Henry Craik (evangelist)
Encyclopedia
Henry Craik was a Scottish hebraist
, theologian and preacher
.
, where his father was a schoolteacher. From 1820 he was a student at the University of St Andrews
and did well at literature, language, philosophy, and religious studies. By his own admission, he was “a religious man without God” but became a Christian in 1826 at the age of 21, after hearing the gospel.
That year he was invited to become the family tutor for Anthony Norris Groves
in Exeter
where he spent the next two years. He left their employ to return to Edinburgh
on 12 May 1828, but a few weeks later he returned to Exeter, to become the tutor to the two sons of John Synge, formerly of Glanmore Castle in Ireland
but then living at Buckridge House, near Teignmouth
. During his three-year tenure with Synge, Craik made a detailed examination of the original languages of the Bible
, publishing a book “Easy introduction to the Hebrew Language” (London: Sealey and Burnside) in 1831, which was funded by Synge.
In 1829 he made the acquaintance of George Müller
, a Prussian who had come to Teignmouth to convalesce from an illness. The two became life-long friends. Müller moved down from London in January 1830 to become pastor of the Baptist church in Teignmouth, while Craik took a similar post in Shaldon
in April 1831.
On 30 March 1832, Craik accepted an invitation from A Chapman to take over the pastorate of Gideon Chapel in Newfoundland Street, Bristol
. Shortly afterwards he wrote to George Müller asking him to join him in this work, and Müller moved to Bristol in the second half of April 1832. As well as the Gideon Chapel, they also led the Bethesda Chapel (neither building remains, having been destroyed during the Second World War
), and led many to faith in Jesus Christ.
In 1834 the two men founded the Scriptural Knowledge Institution, which still operates today, as part of The George Müller Charitable Trust.
Henry Craik was known as a very humble and well-liked man. His ability to capture the attention of a congregation was legendary as he expounded the teachings of the Bible with clarity and exuberance.
Craik's eldest brother was the writer and literary critic George Lillie Craik
.
Hebraist
A Hebraist is a specialist in Hebrew and Hebraic studies. Specifically, British and German scholars of the 18th and 19th centuries who were involved in the study of Hebrew language and literature were commonly known by this designation, at a time when Hebrew was little understood outside practicing...
, theologian and preacher
Preacher
Preacher is a term for someone who preaches sermons or gives homilies. A preacher is distinct from a theologian by focusing on the communication rather than the development of doctrine. Others see preaching and theology as being intertwined...
.
Life
Craik grew up in KennowayKennoway
Kennoway is a village in Fife, Scotland, near the larger population centres in the area of Leven and Methil. It is about three miles inland from the Firth of Forth, north of Leven. This position gave it importance in the old days while travelling by coach, for the stage road ran through Kennoway...
, where his father was a schoolteacher. From 1820 he was a student at the University of St Andrews
University of St Andrews
The University of St Andrews, informally referred to as "St Andrews", is the oldest university in Scotland and the third oldest in the English-speaking world after Oxford and Cambridge. The university is situated in the town of St Andrews, Fife, on the east coast of Scotland. It was founded between...
and did well at literature, language, philosophy, and religious studies. By his own admission, he was “a religious man without God” but became a Christian in 1826 at the age of 21, after hearing the gospel.
That year he was invited to become the family tutor for Anthony Norris Groves
Anthony Norris Groves
Anthony Norris Groves has been described as the "father of faith missions". He launched the first Protestant mission to Arabic-speaking Muslims, and settled in Baghdad, now the capital of Iraq, and later in southern India. His ideas influenced a circle of friends who became leaders in the Plymouth...
in Exeter
Exeter
Exeter is a historic city in Devon, England. It lies within the ceremonial county of Devon, of which it is the county town as well as the home of Devon County Council. Currently the administrative area has the status of a non-metropolitan district, and is therefore under the administration of the...
where he spent the next two years. He left their employ to return to Edinburgh
Edinburgh
Edinburgh is the capital city of Scotland, the second largest city in Scotland, and the eighth most populous in the United Kingdom. The City of Edinburgh Council governs one of Scotland's 32 local government council areas. The council area includes urban Edinburgh and a rural area...
on 12 May 1828, but a few weeks later he returned to Exeter, to become the tutor to the two sons of John Synge, formerly of Glanmore Castle in Ireland
Ireland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
but then living at Buckridge House, near Teignmouth
Teignmouth
Teignmouth is a town and civil parish in Teignbridge in the English county of Devon, situated on the north bank of the estuary mouth of the River Teign about 14 miles south of Exeter. It has a population of 14,413. In 1690, it was the last place in England to be invaded by a foreign power...
