Charles Bridges
Encyclopedia
Charles Bridges, MA (1794 - 1869), was a preacher and theologian in the Church of England
, and a leader of that denomination's Evangelical Party. As a preacher he was well regarded by his contemporaries, but is remembered today for his literary contributions.
, Cambridge, he was ordained in 1817 and served from 1823 to 1849 as vicar of Old Newton
, Suffolk. Thomas Chalmers
wrote,
In 1849, he became vicar of Weymouth, Dorset, later serving as vicar of Hinton Martell
, Dorset (c. 1857). Bridges participated (with J. C. Ryle
) in the Clerical Conference at Weston-super-Mare
of 1858, and also participated in the consecration of the Bishop of Carlisle
in York Minster
in 1860.
BM Oxon
FRCP
(1832–1906).
considered the commentary to be 'worth its weight in gold'. Spurgeon also pronounced Bridges' Exposition of Proverbs (1840) 'The best work on the Proverbs'.
Church of England
The Church of England is the officially established Christian church in England and the Mother Church of the worldwide Anglican Communion. The church considers itself within the tradition of Western Christianity and dates its formal establishment principally to the mission to England by St...
, and a leader of that denomination's Evangelical Party. As a preacher he was well regarded by his contemporaries, but is remembered today for his literary contributions.
Education and ministry
Educated at Queens' CollegeQueens' College, Cambridge
Queens' College is a constituent college of the University of Cambridge, England.The college was founded in 1448 by Margaret of Anjou , and refounded in 1465 by Elizabeth Woodville...
, Cambridge, he was ordained in 1817 and served from 1823 to 1849 as vicar of Old Newton
Old Newton
Old Newton is a village in the Mid Suffolk district of Suffolk in eastern England. Located within the civil parish of Old Newton with Dagworth, the village is situated around two miles north of Stowmarket, to the east of the junction of the Great Eastern Main Line and the Ipswich to Ely Line. Until...
, Suffolk. Thomas Chalmers
Thomas Chalmers
Thomas Chalmers , Scottish mathematician, political economist, divine and a leader of the Free Church of Scotland, was born at Anstruther in Fife.-Overview:...
wrote,
'My excellent friend, the Rev. Charles Bridges, of Old Newton, Suffolk, finds, I am sure, most ample occupation among those six hundred people whom he may be said to have domesticated into one parochial family; and, were it not for his still more important services to the Christian church at large, would show, by his incessant labours, how possible it were to make out a most beneficial expenditure of all his strength and all his time amongst them.'
In 1849, he became vicar of Weymouth, Dorset, later serving as vicar of Hinton Martell
Hinton Martell
Hinton Martell is a village in east Dorset, England, three miles north of Wimborne Minster. The village has a population of 368 ....
, Dorset (c. 1857). Bridges participated (with J. C. Ryle
John Charles Ryle
John Charles Ryle was the first Anglican bishop of Liverpool.-Life:Ryle was born at Macclesfield, and was educated at Eton and at Christ Church, Oxford, where he was Craven Scholar in 1836...
) in the Clerical Conference at Weston-super-Mare
Weston-super-Mare
Weston-super-Mare is a seaside resort, town and civil parish in the unitary authority of North Somerset, which is within the ceremonial county of Somerset, England. It is located on the Bristol Channel coast, south west of Bristol, spanning the coast between the bounding high ground of Worlebury...
of 1858, and also participated in the consecration of the Bishop of Carlisle
Samuel Waldegrave
Samuel Waldegrave was Bishop of Carlisle from 1860 until his death.The second son of the 8th Earl Waldegrave, he was educated at Cheam School and graduated from Balliol College, Oxford in 1839. In 1842, he became a deacon and was then curate to St Ebbe's, Oxford and rector of Barford St Martin in...
in York Minster
York Minster
York Minster is a Gothic cathedral in York, England and is one of the largest of its kind in Northern Europe alongside Cologne Cathedral. The minster is the seat of the Archbishop of York, the second-highest office of the Church of England, and is the cathedral for the Diocese of York; it is run by...
in 1860.
Personal life
Bridges was married to Harriet Torlesse, with whom he had at least two sons, the second of whom was physician John Henry Bridges, BABachelor of Arts
A Bachelor of Arts , from the Latin artium baccalaureus, is a bachelor's degree awarded for an undergraduate course or program in either the liberal arts, the sciences, or both...
BM Oxon
University of Oxford
The University of Oxford is a university located in Oxford, United Kingdom. It is the second-oldest surviving university in the world and the oldest in the English-speaking world. Although its exact date of foundation is unclear, there is evidence of teaching as far back as 1096...
FRCP
Royal College of Physicians
The Royal College of Physicians of London was founded in 1518 as the College of Physicians by royal charter of King Henry VIII in 1518 - the first medical institution in England to receive a royal charter...
(1832–1906).
Quotes
- Daily progress in the heavenly walk is not maintained by yesterday's grace. Humble and dependent prayer must fetch in a fresh supply continually.
- Exposition of Psalm 119, comment on v.10
- Spiritual wisdom is as important for the building up of the Church of God, as was the wisdom imparted to Bezaleel and Aholiab for the raising of the Levitical tabernacle.
- The Christian Ministry, Chapter 6 on The Qualifications of the Christian Ministry
- But pride will lift up the head, stiff and unbending: many a stroke does it require to bring it down.
- A Commentary on Proverbs, comment on Proverbs 3:11-12
- A neglected Bible is the melancholy proof of a heart "alienated from God".
- A Commentary on Proverbs, comment on Proverbs 4:20-22
- The godly union of souls in mutual forebearance with each other's infirmities, and mutual stimulating each other's graces--this surely is a fragment of true happiness that has survived the Fall.
- Charles Bridges, An Exposition of Ecclesiastes, comment on Ecclesiastes 4:7-9.
Literary works
At least twenty-four editions of Bridges' Exposition of Psalm 119 (1827) were published in his lifetime. C. H. SpurgeonCharles Spurgeon
Charles Haddon Spurgeon was a large British Particular Baptist preacher who remains highly influential among Christians of different denominations, among whom he is still known as the "Prince of Preachers"...
considered the commentary to be 'worth its weight in gold'. Spurgeon also pronounced Bridges' Exposition of Proverbs (1840) 'The best work on the Proverbs'.