F. B. Meyer (1847-1929)

Frederick Brotherton Meyer was a Baptist pastor and evangelist, born in England. He was involved in ministry and inner city mission work on both sides of the Atlantic.
He was the founder of Melbourne Hall in Leicester. He also founded the South London Missionary Training College. He was president of both the National and World Sunday School Unions, and the National Union of Christian Endeavour.
He wrote over 75 books and many articles.

He was born in London. He attended Brighton College. In 1869 he graduated from the University of London. At Regent’s Park College he studied Theology.

He was part of the Higher Life movement, or Keswick movement, and often preached at the Keswick Convention. (Read notes on* Higher Life movement)

Frederick was known as a crusader against immorality. He preached against the social ills of drunkness, prostitution, unmarried mothers, and unwanted children. He was involved in the Blue Ribbon movement (prohibition).

In 1870 he began his first pastorate in Pembroke Baptist Chapel in Liverpool. In 1872 he pastored at Priory Street Baptist Church in York. It was at this time he began his long life friendship with the American evangelist D.I. Moody. He introduced Moody to English churches.

Victoria Road Church Leicester 1874-8

Melbourne Hall in Leicester 1878/80- 1888
And since one main object of our union is to seek to evangelise the great masses of our population which is outside the ordinary Christian agencies, we desire that each member should as far as possible engage in some branch of Christian work. 23rd September 1978
The Hall was built in 1881 under his leadership- a centre of social and evangelistic activity. (Read notes on Melbourne Hall).

He spent the next 20 years between 2 churches in London.
Regent’s Park Chapel in London 1888-92 and 1909-15
Christ Church CC) in London 1892-1909 and 1915-21
He saw in 2 years the congregation at CC grow from 100 to 2,000.

In June 1916, with Hubert Peet, he visited British conscientious objectors in France. 42 resisting men had been forcibly deported there. 35 were to be court-martialled and formally sentenced to death. All were reprieved.

His evangelical tours included South Africa and Asia. He also visited the USA and Canada several times.

He wrote over 75 books - many are still in print today See’Works’ for a few titles)

On his retirement he began to travel and preach at conferences and evangelical services. Aged 80 he went to North America. He died aged 81.

The New York Observer described him as a man of *international fame whose services are constantly sought by churches over the wide and increasing empire of Christendom. *

Frederick’s obituary in the The Daily Telegraph described him as *The Archbishop of the Free Churches. *

Sources
Melbourne