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Charles Simeon (November 12th) was the leader of the Evangelical Revival in the Church of England, and he is acknowledged as one of the greatest preachers in the history of Anglicanism. Born in 1759, he experienced a powerful conversion when he was a student at Cambridge in 1779 as he was preparing himself to receive the Holy Communion (a required, formal process).
His first Communion had been a deeply distressing experience because of his use of a popular devotional tract that emphasized law and obedience as the only means of receiving the Sacrament worthily. When again preparing for Communion before Easter, he was given another booklet with quite a different approach, stating that not law, but only faith in the sacrifice of Christ could enable one to take Communion worthily. This message allowed his experience of the Communion to be one of peace and exhilaration. This was the new beginning of an enormously influential Christian life.
Ordained a priest in 1783, he became Vicar of Holy Trinity, Cambridge—a position he held for the next 53 years, until his death. His Evangelical approach was first met with hostility, but his pastoral zeal and his simple, passionate preaching broke down all opposition. Gradually, his influence and authority came to be felt throughout all of England. In 1797 he became a founder of the Church Missionary Society and he remained active in recruiting and supporting missionaries overseas.
He was also a strong opponent of slavery. Of Simeon and his disciples it is written: "They gradually changed the whole spirit of the English Church. They infused into it a new fire and passion of devotion, kindled a spirit of fervent philanthropy, raised the standard of clerical duty, and completely altered the whole tone and tendency of the preaching of its ministers."
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