The Life And Ministry Of Thomas Bradbury

“Life And Letters Of Thomas Bradbury, Minister Of Grove Chapel, Camberwell.”

Compiled And Narrated By His Daughter, Mary A. Doggett

“Thomas Bradbury, the eldest son of John Bradbury, and Mary Ann his wife, was born in Manchester, March 26th, 1831. His parents were poor in this world’s goods, but ‘rich in faith, and heirs of the kingdom which God hath promised to them that love Him.’”

[From about 1851 to 1859, he came under the ministry of Rev. James Bardsley, Incumbent at Str. Philip’s, Bradford Road, Manchester. He records,]

“Here I found myself in charge of a class of young women. How to lay before them God’s truth in His plan of saving sinners I knew not. Prayers and supplications ascended to God from the thick darkness of my ignorance for grace and guidance, and an ability to communicate to my young friends that which He might make known to me. About this time the light of the glorious gospel of the ever-blessed God dawned upon my mind, bringing a sweet sense of JEHOVAH’S covenant love to poor unworthy me. God’s declaration that all His sanctified ones were perfected for ever by the offering of the body of Jesus, gave me a peace and joy to which many around me were strangers, and I was forced in a great measure to have my faith to myself before God.

“Many were the precious seasons the Lord favoured me with in the class-room of St. Philip’s Sunday School, as He enabled me, feebly but faithfully, to expound the way of life from the blessed Book. The Lord gave me a fearful insight into the total depravity of human nature, and the desperate wickedness and deceitfulness of my own heart. Several with whom I had to do doubted my wisdom in enforcing these humbling truths. However, the Lord upheld me in the way, though my failures and imperfections were legion. The first chapter of Paul’s Epistle to the saints and faithful brethren at Colosse was sweet food to my soul during a succession of Sunday afternoons in the class. I remember well the fear and trembling I experienced on one occasion when Jer. 13:23 came home to my heart as the message from God to my young friends. Satan’s craft and the enmity of my heart to the truth, goaded me to lay it aside for something more in keeping with the capacities of my scholars. Ah, Satan, how cunning are thy devices! All the capacity that poor nature possesses is to listen with indifference to the covenant verities of the God of our salvation, or to discard them altogether. The snare was broken, my soul had escaped, and the Lord sent His message one Sunday afternoon from the words, ‘Can the Ethiopian change his skin or the leopard his spots? Then may ye also do good that are accustomed to do evil’ (Jer. 13:23). More than ordinary interest was manifested, and at the close my heart went up to the Lord for a blessing upon the souls of those present. The lesson was talked over, but as to its acceptance at the time I knew nothing.”

Early in the year 1859, the firm of Richard Evans & Co., colliery proprietors, of Haydock, near St. Helens, Lancashire, applied to the Manchester City Mission for a missionary to work amongst the colliers. In the all-wise providence of God my father was chosen for the work, and commenced his labours in February of that year.

The Evans were a God-fearing family, and took a great interest in my father’s visits among the poor, often calling at our home at Holly Bank or asking him to visit them at their home, the Grange, to talk over his work. A Bagster Bible presented to him by Miss Ruth Evans, and now in my possession, bears abundant evidence of the use it was to him in his study of the Scriptures.

It was soon manifest that God had a special work for him to do in this place. His time was spent chiefly in visiting the poor in their cottages, preaching in the open-air, and also in farm kitchens and cottages.

As the months went by, he saw that God was marvellously blessing his labours in making him the instrument in bringing dead sinners to realise their union with a living Christ. Looking back to this time in after years, he says: “Haydock! the very mention of the name will thrill through many a heart. Within its bounds JEHOVAH’S mercies and judgments have been solemnly displayed. Here the gospel of the grace of God has been sounded forth for many a long year, and weary pilgrims on the way to Emmanuel’s glory land have been refreshed and comforted. At certain times, appointed by the Father, faithful ministers of Christ visited the scattered flock and dealt forth from a Spirit-wrought experience God’s precious truth, which was blessed to the quickening, comforting, and establishing of many living souls.

