Robert Govett
Encyclopedia
Robert Govett, was a famous British theologian, and a successful independent pastor
Pastor
The word pastor usually refers to an ordained leader of a Christian congregation. When used as an ecclesiastical styling or title, this role may be abbreviated to "Pr." or often "Ps"....

 of Surrey Chapel, Norwich, Norfolk, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...

, UK
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...

. His father, Robert Govett Sr., Vicar of Staines, died in 1854. His maternal grandfather was William Romaine (1714–95), the famous eighteenth century pastor and evangelist
Evangelism
Evangelism refers to the practice of relaying information about a particular set of beliefs to others who do not hold those beliefs. The term is often used in reference to Christianity....

, and the author of "The Life, Walk and Triumph of Faith". Govett never married because he wanted to use all his time for the ministry
Christian ministry
In Christianity, ministry is an activity carried out by Christians to express or spread their faith. 2003's Encyclopedia of Christianity defines it as "carrying forth Christ's mission in the world", indicating that it is "conferred on each Christian in baptism." It is performed by all Christians...

.

He wrote many books and brochures. His most well-known book is The Apocalypse
Apocalypse
An Apocalypse is a disclosure of something hidden from the majority of mankind in an era dominated by falsehood and misconception, i.e. the veil to be lifted. The Apocalypse of John is the Book of Revelation, the last book of the New Testament...

: Expounded by Scripture
(1861–65), which he wrote under the pen-name Matheethees. Professor Wilbur M. Smith said about this book: "One of the profoundest works of Revelation that I know of is the work of Robert Govett. My own opinion is that he brings to his interpretation a more thorough knowledge of the Scriptures in their bearing on the last book of the Bible than any other writer of his generation."

Early life and education

On 20 October 1830 Robert Govett matriculated
Matriculation
Matriculation, in the broadest sense, means to be registered or added to a list, from the Latin matricula – little list. In Scottish heraldry, for instance, a matriculation is a registration of armorial bearings...

 at Worcester College (University of Oxford
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...

). Govett was 17 when he matriculated, which was not uncommon, because in those days many students matriculated already at the age of 14 or 15. Robert Govett received his BA
Bachelor 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...

 in 1834, became a fellow of Worcester in 1836 (until 1844), en received his MA in 1837. The MA degree required no further studies or exams. The MA degree was only given seven years after matriculation, and that is still the case today at the Universities of Oxford, Cambridge and Dublin. At most other extra studies and exams are still required. This does not mean of course that the MA degree from Oxbridge
Oxbridge
Oxbridge is a portmanteau of the University of Oxford and the University of Cambridge in England, and the term is now used to refer to them collectively, often with implications of perceived superior social status...

 and Dublin
University of Dublin
The University of Dublin , corporately designated the Chancellor, Doctors and Masters of the University of Dublin , located in Dublin, Ireland, was effectively founded when in 1592 Queen Elizabeth I issued a charter for Trinity College, Dublin, as "the mother of a university" – this date making it...

 has less value then the MA degree from other universities. In 1837 he was ordained into the Church of England.

The beginning of his ministry

After Govett was installed as Vicar in the Anglican Church, he started his first curacy in Bexley
Bexley
Bexley is an South East London]] in the London Borough of Bexley, London, England. It is located on the banks of the River Cray south of the Roman Road, Watling Street...

, Kent
Kent
Kent is a county in southeast England, and is one of the home counties. It borders East Sussex, Surrey and Greater London and has a defined boundary with Essex in the middle of the Thames Estuary. The ceremonial county boundaries of Kent include the shire county of Kent and the unitary borough of...

. His second curacy was St. Stephens, Norwich, Norfolk (1841). The members of his church
Church Body
A local church is a Christian religious organization that meets in a particular location. Many are formally organized, with constitutions and by-laws, maintain offices, are served by pastors or lay leaders, and, in nations where this is permissible, often seek seek non-profit corporate status...

 loved the way he preached (vigorously and clearly), and many of the elite in Norwich and its surroundings were attracted to his congregation. Govett was known for his analytical powers. As Dr. Cyril J. Barber (The Minister's Library) put it: "Few men could equal Govett for originality of thought. He also possessed a well-ordered, disciplined mind. He could trace a theme through Scripture with unerring logic."

