Richard Hobson of Liverpool: The autobiography of a faithful pastor

RICHARD HOBSON OF LIVERPOOL
The autobiography of a faithful pastor
Banner of Truth. 359 pages. £13.50
ISBN 0 85151 845 1

Here is a 19th-century vicar devoted entirely to the service of his Lord and for whom he achieved great things. It will warm and challenge the hearts of all.

Who was Richard Hobson? He was born in Ireland in 1831 and knew poverty and hardship in the days of the potato famine, his father dying at the early age of 46. When he was 21, Richard joined the 'Irish Church Missions to the Roman Catholics of Ireland', and served with them for 11 years, experiencing persecution from those he loved and sought to reach for Christ. On leaving the Mission he entered St. Aidan's College, Birkenhead, was later ordained and became curate at Christ Church, Claughton, Birkenhead for three years.

He then entered on his life's main work in the newly-formed parish of St. Nathaniel in Liverpool, a ministry which was to last for 33 years in that poor and squalid place. This takes up the major part of the autobiography and is written in the form of yearly diaries or summaries. It contains some remarkable anecdotes and experiences, giving a challenging insight into the methods he adopted and the tremendous blessings resulting. The parish was situated less than a mile behind the present Liverpool Anglican Cathedral, and was described as '16 acres of sin', being notorious for its immorality, drunkenness, poor housing and disease. There were 133 families living in cellars; 16 public houses and two beer-shops; and one part of this small parish was known as 'the little hell'.

Into this uninviting and unlikely area the 37-year-old Richard Hobson began work on November 14 1868 in a cellar with a congregation of 'three women, one elderly man and a little fellow on a creaky stool'. At this first meeting the man was 'quickened by the Holy Spirit' - the first drop of the coming showers. St. Nathaniel's Church was completed the next year with seating for 750, but soon had to be enlarged to accommodate congregations of over 1,000.

When J.C. Ryle became the first Bishop of Liverpool in 1880 it was to St. Nathaniel's that he and his family came to worship when not engaged elsewhere - and he always preached there on Whit Sundays.

From the start Richard Hobson gave himself to house-to-house visitation throughout the parish, regardless of people's denominational affiliations, and quickly found favour in the eyes of the inhabitants. As long as health permitted he spent six hours visiting on weekdays and three hours on Saturdays. He maintained that 'in all church work the spiritual regeneration of souls and their sanctification must be the main aim'. In a few short years there had been a marvellous transformation, God blessing his 'indefatigable and unceasing ministrations'. Prostitution disappeared; illegitimacy became rare; and child neglect seldom reported. The Porcupine reported that St. Nathaniel's was now a model working-class district and that Hobson 'is the father of his flock and knows every man, woman and child in the parish and they all love and respect him'.

The first week of each year at St. Nathaniel's was devoted to prayer. Hobson could say: 'Prayer was to me as natural as breathing'.

We catch a glimpse of his fearless preaching when he writes: 'I have always found the masses ready to hear plain speaking and to have their faults pointed out. In fact, they like a minister to hit straight from the shoulder provided he shows no animus'. The book abounds with many instances of such courageous preaching. He was never afraid to stir up debate or discussion with those who opposed him.

He had no time for social 'entertainments' (so-called) to attract people, yet he was very much involved in social concerns. In addition to three Sunday services at St. Nathaniel's and others in the three Halls and Ragged School which the church ran, there were open-air services; children's classes; Bible classes; cellar classes; and mission services - all well-attended. When Richard Hobson retired from St. Nathaniel's in declining health in his 70th year, he moved to Southport and attached himself to All Saints Church where he continued to work and witness for the Lord. He loved to sit on benches on the promenade or in the parks, where he would meet people and speak to them about his Saviour. He said he hoped 'to save a soul or dry a tear'.

Richard Hobson of Liverpool:

The autobiography of a faithful pastor

Allen Miller, Southport

Main Articles

Other articles