John Henry Jowett: A Passion for Preaching

On the opening day of the Lyman Beecher Lectures on Preaching at Yale University in 1912, John Henry Jowett said, "I have had but one passion, and I have lived for it—the absorbingly arduous yet glorious work of proclaiming the grace and love of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ." Such a confession revealed a romance with preaching that made Jowett one of the most admired ministers of the early 20th century and subsequently earned him the title "Stylist of the English Pulpit."

Jowett was born Aug. 25, 1863, in Halifax, England, in the home of devoted and godly parents. His call to the ministry was influenced by his parents and his church, and it was nurtured through his educational training at Airedale College and Edinburgh University. At first, Jowett was interested in a legal career and considered studying law. However, his Sunday School teacher challenged him to reach a decision about the ministry. In his 17th year, he experienced a definite call and surrendered to "the divine initiative."

Jowett understood the ministry as a holy vocation requiring solemn devotion and faithful training. Through Airedale and Edinburgh, Jowett equipped himself for the work; upon graduation from the latter, he accepted the invitation to pastor at St. James Congregational Church in Newcastle, England.

Jowett as Pastor

Unlike most young pastors who begin in small churches, Jowett's first church was a large and influential one with a seating capacity of more than a thousand. He served as pastor of St. James for nearly six years, during which time he met and married Lissie A. Winpenny.

In 1895, upon the death of R.W. Dale, Carr's Lane Congregation Church in Birmingham extended a call to Jowett. Carr's Lane was a bulwark among the Free Churches of Great Britain; under the leadership of Dale, it had achieved unparalleled prominence. The thought of assuming such a demanding ministry and following a leader such as Dale gave Jowett considerable consternation.

Dale was said to be made of granite and Jowett of alabaster. Dale was more assertive and dogmatic, whereas Jowett was more self-effacing and modest. Dale's preaching was more theological; Jowett's was more practical. Jowett accepted the call and not only followed in the illustrious tradition of Dale, but scaled new heights for the church, as well as personally.

In 1907, the British Weekly conducted a survey to discover England's most appealing preacher. When the results were tallied, Jowett ranked first, followed respectively by G. Campbell Morgan, Alexander MacLaren, and F.B. Meyer. In 1909, Jowett was elected president of the National Council of Evangelical Free Churches; in 1910, Edinburgh University granted him a Doctorate of Divinity.

The ministry at Carr's Lane was so rewarding that Jowett felt he could "grow old joyfully" in Birmingham. He had the satisfaction of knowing his sermons were read widely on both sides of the Atlantic, and he had published several books. Furthermore, he had the contentment of founding the Digbeth Institute and watching it reach the poor and underprivileged children of Birmingham. The Institute served as a recreation center and as a place of worship for hundreds in the slum areas of the city.