<< Back to the A-Z Index
[ transcription of Obituary Notice in the Year Book of the Congregational Union of England & Wales for 1875, page 317, from a copy in Dr Williams's Library, London ]
CONDER, George William, Forest-hill, was born at Hitchin, on the 30th of November, 1821. His father was a much respected tradesman. George William was educated at the Grammar School in his native town. Early entering business in the city of London, he became a member of the King's Weigh-house Church, and an active worker in its school, the pupils of which were of the roughest class.
Mr Binney was not slow to discern the capabilities of the young disciple. Under his advice Mr. Conder entered Highbury College. To the influence of Professor Godwin during this important term of training, Mr. Conder himself afterwards attributed much of his own freedom and largeness of view in matters of doctrine, while he owed to Mr. Binney the precept and example to make the Bible alone his hand-book of theology.
He began his ministry in 1845, co-pastor with Mr. Judson, at High Wycombe, and in 1847 accepted the pastorship at Ryde, vacant by the death of Rev. Thomas Guyer. After a season of great usefulness and growing reputation, he, in 1849, acceeded to the invitation of the church at Belgrave Chapel, Leeds, whose pastor, Dr. Winter Hamilton, had recently entered into his rest. In this charge Mr. Conder spent fifteen of the best years of his active and useful life, exerting a powerful influence, not only as the pastor of a large and flourishing church, and the centre of an extensive circle of devoted friends, but as an open-air preacher, a lecturer, an occasional writer, a public-spirited townsman and sanitary reformer, an earnest advocate of education, and a champion of principles which he revered as those of freedom and humanity. The present improved state of the streets and buildings of the town is due to a movement, the origin of which owes much to him.
In conjunction with Rev. H.R.Reynolds and Rev. William Guest, Mr Conder compiled the Leeds Hymn Book. A supplement to this work was brought out but two or three weeks before his death, and contains one or two hymns from his own pen, of a high order of merit. For several years he was secretary of the West Riding Home Missionary Sociaey and Congregational Union. These multiplied labours at length proved too heavy a tax upon his strength, and a painful congenital affection of the throat was aggravated by the effort of speaking in so large a building as Belgrave Chapel.
In 1864 he accepted the charge of the church at Cheetham Hill, Manchester, where a smaller chapel offered some relief to his over-wrought powers, and where he spent six years of usefulness. Here he was visited with a deeply felt bereavement, in the death of his eldest daughter.
At length the climate and atmosphere proved so seriously prejudicial to his health and vocal organs, that it became needful to quit Manchester; and Mr. Conder decided to fix his home in some suburb of London, where, in a more genial air, he might enjoy enlarged facilities for literary work. He felt that his days for stated ministry to large congregations were ended; but the loving councillor, who knew and prized him best, deprecated the absolute laying by of such a talent as that with which God had specially entrusted him.
He was led to accept the invitation of Queen's-road Church, Forest Hill; and settled there in November, 1870, amongst kinsfolk and old and attached friends. His advent was most seasonable to the small and weak church, which gained numbers and strength under his pastoral care. Of a heavy debt, half was cleared, partly through the liberal aid of his personal friends in the north; and a new organ was opened, and paid for. Here his people hopefully looked forward to many years of profit from his ministry, but it was otherwise ordered.
In October, 1874, Mr Conder attended the Congregational Union Meetings at Huddersfield, and delivered discourses in that and other towns in the north, that will not soon be forgotten. But shortly after his return home, towards the end of the month, he was attacked with scarlet fever. The disease soon passed over, and strength seemed returning; when a relapse supervened, and medical skill and loving attendance were powerless to arrest the rapid sinking. He expired between three and four o'clock, on Sunday morning, 8th November, 1874. The tidings fell on his little church at Queen's Road, like a bolt out of a clear sky, and caused a profound impression on the neighbouring churches of the same and other denominations, which were prompt in giving practical proof of regard for his memory, and of sympathy with those suffering from so terrible a bereavement. He was buried on the 11th of November, in Honor Oak Cemetery. The members of his congregation, and neighbouring ministers, showed their affectionate respect by attending this last rite.
Mr Conder's removal in the prime of his intellectual power has left an empty niche that no other figure can suitably fill. A nervous and pithy writer, an eloquent lecturer and public speaker, the author of some charming pages for children, and the composer of a few sweet and noble hymns, he will long be remembered by many as the bold advocate of important principles, while his memory will be cherished by more for his able and glowing utterance of Gospel truth. At once profound and clear, deep in insight and simple in language, he coupled heartfelt reverence for all that is Divine with fearless independence of the traditions of men. Poetic fancy filled his discourses with vivid imagery and lifelike illustrations, and his rare power of word-painting gathered force from a singularly free and happy use of action and gesture. Clerical distinction in dress he reserved for the occasions of public worship. Against sacerdotalism he maintained an uncompromising protest, but he favoured aesthetic attractions in the services of the sanctuary, and the partial use of liturgical form. In private life his unfailing cheerfulness and ready flow of anecdote and humour, often piquant, but always kindly; his musical talents, and intellectual power, above all, the wealth and tenderness of his true and manly heart, endeared him to all admitted to his intimacy. Many are the friends whose hearts are saddened by the premature death of George William Conder.
End of File. Return to Top . . .
<< Back to the Biographies A-Z Index
<< Back to the Obituaries A-Z Index
(The Rejoice & Sing Enchiridion:edited by David Goodall; last amended 19/5/03)