Henry Venn (1796-1873) Church Missionary Society

Henry was an Anglican clergyman who is recognized as one of the foremost Protestant missions strategists of the 19th century. He was an outstanding administrator who served as the honorary secretary of the Church Missionary Society (CMS) (1841-73) for 32 years

Henry was born into a leading evangelical Anglican family. His grandfather Henry Venn (1725-97) was an outstanding pastor evangelist. His father John Venn (1759-1813) was also a pastor who presided over the formation of the CMS (1799) and helped found the *Christian Observer * (1802).

Education
He matriculated at Queen’s College, Cambridge (1796). He graduated with a B,A. (1818). He was elected a Fellow of his college (1819) . He graduated with an M.A, (1821) and B,D. (1828)

He was ordained deacon of Ely (1819) and priest (1820). He became curate of St. Dunstan- in -the-West (1820-4). He became a proctor, a lecturer, a teacher. In 1826 he moved o Kingston upon Hull.

In 1829 he married Martha. They had 11 unusually happy years together. She died in 1839 leaving Henry to look after their 3 young children.

He then accepted the living of St. John’s, Holloway and was here for 12 years.

He became a canon at St. Paul’s Cathedral. He resigned from St. John’s in 1846 and devoted himself, now aged 45, to CMS. He had become a member in 1820.

In 1838/9 he had suffered a near fatal heart disease. He spurned medical advice to lead a quiet life, he learned to pace himself. His 6,000 official letters in the CMS archives and the 230 items in his biography bare testimony to his capacity for disciplined work.
Henry was a mission theorist. He expound the basic principles of indigenous Christian missions. A church was seen as indigenous when it was self-propagating, self-financing and self governing. Henry developed his theory of missions in a series of pamphlets and policy statements written in the years 1846-65.

He saw the CMS grow. In 1841 there were 107 European and 9 African and Asian missionaries. By 1873 there were 230 European and 148 African and Asian missionaries. During those 32 years 498 were clergy.

Henry was twice appointed to Royal commissions to represent this tradition (1864 and 1867).

Henry’s father had founded Christian Observer . He had regularly contributed
articles. In 1869 he 'temporarily assumed editorship. Through the magazine he pronounce vigorously on various theological issues before the church.

Henry Venn, at his funeral, was remember for his warm hospitality and irrepressible humour.

Brief History of CMS included

Sources used
Dictionary of African Christian Biography
CMS
wikipedia