“Here dear old John Kershaw traced out the evidences of regenerating grace, and spoke so well of his Master that anxious souls were encouraged and established in the faith of God’s elect. Here the uncompromising William Parks was heard at times contending earnestly for the faith once delivered to the saints. Here I sojourned for seven years and nine months declaring the testimony of the Lord in weakness, in fear, and much trembling. Here the gospel of the grace of God is still loved by a remnant reserved according to the election of grace. Here, in the Particular Baptist Chapel, Zion’s mourners find spiritual rest and sweet refreshment.”

It was his custom to walk many miles in his visits to the poor, calling at a cottage here and there on his way; sometimes, as he passed a coal mine, stopping and talking to the men on the pit brow, or halting a few minutes to have a chat with a man breaking stones at the wayside; I always with the same object that of leading their minds to eternal realities, and showing them that the way of salvation was through the work of Christ alone.

The removal of my dear father in the order of God’s Providence from Haydock to Barrow Hill, severed his connection with the Manchester City Mission, with many of whose members he had worked in harmony for so many years. The circumstances which led up to his appointment to this place were very interesting. He was informed by those in authority at the City Mission that the Staveley Coal and Iron Company had applied to them for a suitable man to labour amongst the work-people at Barrow Hill, and they suggested that he was the one best fitted for the work. My father said he would consider the matter, and before he left, a day was appointed for an interview with a representative of the Company, at a board meeting in Manchester.

The day arrived, and the Secretary of the Company, Mr. Thomas Robinson, was deputed to meet my father, and decide as to his suitability for the post. They met, and had not talked together very long before they felt a knitting in the bonds of eternal and covenant love. Mr. Robinson very soon came to the conclusion that this was the very minister he wanted, as for years he had longed for the time to come when he could listen regularly to the preaching of the discriminating truths of the Gospel. The result of the interview was, that my father felt that God was opening up the way for him to go Barrow Hill.

In after days he often mentioned how exercised he was in his mind in respect to the step he was about to take, God having so specially blessed him in his work at Haydock. He longed to feel that he was doing right in leaving that part of God’s vineyard.

It was ever his desire to be found waiting and watching to see God’s hand pointing out the way he had to go, to see Him shutting the door behind as He opened another in front.

Eventually, in humble dependence upon the grace and guidance of God the ever-blessed Spirit, he was led to undertake the work of the ministry at Barrow Hill.

Towards the close of the year 1871 my father received an invitation to preach at Oxford, in response to which he arranged to go there for Sunday, November 12th; always ready to go and proclaim the Gospel wherever a door was opened. 

From Oxford he travelled to London, where he was met by Mr. W. J. Parkes. During the week, they went together to call upon Mr. Butt (the senior deacon of the Surrey Tabernacle) at the Sunday School Union, and in conversing together Mr. Butt put some very searching questions to my father, the object of which appeared to be to draw from him an expression of his belief concerning the work of the Holy Spirit. This conversation resulted in my father being asked to preach at the Surrey Tabernacle; Mr. James Wells, the pastor, being at that time laid aside through illness. The engagement was to preach on Sunday, January 14th, in the following year. When the time came he preached there with much acceptance. The morning sermon was from the words, “I know that Thou canst do everything, and that no thought can be withholden from Thee” (Job 42:2). The text in the evening was 2 Sam. 7:18-20. He also preached there the following Wednesday evening.

In April the same year, he again preached at the Surrey Tabernacle, and also, during this visit to London, at the North Brixton Tabernacle, where the late Mr. Cornwell was Pastor. From the commencement of my father’s ministry in London, and because of the distinguishing doctrines of grace, which it was his delight to preach so faithfully and fearlessly, God gave him a warm place in Mr. Cornwell’s affections, which remained unchanged during their lifetime.

During this month he preached in Leicester, at the Upper Room, for the first time, and also at Aylestone, for the Rev. G. W. Straton, (father of the present Bishop of Newcastle), at whose house he became a frequent and welcome visitor. Many times Mr. Straton spent a few days with us at Barrow Hill, and occasionally preached for my father there. Their friendship, which began in their love of the same covenant truths, was warm and sincere, and lasted for life.

The engagements to preach in London, Leicester and other places became so frequent, that his congregation at Barrow Hill began to have grave fears as to the result. But he had already begun to feel that his work in that place was nearly done; and, as he often said, he felt that the Lord was closing the door there.

