpit to the teaching that he received there; and would mention the hymns he was taught when a boy. He was present at the service when Mr. Luckin’s life was in danger—some person firing at the preacher, but happily the shot missed its mark. About his conversion nothing seems to be known more than that when eighteen years of age he preached in the open air, and in the parks. Soon after this he was persuaded to go and hear the late James Wells (to whom he was warmly attached), and under his ministrations he was led to see very clearly the doctrines of free and sovereign grace.

One day, previous to this, when crossing Wilmington Square, Clerkenwell, the words were very powerfully applied to his mind, “Thy sins, which are many, are all forgiven thee.” He continued to attend Mr. Wells’ chapel, till, in course of time, he removed to Islington, then he attended Providence Chapel. There he became connected with the Sunday School, continuing there for eleven years as a teacher. Mr. W. J. Styles became pastor, and on visiting the Sunday School for the first time, was particularly struck with the attitude of one of the teachers, and to use Mr. Styles’ own words, “The teacher was sitting in his class, surrounded with young men; there was a look of earnestness in his face, one hand was resting upon his Bible, while the other hand was moving up and down.” The man, thought Mr. Styles, is not teaching, but actually preaching; what a pity he has not a congregation to preach to! This teacher was Henry Boulton. About this time a small cause in Wedmore Street came under the notice of Mr. Styles. The friends there were about to close the chapel. Mr. Styles disliked the closing of the chapel, and he agreed to stand security for the rent for six months, and to send a man to preach. Mr. Styles at once thought of the teacher that had come under his notice. Mr. Boulton was accordingly asked to go; after prayerful consideration he consented. He spoke to a friend about going to preach, and advice. The friend besought the Lord on his behalf. He went to the chapel in Wedmore Street, and there preached his first sermon from the words, “If any man be in Christ he is a new creature, old things are passed away, and behold, all things become new.” The friends were satisfied, and asked him to come again. He agreed to do so, till eventually a Strict Baptist Church was formed upon the doctrinal basis of the Metropolitan Association of Strict Baptist Churches. Mr. Styles baptized Mr. Boulton and two others.

A new chapel was built for him at Tollington Park, where he preached till his health failed him. His health for some time past has not been what he would have liked. The care of a pastorate and business proving to be too much for him, often he felt tired in the work, but not of it. Many times recently he has come home after preaching, feeling quite prostrate. About twelve months ago, he complained of a pain in the hip, which from that time troubled him very much. Medical advice was sought, and it was pronounced that Mr. Boulton was suffering from a severe attack of sciatica; the pains increased so much just after Christmas that he was obliged to keep his bed for three weeks, when he seemed much better, and resumed his occupation. A month had scarcely passed, before he was again smitten down, and made no progress towards recovery. After consultation it was agreed that he should be removed to the London Hospital, where he was admitted on May 25th last. Prayer was offered, and all were very hopeful that he would be restored again to health, to his family, and to his church. On June 20, he was stated to be dangerously ill, and continued to get worse. On the following Sunday, June 23, the doctor decided that the patient was suffering from chronic hip disease; and must be removed to a surgical ward, which was done. On the following Thursday he was discharged from the hospital as “incurable,” and was removed to his home. On Friday he seemed to be better, but on Saturday he took a turn: his children were sent for, Mr. Styles and Mr. Reynolds frequently visited him. Mr. White, a deacon of Providence Chapel, visited him on Saturday night, to whom he said,

“On Christ the solid Rock I stand,

All other ground is sinking sand.”

