Thomas Bradbury
Thomas Bradbury (1831-1905) was a sovereign grace preacher. In 1874, he was appointed pastor of the church meeting at Grove Chapel, Camberwell, a position he held for thirty-one years. He served as a local missionary during the first part of his ministry and assumed the role of itinerate preacher (often making trips to America) during the latter part of his ministry. In one of his sermons, with reference to high views of sovereign grace, he laments—“Are these truths of God's Word and covenant loved in the ranks of Nonconformity? Precious little! And where they are acknowledged, an amazing amount of indifference exists in regard to the spirituality and vitality thereof. Preachers of free-grace in the morning, free-will in the evening, and both at noon are plentiful. Yea and nay, do and live, duty-faith and conditional salvation are heralded to the four winds of heaven, producing hypocrites in abundance. Preachers conniving with worldly things, and suiting their message to the likes or dislikes of the people, abound. O may God keep me from pleasing men! And while He blesses me as He has done and continues to do with bright conceptions of His love, sweet experiences of His mercy, and blessed views of His glorious sovereignty, I cannot truckle or pander to the taste, whims, or wishes of any people.”
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The Life And Ministry Of Thomas Bradbury
“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…
