William F. B. Burton (1886-1971)

William Frederick Padwick Burton (1886-1971) was born in England. Willie, as he was known, enjoyed a privileged childhood - his mother was from English aristocracy, his father a ship captain. His parents dedicated him to God’s work in Africa even before he was born. He brought up in evangelical Anglican church and was confirmed by the Archbishop of Canterbury.

As a youth he was not interested in spiritual things. He attended good schools in england and travelled the world. He excelled at cricket and tennis and became an accomplished artist. Realising art would not pay the bills he studied electrical engineering at st. Lawrence college, Ramsgate.

In 1905 he came under deep conviction of sin at a R.A. Torrey Evangelistic campaign in London. A few days later he experienced salvation. He immediately contacted missionary societies to no avail.

For the next 8 years he worked for an engineering firm (he invented a dynamo) and looked after his aging parents. He established a habit of daily rising early and spending 2 hours of more in Bible study.

In 1910 he heard about Pentecostal revival. So with a friend he decided to investigate their claims that Biblical spiritual gifts, such as speaking in tongues, healing and prophecy were still available to be believers. They met almost every night for the entire year.
That year he finally received the baptism of the Holy Ghost at the Preston Pentecostal Convention The Holy Ghost was poured upon him and he began to praise God in tongues. (He also had a third set of teeth - recorded in scientific magazine.)

1911 he stepped out in faith. He quit his engineering job and became a ‘tramp preacher’. For 3 years he walked across the English countryside preaching in homes and on village greens.

1914, just after WW1 started, he arrived in South Africa. He spent the first year preaching at various mission stations in South Africa and then travelled to the Congo with Jimmy Salter in 1915. They were based in Mwanza in Northen Katanga. Those early days were spent fighting malaria, encountering cannibal tribesman, learning the language and mapping.

Willie married Hettie Trollip in 1918.

1919 the Congo Evangelistic Mission (CEM) was formed, co-founded by Willie and Jimmy, but it became known as ‘Burton’s Mission.’ He was their first field director and was in favour of indigenous (local) leadership of the church.

CEM (1919) - Zaire EM (1971) - Central African M International (May 2014)

Willie employed his significant giftings as a builder, engineer, teacher and artist to advance the gospel. He authored 26 books which included Congo fables and proverbs. The Pentecostal Evangel published 90 of his articles - he was read on both sides of the Atlantic.

He raised money by selling his paintings and ink drawings of Congolese landscapes and life.

By the time he went to the Lord the CEM had grown to almost 2,000 churches.
Willie was a larger-than- life figure in the history of African Pentecostalism