<< Back to the A-Z Index
[ transcription of Obituary Notice in the Year Book of the Congregational Union of England & Wales for 1875, page 313, from a copy in Dr Williams's Library, London ]
. . . was born at Newcastle-on-Tyne, 30th April, 1798.
In his early life he was engaged in secular employment, and for seven years was in a "bookseller's concern"; his hours, as he once told a company of young men, being for two years from 7 A.M. to 8 P.M., for five years 7 A.M. to 7 P.M., and often under great pressure from 6 A.M. to 10 P.M.
Notwithstanding this occupation he found time for self-improvement, read and composed much, and, by the help of a Presbyterian clergyman, kept up his Latin and Greek, reading Caesar and St John. His great delight, however, was English, and he laboured to secure a good style of expression, by studying, "with much painstaking," the best authors. "Having tried to acquire," he says, in the address above alluded to, "some little reputation as a writer, I attribute all my success to what I did for myself, and to the habits I formed during those years to which I have just referred."
By what means he was brought to Christ is not known, but he was so while young, and he early sought admission to the Christian ministry. His student life was spent at Wymondley, Herts, founded by the trustees of Mr Coward, and subsequently embodied with Homerton and Highbury in New College. His first settlement was at Bedford, where, however, he continued but about twelve months. In 1824 he was ordained to the pastoral office at St. James-street, Newport, Isle of Wight; Rev. Thos. Morell, his former tutor, delivering "an affectionate and impressive charge, Dr Bogue receiving the young minister into the county with the most gratifying expressions of regard."
During the five years of his residence there, Mr. Binney, though not so popular as he afterwards became, nor perhaps fully appreciated, was not without tokens of success. He here commenced his career as an author, by publishing first a memoir of Rev. Stephen Morell, an intimate and beloved friend, and, shortly after his removal to London, "Illustrations of the Practical Power of Faith," being a series of discourses on Hebrews xi. delivered to his people at Newport.
In March, 1829, Mr. Binney received and accepted an invitation fro the Church at the Weigh House, London, and then entered upon a course of usefulness and popularity, which, for forty years, he sustained with almost undiminshed vigour. It soon became evident that a new chapel was indispensable, and circumstances concurring by the enlargement of Eastcheap, and the erection of new London Bridge, a freehold site was obtained, and a commodious building costing #16,000 was erected, capable of accommodating thrice the number of the former, and was speedily filled. It was on the occasion of laying the foundation-stone of this chapel, and in an appendix to the address delivered, Mr. Binney gave expression to the sentiment in reference to the Established Church, which excited so much attention and controversy, and made him for a time, as he expressed it, "the best abused man in England."
The new Weigh House soon became a power, not only in the city, but throughout the denomination; it would scarcely be exaggeration to add, the country and the world. The preaching, though not in the ordinary sense popular, was most forcible and effective, addressed to men of understanding, and dealing with Scripture truth in its application, not only to their higher but their subordinate interests, to the present as well as the future. Its robust and practical character told with immense effect. This was aided, perhaps, partly by the contrast it presented to that of Mr. Binney's predecessor, the venerable John Clayton, whose ministry had been more strictly evangelical and correct, partly by the manly presence and lofty bearing of the preacher, and partly also by the way in which it dealt with passing events, and the familiar topics of the day.
Equally impressive with the ministry was the worship of the sanctuary. To this Mr. Binney paid great attention. His prayers were better than any liturgy, both in their comprehensiveness and devoutness, while "The Service of Song in the House of the Lord," under which title he published a manual on the subject of Psalmody, was so conducted as greatly to aid devotion, and to give a stimulus to this portion of worship in many other churches.
One of the leading features of Mr. Binney's ministry was its attraction for young men. Of these, large numbers constantly attended, and thousands throughout the land can testify to its quickening effect upon their moral and spiritual nature; some of our merchant princes and legislators attributing to it, under God, much of their subsequent influence and success.
Among other means of instruction at the Weigh House were the pastor's Bible classes, which, though often intermitted and varied in form, are gratefully remembered by many as sources of invaluable instruction. Mr. Binney had not long been settled in London before, observing the spiritual destitution of many emigrants to our colonies, he set himself in co-operation with several influential friends to form what is now known as "The Colonial Missionary Society," of which he may thus be regarded as the founder. This society has proved a blessing to multitudes, having sent out many efficient ministers from England, promoted the formation of colleges for the training of others in Canada, New South Wales, Tasmania, Victoria, and South Australia, and more recently commenced a Bush Mission, the object of which is to seek out the wanderers in districts wild and spiritually destitute.
