The Gospel Magazine
Encyclopedia
The Gospel Magazine is a Calvinist
, evangelical
magazine from the United Kingdom
, and is one of the longest running of such periodicals, having been founded in 1766. Most of the editors have been Anglicans
. It is currently published bi-monthly.
A number of well-known hymns, including Augustus Montague Toplady
's Rock of Ages first appeared in the Gospel Magazine. Toplady, sponsored by Selina Hastings, Countess of Huntingdon
, used the magazine to attack John Wesley
. Other contributors included John Newton
, the organist William Shrubsole (1760–1806), the hymn writer Daniel Turner (1710–98) and (at a later date) the particular Baptist minister John Andrew Jones (1779–1868).
The Gospel Magazine Trust are currently working to have all of their extant copies—going back 240 years—digitised and uploaded onto their website and available to read on their archives page.
Some time between 1783 and 1796 the Gospel Magazine was suspended for some time and a magazine called the Spiritual Magazine was produced
Calvinism
Calvinism is a Protestant theological system and an approach to the Christian life...
, evangelical
Evangelicalism
Evangelicalism is a Protestant Christian movement which began in Great Britain in the 1730s and gained popularity in the United States during the series of Great Awakenings of the 18th and 19th century.Its key commitments are:...
magazine from the United Kingdom
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...
, and is one of the longest running of such periodicals, having been founded in 1766. Most of the editors have been Anglicans
Anglicanism
Anglicanism is a tradition within Christianity comprising churches with historical connections to the Church of England or similar beliefs, worship and church structures. The word Anglican originates in ecclesia anglicana, a medieval Latin phrase dating to at least 1246 that means the English...
. It is currently published bi-monthly.
A number of well-known hymns, including Augustus Montague Toplady
Augustus Montague Toplady
Augustus Montague Toplady was an Anglican cleric and hymn writer. He was a major Calvinist opponent of John Wesley. He is best remembered as the author of the hymn "Rock of Ages"...
's Rock of Ages first appeared in the Gospel Magazine. Toplady, sponsored by Selina Hastings, Countess of Huntingdon
Selina Hastings, Countess of Huntingdon
Selina, Countess of Huntingdon was an English religious leader who played a prominent part in the religious revival of the 18th century and the Methodist movement in England and Wales, and has left a Christian denomination in England and Sierra Leone.-Early life:Selina Hastings was born as Lady...
, used the magazine to attack John Wesley
John Wesley
John Wesley was a Church of England cleric and Christian theologian. Wesley is largely credited, along with his brother Charles Wesley, as founding the Methodist movement which began when he took to open-air preaching in a similar manner to George Whitefield...
. Other contributors included John Newton
John Newton
John Henry Newton was a British sailor and Anglican clergyman. Starting his career on the sea at a young age, he became involved with the slave trade for a few years. After experiencing a religious conversion, he became a minister, hymn-writer, and later a prominent supporter of the abolition of...
, the organist William Shrubsole (1760–1806), the hymn writer Daniel Turner (1710–98) and (at a later date) the particular Baptist minister John Andrew Jones (1779–1868).
The Gospel Magazine Trust are currently working to have all of their extant copies—going back 240 years—digitised and uploaded onto their website and available to read on their archives page.
List of editors
- 1766–1774: Joseph Gurney (died 1815)
- 1774–1775 & 1776: William MasonWilliam Mason (religious writer)William Mason was a Calvinist writer.Mason was born in Rotherhithe. He wrote a number of very popular Christian books, and was twice briefly editor of The Gospel Magazine, immediately before and immediately after Augustus Montague Toplady.-Selected published writings:* or * The Christian...
(1719–1791) - December 1775–June 1776: Augustus Montague TopladyAugustus Montague TopladyAugustus Montague Toplady was an Anglican cleric and hymn writer. He was a major Calvinist opponent of John Wesley. He is best remembered as the author of the hymn "Rock of Ages"...
- Erasmus Middleton (1739–1805), editor 1776–1805
Some time between 1783 and 1796 the Gospel Magazine was suspended for some time and a magazine called the Spiritual Magazine was produced
- 1796–1838: Walter Row, a personal friend of Toplady
- 1839–1840: Bagnall Baker, a High Anglican—but not an Anglo-Catholic
- June 1840–1893: David Alfred Doudney (1811–1893)
- 1893–1894: George Cowell, editor
- 1895–1916: James Ormiston, rector of St Mary le Port Church, BristolSt Mary le Port Church, BristolSt Mary le Port is a ruined parish church in the centre of Bristol, England. It is said to have been founded in Saxon times, and rebuilt and enlarged between the 11th and 16th centuries....
- 1916–1951: Thomas HoughtonThomas HoughtonThomas Houghton was an Irish born Anglican Clergyman and long-time editor of the Gospel Magazine. He was born in Cork in 1859, and died in Bristol on 26 January 1951.After studying for the ministry in Manchester he was ordained in 1885...
- 1951–1964: William Dodgson Sykes
- 1964–1975: Herbert M. Carson (died 2004)
- 1976–1981: John Tallach, then Free PresbyterianFree Presbyterian Church of ScotlandThe Free Presbyterian Church of Scotland was formed in 1893 and claims to be the spiritual descendant of the Scottish Reformation...
minister in KinlochbervieKinlochbervieKinlochbervie is a harbour village in the north west of Sutherland, in the Highland region of Scotland. In 2001 the population was 480.The majority of local industry is based upon the fishing industry...
, now Church of ScotlandChurch of ScotlandThe Church of Scotland, known informally by its Scots language name, the Kirk, is a Presbyterian church, decisively shaped by the Scottish Reformation....
minister in CromartyCromartyThe Royal Burgh of Cromarty is a burgh in Ross and Cromarty, Highland, Scotland.-History:It was previously the county town of the former county of Cromartyshire...
.http://www.scottish-churches.org/cromarty/minister-g.asp - 1981–2000: Maurice Handford
- 2000– : Edward Malcolm
External links
- Gospel Magazine official website
- Gospel Magazine page on GraceNet
- David Alfred Doudney and the Gospel Magazine also gives details of several other editors