The Life And Ministry Of Henry Birch

Gospel Standard 1857:

Henry Birch, A. M. Late Pastor Of The Church Meeting At Dane House, Cranbrook, Kent.

Mr. Birch was the last surviving son of the Rev. Thomas Birch, of Thoresby, Lincolnshire. When at Magdalen College, Oxford, the Lord was pleased to convince him of sin, and he became greatly alarmed concerning his eternal state. The thoughts of eternity would intrude when pursuing his studies so as to unfit him for his ordinary duties, and the only books from which he found comfort and spiritual instruction at that time (from the best information we can get) were “Bunyan’s Pilgrim’s Progress” and Luther’s “Commentary on the 51st Psalm.” But the Lord having effectually begun the great work of calling a sinner out of darkness into his marvelous light, he fell yet into deeper soul trouble, and his downcast countenance manifested so legibly his inward grief that some of his friends became greatly concerned on his account, as they could not understand the handwriting. However, at length he left Oxford, and filled several curacies; first for his father; then at Luton, in Bedfordshire; also at St. John’s, Bedford Row, with Mr. Cecil; and the last was at St. Paul’s Cray, with Mr. Symons. The Lord continuing his powerful work in his conscience by the application of his holy law, and finding nothing but condemnation in what he was engaged, some other books falling into his hands, from which he gained a little comfort, and a slight difference having arisen between himself and his rector, Mr. Birch determined to leave the ministry of the Church of England, and became acquainted with William Huntington, to whose person and ministry he was ardently attached. That ministry was to him, he said, like a blaze of light on weak eyes, and to part with church preferment and emoluments for such a ministry, was to him like parting with a straw for a guinea. After Mr. Huntington’s death, Mr. Birch continued meeting with that congregation until he came to Cranbrook, by the wish of Mr. Isaac Beeman (with whom he was on friendly terms); but previous to coming there he sought the Lord’s will concerning it, and was told to go into the street called Straight (as he afterwards found it,) and there it should be told him what to do. After Mr. Beeman’s death he led the congregation by reading and prayer until a difference arose between them and Mr. Birch, on account of their neglect of the ordinances of the Lord’s house (for which Mr. Birch was a great advocate); in consequence of this he left them, when several persons followed him, who wished him to speak to them at his own house. Mr. Birch had previously been exercised about his neglect to preach the word; and he sought the Lord’s will and mind on the matter, when, in answer, he had these words: “But afterwards he repented, and went and did the will of his father,” which he took as a reproof from the Lord. Therefore he consented to speak to a few persons at his own house, until they took the Dane House for him, in or about November, 1839, where he formed a church on the same principles as his revered friend, Mr. Huntington, and administered the ordinances of Baptism and the Lord’s Supper, and preached the word of life freely to the people, without fee or reward, and declared at times the satisfaction he felt in so doing.

Mr. Birch, as a minister, was close and heart-searching, very experimental, had a profundity of scriptural knowledge, and was most encouraging to the coming sinner, entering deeply at times into the trial and triumph of faith. Mr. Birch preached twice and administered the ordinance of the Lord’s Supper on Lord’s day, 3rd May. On Wednesday, the 6th, he went to Sevenoaks, and preached a sermon, in which he was occupied two hours, from Job 28:20, 21. A friend states in a letter to the writer: “His last visit to us was a peculiar one; he was very happy with us, and I believe left a blessing behind him.” Mr. M. expressing his fears lest Mr. B. should feel fatigued by so long a sermon, he replied, “I am not; I feel happy. Blessed be his dear name, he strengthened my soul and my body. He is my portion, and I love him.” He then quoted those favorite lines:

“The despised Nazarene,

He is high in my esteem.

Other lovers I despise;

Mine is gone beyond the skies.”

Next Lord’s Day (10th) he preached twice from Ecclesiastes 7:13. He complained then of being very feeble, and the difficulty he experienced to get about. The following extracts from a letter to Mr. White will explain the commencement of his last illness:

“Dear White—I am not fit for the field of action. On the evening and night of the 10^th I had most excruciating pains all over. On Monday, the 11^th, I lay like a log on a sofa, speaking to none and keeping as quiet as possible; hut on Tuesday I found this would not succeed. I sent for Mr. Dunhill, the surgeon, who immediately ordered me to go to bed and continue there. On Wednesday I was very ill. Yesterday (Thursday) I fancied for the first time as if I should recover; I have had great depression of spirits. Today (Friday) I have no power for the work, and I must give up all thoughts of meeting my people on the 17^th. Do come early, and I will find you something to read. I find faith in Christ’s precious hlood—his alone gift—will alone save me and defeat the accuser. He who rebuked the fever in Peter’s wife’s mother still lives. 

“Yours, as a servant for truth’s sake,

“Henry Birch.”

The foregoing, especially the latter part, was written in a very tremulous hand, as was also a short letter written to Mr. Milsted, of Balham Hill; and as it shows his great tenderness, integrity, and faith in Christ, I will transcribe it:

“Waterloo Place, Cranbrook, May 14^th.

