St Peter’s Anglican Church

Charles Simeon of Cambridge - November 12

Priest

Evangelical piety in England manifested itself in two main streams: the Methodists and the Evangelicals. The latter remained committed to the Church of England, the Book of Common Prayer and episcopal government of the church. Charles Simeon became the leading evangelical of his time. Although all his ministry was spent in Cambridge, his influence was worldwide. He was born in Reading in 1759 and educated at Eton and Cambridge. He became a fellow of King’s College, Cambridge, in 1782, and was ordained priest in 1783. He was appointed vicar of Holy Trinity the same year and remained a fellow of King’s and vicar of Holy Trinity until his death in 1836.

There was already some evangelical influence in Simeon’s family background. At Eton he was athletic, but became the butt of some ragging for a display of religious seriousness uncommon at the school. Read more...