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A story of conflict

The controversial relationship between Benjamin Wills Newton and John Nelson Darby

Open and closed

A STORY OF CONFLICT
The controversial relationship between Benjamin Wills Newton and John Nelson Darby
By Jonathan D. Burnham
Paternoster. 267 pages. £19.90
ISBN 1 84227 191 1

This is a new study in the Paternoster series Studies in Evangelical History and Thought. It explores the complex and turbulent relationship between B.W. Newton and J.N. Darby, two of the most influential men within the early Brethren movement.

This study is important, particularly because of Darby’s far-reaching influence on evangelical thought, with the doctrine of the PreTribulation Rapture which he advanced with such fervour and his theory of the continuing, yet radically distinct futures, for both the nation of Israel and the church. Darby’s influence had the unfortunate effect of overshadowing historic Premillennialism with his novel theories.

By contrast, Newton, whose writings on prophetic topics were until recently kept in circulation by the Sovereign Grace Advent Testimony, taught a view of prophecy virtually indistinguishable from historic premillennialism. His gifts of teaching on prophetic subjects were appreciated by C.H. Spurgeon and George MŸller.

In 1845 the dispute between Darby and Newton intensified to such an extent that Darby founded a rival assembly in Plymouth. By the end of 1847, Newton had seceded from the Brethren and relocated altogether. Disagreement over Darby’s later views that Brethren should not admit into fellowship anyone who had been in attendance at the original Plymouth Assembly in Ebrington Street led directly to the tragic split between Open and Closed Brethren.

Although this study is academic, it is very readable, providing important insight into a number of key aspects of Victorian evangelicalism in Britain and Ireland. It also takes account of much material only recently made available to public scrutiny, particularly the ‘Fry Collection’ donated in 1982 to the John Rylands University Library in Manchester. This book is, therefore, a key text for anyone investigating the development of Christianity in these islands during the period 1820-1900.

Personally speaking, I find the conflict between Darby and Newton probably the saddest major controversy in recent church history.

Mike Taylor