The Life And Ministry Of Charles Cornwell

Earthen Vessel 1889:

Mr. Charles Cornwell, Pastor Of Brixton Tabernacle 

The annexed sketch of Mr. Charles Cornwell’s ministerial career, from Sunday Words, will, we are sure, be read with interest by many of our friends. Mr. Cornwell is too well known and respected to need one word of commendation from us.

Mr. C. Cornwell, the pastor of Brixton Tabernacle, was born in Cambridgeshire in 1833, and was sent to a day-school, and afterwards to a school connected with the National Church at Horningsea, but he left early. Some few years afterwards he resided at Waterbeach, and attended the Baptist Sunday School when Mr. C. H. Spurgeon first commenced his labours there. Mr. Cornwell was called by grace when about seventeen or eighteen years of age. He was brought up in his early days to farming, but afterwards became a carpenter, at which trade he worked. When thirty years of age, he began to preach the Gospel, but, sadly lamenting his lack of education, devoted much time to self-improvement, and reading soon became a pleasure to him. His first charge was a little church of about eight or ten members, meeting in a coach-house at Stoke Newington. This building was fitted up by himself with forms and desk, and opened Nov. 1, 1863. It would seat about eighty persons. Here he and the few people continued for two years and a half, when a chapel, holding about one hundred and sixty persons, was hired in St. Matthias Road, Stoke Newington. Mr. Cornwell continued here for four and a half years, but not with much success. The church had now about forty members, and, feeling his work was done, he resigned the pastorate. For fifteen months Mr. Cornwell went about supplying destitute churches. Being invited to Brixton, he was well heard, and after a few times he was asked to supply them regularly. He consented, saying he would rather stay with a people who had never had a minister, church, or congregation. He began his ministry in June, 1871. This was the beginning of better days, for the chapel was filled to overflowing the day it was opened. During the first two years of his ministry, Mr. Cornwell continued his daily labour, only receiving from the church £3 per month for house rent. The debt on the building was in time paid off, and Mr. Cornwell now gave himself entirely to the ministry. As his education was still deficient, he was advised by some to seek admittance into some college, but he refused, expressing himself totally opposed to artificial training for the ministry. He had laboured at the bench and in the pulpit for ten years, and now, having retired from his daily labour, he gave his mind to improve the talent God had given him, and, under an able tutor, soon made rapid strides.

Mr. Cornwell As A Preacher

Mr. Cornwell is what is generally called a Strict Baptist, often saying, “If a Christian is particular in any one thing, it should be with the truth of God.” He insists upon the truths and doctrines for which the martyrs suffered and bled; holding, and, it must be confessed, with good reason, that one of the primary duties of the Church of God is to preserve intact those glorious truths of the Gospel, in the defence of which many great and good men have sacrificed everything in past days, and which are hallowed by the life-blood of many of the saints. Mr. Cornwell is a plain, straightforward preacher, his sermons being characterised by great simplicity of language, as well as by the distinctness with which the plan of salvation is unfolded and explained. He occasionally gives evidence of a keen sense of humour, from which the traces of the Cambridgeshire dialect, still noticeable in his speech, do not detract. During the seventeen year and nine months he has laboured in Brixton, he has proved himself an earnest conscientious minister of the Gospel, as well as a true and warm-hearted friend.

Mr. Cornwell’s Work At Brixton

In 1868, a few friends met for prayer and praise in a cottage (since pulled down) at the corner of Mostyn Road, Brixton Road. At that time there was no place in Brixton where they could hear what they called “the whole truth of God,” and these few praying people, not feeling disposed to conform to the ceremonies of the Established Church, agreed to hire North Brixton Hall, a large room in St. Ann’s Road, Brixton. Here ten persons—five male and five female—were formed into a Church upon Strict Baptist principles, and engaged supplies to preach the Gospel to them. Being few in number, and most of them among the poor of this world, they were not able to support a minister. Here they were upheld, continuing, though with but few additions, till 1871, when the owner of the hall compelled them to give up possession.

The little band of worshippers then took a schoolroom in Lothian Road, Camberwell New Road, where they remained some time. Still feeling the want of a suitable place to meet in, they decided to build a chapel, and a piece of ground was taken in Russell Street, Brixton Road, and on May 9, 1871, the foundation-stone was laid by Mr. I. C. Johnson, then of Gateshead. This building, which is still standing, gives accommodation to about two hundred and thirty persons, and, before it was finished, Mr. Cornwell was invited to supply the platform for three months. The number of members was then about twelve or fourteen, and the attendance between twenty or thirty at each service.

This first chapel was opened in July, 1871, and the church continued to worship there, with steady increase, for two years, when the building was freed from debt. About this time a spirit of discord sprang up, and occasioned the withdrawal of twenty-five members, and nearly forty seat-holders left. Those who left hired North Brixton Hall, and, after again dividing, a few of them took a small room in Lothian Road, where they continued only a few months and then finally dispersed.

During this time the church at Russell Street Chapel erected a Sunday School to accommodate about one hundred and fifty children, the chapel roof was raised and a gallery added. The Sunday School was opened, and the church continued to increase, till the building proved insufficient for the number of worshippers, and in 1883 a new chapel was decided on.

The piece of ground upon which the present building stands was purchased and a new chapel, known as Brixton Tabernacle, was erected. It is a commodious building, airy and lofty, containing seats for six hundred persons; very light by day, and comfortably heated in cold weather. It has a gallery, platform, and pulpit, and is beautifully but not expensively decorated. It is fitted with lead-light windows, with coloured glass, and is well ventilated. Under the chapel is a schoolroom large enough to accommodate four hundred children, and minister’s and deacons’ vestries. A minister’s house is attached to the building, where the pastor resides.

The total cost was about £4,000, which was a heavy outlay for a few people. Nevertheless the friends went to work in earnest, and paid off £1,600. There is a small sum in hand now, which leaves about £2,335 still owing.

There are nearly two hundred scholars on the register of the Sunday School, with a fair average attendance, and the whole machinery is in excellent working order.

[Sermons preached by Mr. C. Cornwell are frequently published under the heading of “Brixton Tabernacle Pulpit.” They are sound and savoury, and often very instructive. The profits arising from the sale of these sermons (published by R. Banks & Son, Racquet Court, Fleet Street) are appropriated to the building fund for liquidating the debt of the Tabernacle, of which the preacher is pastor. It would gladden our heart amazingly if we could see our dear Brother Cornwell relieved of the responsibility of the heavy sum of £2,335 (with interest) which is still to be paid before the Brixton Tabernacle can be pronounced free of debt.—Ed.]