Independent

Govett was of the opinion that the Scriptures should always be open to a fresh scrutiny, based upon new light that might have been received and, because of this, as the years passed, he became independent of many of the denominational views that he had previously adhered to. In particular, having witnessed a full immersion baptism
Baptism
In Christianity, baptism is for the majority the rite of admission , almost invariably with the use of water, into the Christian Church generally and also membership of a particular church tradition...

 at St. Mary's Baptist Chapel, he became convinced of the Scriptural integrity of full immersion baptism, and also of the error of infant sprinkling. A few days later he himself was baptized at St. Mary's by the Rev. William Brock
William Brock (pastor)
Rev. Dr. William Brock , nondenominational and Baptist divine, first minister of Bloomsbury Chapel in Central London ; abolitionist, and supporter of missionary causes.-Early years:...

. Thus it was that in 1844 his licence as Curate of St Stephens was revoked by the Bishop of Norwich when Govett informed him that he could no longer conduct with a clear conscience the service of infant baptism, although it was not until 1878 that Govett formally left the Church of England. Having left his position within the Church of England
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...

, he did not immediately know how he would sustain himself. His family was not at all happy with his decision, and he was also ostracized by many who held to the more traditional teachings of the Church of England. But he was willing to pay the cost.

Govett then started an independent work, known as Bazaar Chapel, at the Victoria Rooms in Norwich, where he pastored a growing number of people. As to assembly life, Govett was influenced by the Plymouth Brethren
Plymouth Brethren
The Plymouth Brethren is a conservative, Evangelical Christian movement, whose history can be traced to Dublin, Ireland, in the late 1820s. Although the group is notable for not taking any official "church name" to itself, and not having an official clergy or liturgy, the title "The Brethren," is...

, but he remained the sole leader of the church. He liked the writings of J.N. Darby
John Nelson Darby
John Nelson Darby was an Anglo-Irish evangelist, and an influential figure among the original Plymouth Brethren. He is considered to be the father of modern Dispensationalism. He produced a translation of the Bible based on the Hebrew and Greek texts called The Holy Scriptures: A New Translation...

 and other Brethren, but he kept his independent attitude towards Scripture exegesis. He went his own way and was very able to defend his insights.

His teaching

Govett wrote many tracts on baptism and these were much approved by Charles Haddon Spurgeon, who was also appreciative of other materials that Govett published. Spurgeon once said about Govett: "Mr. Govett wrote a hundred years before his time, and the day will come when his works will be treasured as sifted gold." Govett became increasingly taken up with eschatology
Eschatology
Eschatology is a part of theology, philosophy, and futurology concerned with what are believed to be the final events in history, or the ultimate destiny of humanity, commonly referred to as the end of the world or the World to Come...

, and he was of the opinion that before the Great Tribulation there would be a selective or partial rapture, and that only the raptured saints (the firstfruits) are worthy to reign with Christ during the Millennium. He seems to have been one of the first, if not the first, to present a clear view of the judgment
Judgment
A judgment , in a legal context, is synonymous with the formal decision made by a court following a lawsuit. At the same time the court may also make a range of court orders, such as imposing a sentence upon a guilty defendant in a criminal matter, or providing a remedy for the plaintiff in a civil...

 seat of Christ and its purpose in relation to the Millennial Kingdom. Thus, it is a point of emphasis throughout most of his writings. Through Scripture, he clearly delineates between eternal life, the free gift that God gives to those who accept the payment His Son made, and the prize, the reward of the Millennial Reign, which one can attain to by producing the good works or fruits that emanate from a walk of faith
Faith
Faith is confidence or trust in a person or thing, or a belief that is not based on proof. In religion, faith is a belief in a transcendent reality, a religious teacher, a set of teachings or a Supreme Being. Generally speaking, it is offered as a means by which the truth of the proposition,...

. The latter of the two is held out to all the saints by the Almighty, but it is only given to those who have submitted to the work of the Holy Spirit
Holy Spirit
Holy Spirit is a term introduced in English translations of the Hebrew Bible, but understood differently in the main Abrahamic religions.While the general concept of a "Spirit" that permeates the cosmos has been used in various religions Holy Spirit is a term introduced in English translations of...

 toward personal sanctification
Sanctification
Sanctity is an ancient concept widespread among religions, a property of a thing or person sacred or set apart within the religion, from totem poles through temple vessels to days of the week, to a human believer who achieves this state. Sanctification is the act or process of acquiring sanctity,...

.