Mr.Binney was much in request as a lecturer, not liking nor feeling himself fitted for platform speaking. In public lectures he excelled. Several of his lectures, delivered at Exeter Hall at the request of the Young Men's Christian Association, he subsequently expanded and published: "Sir Thos. Fowell Buxton, a Study for Young Men;" "From Seventeen to Thirty;" and especially "Is it possible to make the best of both worlds." The latter, it is stated, sold for a year after it was published, at the rate of 100 copies a day. A course of lectures to young men, on Proverbs, was followed by one to young women, which forms part of his work entitled "The Wife, or a Mirror for Maidenhood: a Sketch," and contains in its dedication a sonnet, in which kind of versification Mr. Binney sometimes indulged, and on which he delivered a lecture. The one hymn he wrote, the 261st in the New Congregational Hymn Book, is known to all, and is by some considered one of the richest gems in the collection. [Note *]
Twice during his pastorate at the Weigh House, Mr. Binney visited distant lands in search of health; first America, and afterwards the Australian colonies. The latter visit was memorable, not only for the number with whom he came in contact of those who had known him in London, but especially from a controversy into which he was drawn with the Bishop of Adelaide, on occasion of a letter addressed to Mr. Binney by his lordship in reference to points of difference between Churchmen and Dissenters. This, with all kindly intentions, the Bishop in a second letter declared to be such as to prevent an interchange of pulpits, to which, by a memorial signed by the Governor and other influential persons, his consent had been solicited. The whole question, with its lessons and inference, was reviewed by Mr. Binney in an address delivered at the annual meeting of the Congregational Union of Tasmania; and subsequently, on his return to England, in a volume entitled "Lights and Shadows of Church Life in Australia."
Mr. Binney was well-known as an author. In addition to the volumes mentioned above, he subsequently published "St Paul, his Life and Ministry;" "Money;" "Micah the Priest Maker;" "Sermons preached at the King's Weigh House, from 1829 to 1869," and others. His controversial pamphlets were numerous, and thrown off during the heat of discussion were often most vigorous. All his writings, however, were terse, forcible, and indicative of great painstaking and conscientious work. An essay on "Authorship" expresses his views on this responsible duty.
Mr. Binney took notice of and often a leading part in public events. For this he was qualified alike by inclination, a sense of duty, sound judgment, and practical common sense. The first Great Exhibition, the Funeral of Wellington, the Crimean War, the Conviction of the fraudulent Banker, the execution of the assassin Muller, and similar topics, were all noticed by him both from the pulpit and the press. He was often called to preach funeral sermons. Amongst others for Rev. Algernon Wells, "Life and Immortality brought to light through the Gospel;" for Rev. S. Morell, "The Christian kept in perfect peace;" for Dr Harris, "St. Paul at the Cross;" for Rev. J. Guyer, "The Spirit admitted to the Heavenly Home, the Body denied a Grave," were subsequently published.
In 1848 Mr. Binney was appointed chairman of the Congregational Union of England and Wales, and likewise preached before the assembly at Leeds in 1843 and 1868. The discourse delivered on the last of these two occasions was subsequently published under the title of "The Closet and the Church," together with one delivered twenty-two years previously, before the Hants County Association, "The ultimate design of the Christian ministry." "The Christian ministry not a priesthood," in 185_ appeared as a preface to Dr. Baird's book, "Are Dissenters to have a Liturgy?"
In 1852, the university of Aberdeen conferred on Mr. Binney the degree of LL.D., and subsequently one of the American universities that of D.D. He seldom, however, used these titles, though latterly they were employed by others. For the last two or three years of his life he filled, with great acceptance to the students, the chair of Homiletics at New College, while he was also chairman of the Council.
Mr. Binney was endowed both by nature and grace with many noble qualities, and now that he has gone, all feel that a great man and a prince has fallen in Israel. His presence was commanding; a lofty stature, a speaking countenance, an intellectual brow, betokened a man of mark, and one to whom all instinctively turned. His mind matched his body. Of great force, of iron grasp, keen, logical, penetrating to the heart of a subject, he was at home in argument, and would have made, had he followed the legal profession, a subtle lawyer or a sound Judge. He was destined by the Saviour, however, to serve His Church, and he has done so variously and nobly. Possessing great tenderness of spirit and breadth of sympathy, though, from a sensitive organisation, and passing utterances, he has been mistaken by some as abrupt and contracted, he was helpful to many, while his influence for good has extended beyond the limits of the denomination to which he was conscientiously attached.
His characteristic was force, of conviction, of character, of word, of act. This naturally became forcible influence on others, and it was ever the "force of truth" for which thousands will have to bless God.
Mr. Binney was mercifully spared a lengthened illness. In November, 1873, he preached for the last time, at Westminster Chapel. In February of the following year he visited his brother-in-law, Rev. J. Viney, Highgate. After his return he never again left the house, but till within five days of his death was able to leave his bed, and usually visited his study. His malady was irregular action of the heart, which greatly distressed him, and made speaking, and sometimes breathing, painful. At times his mind was clouded, and a season of great depression followed, when he was disposed to write bitter things against himself. Shortly before articulation failed him, however, he said "I am greatly relieved," and,. as in a soliloquy, "The Good God," "The Eternal World," "Salvation," For twelve hours he was speechless, though occasionally conscious, and at 2 A.M. on Tuesday, 24th February, he peacefully fell asleep, and was gathered to his fathers. Had he lived to 30th April he would have attained his 76th birthday.
His interment took place on the following Monday at Abney Park Cemetery, and seldom has a private funeral occasioned such demonstrations of respect -- thirty-two mourning coaches, conveying deputations from all our societies, and as many private carriages, as well as thousands of spectators, testifying to the sense of loss felt by his death, and the veneration in which his memory was held. The funeral services were held in Stamford-hill Church, and were conducted by the Rev. Drs. Raleigh, Halley, Allon, and Stoughton, and Messrs. Harrison, Bevan, and Braden; Dean Stanley reading portions of the service at the grave.
End of File. Return to Top . . .
<< Back to the Biographical notes
<< Back to the Biographies A-Z Index
<< Back to the Obituaries A-Z Index