“What a mercy to have Christ, Christ, Christ.” Mr. Thorn came in to see him, to whom he (Mr. Boulton) said, “What a mercy to have a place prepared for you, isn’t it?” and continued saying very plainly,

“Though painful at present, t’will cease before long,

And then, O!, how pleasant the—‘’

This was all he could say: Mr. Thorn finished the verse for him. Several of his utterances were lost by the extreme weakness of his speech. He continued to get worse, and it was feared that he would not be here long. On Sunday morning a friend called to see him, when Mr. Boulton said, “The old tabernacle must be dissolved and the inner one renewed.” Shortly after he said to his wife, “Hannah, Jesus is calling; can’t you hear Him?” to which she replied, “No, dear.” “Then why do you leave the bed? if you remained here you would hear Him.” A friend called to see him about one o’clock, who said, when she came into the room, “What, no hope!” meaning no hope of recovery, to which he instantly replied quite vigorously, “Haven’t I got a hope, I have.” During the afternoon Mr. J. Box came to see him; to him he said, “Nothing to fear, brother, blessed be my Rock. I am one among the number; bless His glorious name for ever.” On being asked if Jesus was faithful, he replied, “I should think He was faithful. I should like to fly away. I am vigorous in Jesus’ precious atonement.” Mr. Box said to him, “You can die upon the truth that you have preached.” “Yes, brother, I don’t know any other.” The number of visitors who came to see him proved too much for him; he sank very much lower during the evening, and on Monday he was worse, and continued in a semi-conscious state throughout the night. On Tuesday, July 2, he continued about the same, and in the evening the enemy was permitted to annoy him, and seemed to try him very much. An old friend called to see him, but he could hardly speak. Suddenly, however, he called out, “Praise the Lord! Another victory! victory! victory!” These were his last words relative to spiritual matters. Tuesday night was a terrible time: the doctor had to be fetched, but he gave no hope beyond the morning. As the day (Wednesday) wore on he wore out, and at twelve minutes to five o’clock very peaceably his happy spirit fled to be for ever with the Lord, July 3, 1889.

He was respected by all who knew him, faithful to his God and people, and to the truths that had been made precious to his soul. Thus he passed away, leaving a sorrowing widow, children, and Church to mourn his loss.

A service was held at Zoar Chapel, Tollington Park. On Wednesday, July 10, at 1.30, the remains of Mr. Boulton were taken into the chapel. Mr. Styles and Mr. Box conducted the service in the presence of a very large congregation. Messrs. Reynolds and Burbridge were present. Mr. Styles gave out a hymn, and read a portion of the Word. Mr. Styles then spoke concerning the departed one as being a man of truth, faithful to his God and faithful to his people; he had recognised him as a fellow-servant and labourer. He hoped that his words spoken in life would be remembered now that he was dead (especially by the young people), that he, being dead, might yet speak to their consciences. Mr. Box closed the service with prayer. After the service in the chapel, the body was carried to Finchley Cemetery, where a service was also conducted by Mr. P. Reynolds. As the body was being lowered into the grave, Mr. Reynolds commenced the service with a portion of Scripture, and afterwards gave an address to a large number of friends assembled to witness the last token of respect. The coffin bore the following inscription:

HENRY BOULTON: Died July 3, 1889, Aged 44 years.

His last sermons were preached on Lord’s-day, March 31st, 1889. In the afternoon he gave the prizes to the scholars of the Sabbath School. It is very singular that no one remembers the portions that his texts were taken from.

H. S. Boulton

Canonbury Road, Highbury

The Late Henry Boulton

Henry Boulton was a man who laboured hard all the week, and preached on the Sunday. In a very unpretending way he went plodding on for years, according to the ability God had given him, preaching and working. He had but one theme, and that was salvation through the atoning sacrifice of Christ, by the quickening influence of the Holy Spirit. God’s rich, free, sovereign grace was the delight of his soul, and be never tired talking about it. Grace made him what he was—a man of God, a Christian, a preacher, a Strict Baptist, an upright, straight-forward man in all things concerning this world, and we rejoice to raise this brief memento to one who, though be moved in humble circumstances, was rich in faith, and sound in the truths of the Gospel. He has now entered upon the inheritance his heavenly Father provided for him before the foundation of the world, as David Denham has it:—

“Ordained to salvation of old

And chosen in Jesus his Head,

Preserved and brought into His fold

He loved in His footsteps to tread;

No theme upon earth was so sweet

As Christ in His person and grace,

And now in His image complete

He dwells in the light of His face.”

John Waters Banks