“I will not go out of the world in debt to so honest, kind, and upright a man as Mr. John Milsted. Accept this (a post-office order for £l); do not send it back. Death has lost his terror in me. I owe this to the only lover I ever had, or shall have—who knew me before I knew him.”

Mr. Milsted, in reply, said in a letter:

“Henry Birch.

“My dear Friend,—What could induce you to send me this, when I consider I am your debtor? I shall hold myself so at some future time, should the Lord spare you and me to meet again.”

But this was denied; Mr. White being from home when the above letter from Mr. Birch, written to him on the 15^th, came to hand, he did not see him until the next Sabbath (24^th), when, on entering the room, he took Mr. White by the hand, with all the affection of a tender father in Christ, expressing the greatest confidence as to his safety. He also read exultingly the three last stanzas of Mr. Hart’s 88^th hymn, on saving faith, which he now felt assured he possessed, giving a charge to remember the poor, and said he would make some provision for that purpose, and would acquaint his sister with the same. He then directed that a portion of Dr. Owen’s works, and the account of the last hours of the immortal Toplady should be read that day at the chapel, stating he should die; and he thought on that day, and said he wished to die on the Lord’s day, which wish was at length gratified. To those in attendance at his bed-side he stated that death had lost its sting, and said, “I am full of sweet peace; the time has been when I feared he would not notice me, but not so now; he has dispersed all my fears, and he is all my happiness. Get him, and you get all; lose him, and you lose all.” The medical man had forbidden conversation that might excite him; but to one of his church, who sat up with him, he said, “I cannot refrain, for those that feared the Lord spake often one to another, and the Lord hearkened and heard, and said that they should be his when he made up his jewels.” It was very evident to those about him that his end was fast approaching, and it was their great joy that his faith was strong, and his confidence unshaken. Some few sentences are recollected by one who sat up with him one night towards his end (18^th). Speaking of his Saviour, he said: “Of deaths most accursed, at a time most solemn, at a place most infamous, with company most wretched, Jesus Christ died, but the same yesterday, today, and forever. Soon see his glory, his utmost glory. Oh, to have faith and a good conscience! Jesus thus for sinners smitten. Thou hast brought me into the dust of death. How beautiful upon the mountains! He feedeth among the lilies. He walketh upon the wings of the wind. We are not to say, let him hasten his work, that we may see it; be patient. Born in the year 1780 in the month of June (19), into a world of sorrow. Oh, how painful ’tis to die! I think I hear the sound of his feet—lingering, lingering—body and soul going to part. The righteous shall end in peace. Bands in my death,—and wait till my dismission come. Then what shouts will rend the sky! God puts his mark of approbation on his servants. They are the seed which the Lord has blessed. He came walking on the sea. Tell Mrs. E. I have some hope of her; she always loved me, poor soul. What will become of the people here? I cannot tell. They are under a good shepherd; he won’t leave them. I know the Holy One of Israel. The Lord make you a daughter of peace.”

One of Mr. Birch’s friends, who saw him frequently, had observed for many months past that temporal things, and his own declining health, seemed a burden to him; but his love to Christ and his people was his chief delight; and he would frequently say, “I am never so well (mentally) as when engaged in my blessed Master’s work.” To the same friend, who visited him on Friday, 29^th, he remarked: “The doctors tell me I must go to sleep, and keep quiet, but I have had the best of company; I have been lying down in green pastures;” and his countenance bespoke it. Only three days before he died he sent the following lines (which will form part of his epitaph), in a letter to one of his oldest friends, Mrs. Lightfoot:

“Oh, my Emmanuel, thou hast loved me, 

A vile lost sinner, wholly saved by thee.”

About two hours before he died he said to his youngest servant, who was attending on him, “God Almighty bless you; may your end be peace. You cannot tell the many earnest prayers I have put up on your behalf, since I have been on this bed of sickness. I never felt any restraint when petitioning for you, and I cannot help thinking the Lord will do something for you.” It being chapel time he hastened her away to attend, saying he did not like persons to be late at a place of worship. His elder servant then continued with him, assisting him with his books, which he had in great profusion on his bed. He read Mr. Hart’s 14^th hymn, repeating with emphasis, “In the highest heights, and then”—Also looked over some letters of his late friend, Mr. Matthews, read a little out of the “Gleanings of the Vintage,” and was putting some marks in a book containing letters of Oliver Cromwell, when suddenly he fell back, about fifteen minutes past twelve on the Lord’s day (agreeable to his wish), 31^st May, 1857, and died in sweet peace, falling as in a sleep into the arms of his much-loved Saviour, who, as he had said to those around him, “Could not love him more, nor could he love the Savour less than he did.”

On Friday, June 5^th, 1857, his remains were interred in the churchyard at Cranbrook, in sure and certain hope of his resurrection to eternal life, followed by his three nephews, and some of his sorrowing church members and friends.

[We have omitted in the above interesting Obituary two or three remarks, in favor of infant baptism, of which Mr. Birch was a decided advocate. We may love a good man, and rejoice in his finishing his course with joy; but this we can do without loving what we consider his errors.]