There are two characteristics within his writings that are predominant: One was his ability to take the multi-facets of the types, shadows, and symbols of the Word and overlay them so as to compare them against each other – an approach he used to confirm whether his understanding of them was in line with the reasons and purpose God had given them. For instance, if the underlying symbolism conflicted with what appeared to be the literal meaning of a portion of Scripture, he would set about to resolve the conflict. Thus, his writings are rich in the types and shadows of the Old Testament
Old Testament
The Old Testament, of which Christians hold different views, is a Christian term for the religious writings of ancient Israel held sacred and inspired by Christians which overlaps with the 24-book canon of the Masoretic Text of Judaism...

, which he felt must be learned if one is to expect a proper understanding of their fulfillment in the New Testament
New Testament
The New Testament is the second major division of the Christian biblical canon, the first such division being the much longer Old Testament....

. The other, is the ability he developed to enter into the prophetic sense of the Word.

The later years

In 1854 Govet opened Surrey Chapel, Norwich, which had room for 1500 people. He stayed on as pastor until his death on 20 February 1901. When he died the church had about 200 members. D.M. Panton
David Morrieson Panton
David Morrieson Panton was the pastor of Surrey Chapel, Norwich, Norfolk, UK, where he succeeded Robert Govett. He was the editor of The Dawn Magazine, a writer of books and numerous tracts, and a British leader amongst those pursuing Prophetic studies.-Early days:Panton was born in Jamaica in...

 was his successor. Well-known members of his congregation were Evan Hopkins and Margaret Barber
Margaret E. Barber
Margaret E. Barber or M. E. Barber , was a British missionary in China. She was born in 1866 in Peasenhall, County Suffolk, England, the daughter of Louis and Martha Barber. She died at 63 years of age, in 1929...

. Welsh evangelist Jessie Penn-Lewis
Jessie Penn-Lewis
Jessie Penn-Lewis was a Welsh evangelical speaker and author of a number of Christian evangelical works.-Early life:Penn-Lewis was born in Victoria Terrace, Neath in 1861. Her father was a Methodist minister...

 — co-worker of Welsh Revivalist Evan Roberts
Evan Roberts
Evan Roberts may refer to:*Evan Roberts *Evan Roberts , figure in the 1904-1905 Welsh Revival*Evan Roberts *Evan Roberts *Evan Roberts , Wales international rugby player...

 — knew Robert Govett too. Margaret Barber became known as the spiritual mentor of Watchman Nee
Watchman Nee
Watchman Nee was a Chinese Christian author and church leader during the early 20th century. He spent the last 20 years of his life in prison and was severely persecuted by the Communists in China. Together with Wangzai, Zhou-An Lee, Shang-Jie Song, and others, Nee founded The Church Assembly...

.

List of selected writings

  • Isaiah Unfulfilled (1841)
  • The Prophecy on Olivet or Matthew 24–25 Expounded (1846)
  • The Saints' Rapture to the Presence of the Lord Jesus (1852)
  • Entrance into the Kingdom or Reward according to Works (1853) Second series 1855)
  • The Sermon on the Mount Expounded
  • The Apocalypse: Expounded by Scripture (1861–65)
  • The Kingdom of God Future (1870)
  • Christ's Resurrection and Ours — 1 Corinthians 15 Expounded (1876)
  • Moses or Christ? Being the Argument of the Epistle to the Galatians (1879)
  • Tracts on the Kingdom (1880)
  • Exposition of the Gospel of St John (1881)
  • Christ superior to Angels, Moses and Aaron: A Comment on the Epistle to the Hebrews (1884)
  • The New Jerusalem Our Eternal Home (1884)
  • The Three Eatings (1888)
  • What is the Church? The Argument of Ephesians (1889)

External links


Sources

  • Poole-Connor, E J: "Evangelical Unity" (The Fellowship of Independent Evangelical Churches, London 1941), page 152-155.
  • Dalby, W J: 'Memoir of Robert Govett MA' [appended to a republication of Govett's 'Galatians'] August 1930.
  • Surrey Chapel - 'Book of Remembrance, 1854-1954' [a Centenary History] (1954).
  • Clark, R E D: 'Robert Govett', "The New International Dictionary of the Christian Church" (Paternoster Press, London 1974), page 426.
  • Codling, Rosamunde: '150 Years at Surrey Chapel, Norwich, 1854-2004: The Anniversary of the opening of the first Surrey Chapel building' (2004).
  • The works of Robert Govett, all published by Schoettle Publishing.
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