. During his three-year tenure with Synge, Craik made a detailed examination of the original languages of the Bible
Bible
The Bible refers to any one of the collections of the primary religious texts of Judaism and Christianity. There is no common version of the Bible, as the individual books , their contents and their order vary among denominations...
, publishing a book “Easy introduction to the Hebrew Language” (London: Sealey and Burnside) in 1831, which was funded by Synge.
In 1829 he made the acquaintance of George Müller
George Müller
George Müller , a Christian evangelist and Director of the Ashley Down orphanage in Bristol, England, cared for 10,024 orphans in his life...
, a Prussian who had come to Teignmouth to convalesce from an illness. The two became life-long friends. Müller moved down from London in January 1830 to become pastor of the Baptist church in Teignmouth, while Craik took a similar post in Shaldon
Shaldon
Shaldon is a village in South Devon, England. It is located opposite Teignmouth in South Devon, England and situated on the River Teign. It has been described as "a quaint English drinking village, with a fishing problem". The village is a popular bathing place and is characterised by Georgian...
in April 1831.
On 30 March 1832, Craik accepted an invitation from A Chapman to take over the pastorate of Gideon Chapel in Newfoundland Street, Bristol
Bristol
Bristol is a city, unitary authority area and ceremonial county in South West England, with an estimated population of 433,100 for the unitary authority in 2009, and a surrounding Larger Urban Zone with an estimated 1,070,000 residents in 2007...
. Shortly afterwards he wrote to George Müller asking him to join him in this work, and Müller moved to Bristol in the second half of April 1832. As well as the Gideon Chapel, they also led the Bethesda Chapel (neither building remains, having been destroyed during the Second World War
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
), and led many to faith in Jesus Christ.
In 1834 the two men founded the Scriptural Knowledge Institution, which still operates today, as part of The George Müller Charitable Trust.
Henry Craik was known as a very humble and well-liked man. His ability to capture the attention of a congregation was legendary as he expounded the teachings of the Bible with clarity and exuberance.
Family
In 1831 Craik married Mary Anderson. She died on 1 February 1832 from consumption, and he remarried on 30 October 1832, to Sarah Howland. It is not clear how many children they had. After his first son, Henry William, an unnamed daughter is recorded in his diary as being born in 1836 and dying on 18 February 1837. Another son, George, was born on 29 August 1840 but he died on 28 June 1841. Mary Eliza was born on 30 April 1842 but died on 11 November 1843. On 2 March 1846, his diary talks of walking with his “wife and children”. Another girl was born on 4 August 1847 but his diary intimates that she died in December 1848. No mention of this is made in W Elfe Tayler’s book, however, indeed Tayler writes that, whilst dying from stomach cancer, Craik was cared for by his wife and daughter. Another son, also named George, was born on 20 December 1849 and another unnamed lad on 17 September 1853.Craik's eldest brother was the writer and literary critic George Lillie Craik
George Lillie Craik
George Lillie Craik was a Scottish writer and literary critic.Born at Kennoway, Fife, he was educated at the University of St. Andrews, and went to London in 1824, where he wrote largely for the"Society for the Diffusion of Useful Knowledge."...
.
Writings
- Principia Hebraica; or, an Easy Introduction to the Hebrew Language (1831, ²1864)
- Improved Renderings of those Passages in the English Version of the New Testament which are capable of being more correctly translated (1835, ²1866)
- Pastoral Letters (1837, ²1848, ³1863)
- An Amended Translation of the Epistle to the Hebrews (1847)
- The Popery of Protestantism (1852)
- The Hebrew Language. Its History and Characteristics, including improved renderings of select passages in our Authorized translation of the Old Testament (1860)
- On the Revision of the English Bible (1860)
- The Distinguishing Characteristics and Essential Relationships of the leading Languages of Asia and Europe (1860)
- New Testament Church Order. Five Lectures (1863)
- The Authority of Scripture Considered in Relation to Christian Union. A Lecture (1863)
- Brief Reply to certain Misrepresentations contained in “Essays and Reviews” (n.d.)
- Biblical Expositions, Lectures, Sketches of Sermons, &c. (ed. by William Elfe Tayler, 1867)