During the year 1872 my father visited London several times for the purpose of preaching at the Surrey Tabernacle. He also preached for Mr. Page, at Earl Street, and Mr. Lawrence, at Bermondsey. The following year his engagements in London were more numerous still, principally at the Surrey Tabernacle. On June 5th he preached for the first time in Grove Chapel, from the words, “And you, that were sometimes alienated, and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now hath He reconciled in the body of His flesh through death, to present you holy and unblameable and unreproveable in His sight” (Col. 1:21,22). He also preached at Holloway, Pimlico, Peckham, Notting Hill, Hackney, Stepney, Clapham, and other places, for he delighted to speak in the name of the Master whose honour and glory were so dear to his heart.

In the following year my father was invited to preach several times in each month in London, and it was very evident that God was blessing his work there. Signs were not wanting that his ministry at Barrow Hill was drawing to a close. After preaching at Grove Chapel in April, May, and twice in June, he was, through the instrumentality of Mr. Josiah Crutcher, Mr. Henry White, and Mr. Horace Hummel, induced to accept the ministry of grace in this place.

At the end of August my father preached his farewell sermon at Barrow Hill from the words, “And now, brethren, I commend you to God, and to the word of His grace, which is able to build you up, and to give you an inheritance among all them which are sanctified ” (Acts 20:32). He showed them in his sermon that he was “pure from the blood of all men.” “For,” he said, “I have not shunned to declare unto you all the counsel of God.” And there were those among the congregation who “sorrowed most of all for the words that he spake, that they should see his face no more.” It is very remarkable that he never visited Barrow Hill again for the purpose of preaching there, although at intervals he continued to preach at Haydock for many years.

In the early part of September my father was carried to London to commence his labours as Pastor of Grove Chapel. He felt honoured in being chosen to be the successor of Joseph Irons, that bold champion for the truth, whom he had long revered for his staunch defence of the doctrines of invincible grace; God thus graciously answering His servant’s prayer, that the truths he loved to proclaim might continue to be preached there after he was taken to his eternal home. On Sunday, the 6th, my father preached for the first time as Pastor of Grove Chapel, and on Thursday, the 10th, the Recognition Services were held. 

Mr. Joseph Irons’ prayer that God would grant the same blessing to Grove Chapel that He spake to Solomon at the dedication of the Temple “Mine eyes and Mine heart shall be there perpetually,” found an abiding echo in my father’s prayers during his ministry there.

He was forty-three years of age when God carried him to the Grove, full of love and zeal for his work, and only truly happy when engaged in it.

He frequently declared the preaching of the Gospel to be God’s grand ordinance in this dispensation of grace for the ingathering of His elect and redeemed people; and his constant desire was to be found a faithful minis- ter of the Word, studying to show himself approved unto God, a workman that need not be ashamed, rightly dividing the Word of truth. “A faithful preacher,” he says, “must preach what God likes that which broken-hearted sinners long for. He must deal out the pure, living truth of God suitable to the Spirit-wrought experience of fainting and fearing souls who tremble at God’s Word.” Again he says, “It is the preacher’s business to preach the Word. It is his high privilege to preach God’s Christ. It is the joy of his heart to tell the people what he knows himself of Christ as a Saviour from sin, a Succourer in temptation, a Brother born for adversity, a Friend at all times, and the saved sinner’s All in all. Companionship with the Saviour, Brother and Friend, whom the faithful preacher delights to exalt in testimony begets assimilation in character and conduct with Him.” Speaking further on the same subject he says: “Nothing must be taken from God’s message by any God-sent messenger. The preacher must preach the preaching God gives him, not taking into account the people who are before him. I believe the bane of the present-day preaching is taking into consideration the claims and of the hearers. ‘O,’ say some, ‘We must come down to the little ones.’ Those who talk like this, will not hesitate, when it suits their purpose, to creep up to the big ones. A pretty character he must be who thinks he can come down to the little ones. He would take God Almighty’s work into his own hands. Let him preach God’s Truth as God brings it home to the beloved of His heart by the power of the Holy Ghost. Let not his deep experience, ministerial ability, knowledge of the Scriptures, or fluency in quoting them, tempt him to be anything but God’s mouth. It is a most blessed privilege to come forth from the presence of our adorable Master to tell others what He has told us of His grace, grandeur and glory, and of His care, concern and attention to every state and condition of His tried and tempted brethren.”

Several years passed away, years full of interest and incident inseparable from the preaching of a Gospel so full, so rich, so free, as that proclaimed under the anointing of the Holy Spirit by my father. His ministry at the Grove had become established, and the proclamation of the Gospel from his lips drew together those who loved a God-honouring, Christ-exalting and creature-humbling testimony, a testimony blessedly Yea, with no Armiman Nay to mar its blessedness.

Many, who were regular attendants at the Grove, came long distances to hear God’s honoured servant preach the unsearchable riches of Christ, and evidences were not wanting that God the Holy Spirit was carrying the Word home with power to many hearts. Besides the labour of his ministry at the Grove, he was, like the Apostle Paul, “in labours abundant.” He was constantly being asked to preach in different parts of the country, and, as he was always ready and willing to carry the message of redeeming love as opportunity served, it was not unusual for him to preach four or five times during the week, and this oftentimes for several weeks in succession.

Referring in later years to the occasion of his first visit to America, he says: “’Behold I send an angel before thee to keep thee in the way, and to bring thee into the place which I have prepared.’ This promise was given to me in the year 1888, before I crossed the Atlantic the first time to visit my Lord’s loved ones in the States of New York and New Jersey, and blessed be His holy name, it has never been taken from me.”

How he and the message of redeeming love were received by the Lord’s people on the other side of the Atlantic, his letters to his own family and his friends abundantly show. And so much attached did the people of the church at Wynantskill, and other places where he preached, become to him, that he was asked to visit them the following year. This resulted in his continuing his visits to them for thirteen years in succession. Many were the evidences that the gospel as proclaimed by him was “not with enticing words of man’s wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power,” as God manifestedly gave testimony to the Word of His grace by the ingathering, confirming, and establishing of His scattered people in those places where he ministered.

My father’s visits to America were continued for many years. Each time on his arrival there he sent off to my mother a cablegram with the one word, “KEPT.” God graciously preserved him from any feeling of sea-sick-ness, and so he was always able, when the weather was not too stormy, to be on deck, and benefit by the health-giving sea breezes. Several times, at the captain’s request, he took the service on the Sunday morning, though sometimes there were several clergymen on board. In the year 1899 my mother, then seventy years of age, accompanied him.

On the 13th of April, 1902, my father and mother were privileged, through the preserving and ever-watchful care of a kind and gracious God, to see the fiftieth anniversary of their wedding day. Services were arranged to be held in the chapel, in honour of the occasion, on Tuesday, the 15th, when sermons were preached in the morning by the Rev. Cyril T. Barrett, of Sutton-in-Ash- field; in the afternoon by the Rev. James W. Dance, of Leamington; and in the evening by the Rev. F. Cecil Lovely, of Bexley. Dinner and tea were served in the schoolroom, when most of my parents’ children, many of their grandchildren, and a great number of friends, were present. A sum of money was presented to my father, as a token of love and good will, from his friends and congregation.

On the morning of September 2nd, 1905, it was evident to those around him that the end was near. He gradually sank into unconsciousness, in which state he lay for some hours with his eyes closed. About half-an-hour before he passed away he opened his eyes wife, and appeared to be looking up into those realms 

“Where ransomed sinners sound God’s praise,

Angelic hosts among;

Sing the rich wonders of His grace,

And Jesus leads the song.”

And so he lay until it pleased God to release him from the burden of the flesh, and carried him in the arms of everlasting love to be for ever with the Lord.

“For him the Tree of life for ever blooms to yield unmingled pleasure. To him the Hidden Manna is most sweet, and the fair white stone with Christ’s new name of love is held in everlasting possession. He shall go no more out, but walk with Christ in white, and sit upon His throne, and fruits immortal feast his ravished soul.” 

“Servant of God! well done;

Rest from thy loved employ;

The battle fought, the victory won, 

Enter thy Master’s joy.

Soldier of Christ! well done; 

Praise be thy new employ,

And while eternal ages run 

Rest in thy Saviour’s joy.”