Robert Govett

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Robert Govett (1813-1901) was a successful independent pastor of Surrey Chapel, Norwich, Norfolk, U K. He succeeded from the Church of England over the question of baptising infants and set up an independent work. He published many Books and tracts, and was particularly known for his distinctive views in Eschatology.

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[edit] Early Life

Robert Govett Junior was born at Staines, Middlesex to Robert Govett, Senior [Died 1858] Vicar of Staines on February 14th 1813. His grandfather, on his mother's side was William Romaine, Vicar of Reading [Died 1826], this means that his great-grandfather was William Romaine (1714-1795), the famous eighteenth century Evangelical preacher and author of "The Life, Walk and Triumph of Faith". In 1830 Govett attended Worcester College, Oxford]] and graduated with an MA in 1837. He was a Fellow of Worcester College 1837-1844 and was ordained into the Church of England in 1837 and started his first curacy in Bexley, Kent.

[edit] Early Ministry and secession

His second curacy was St Stephen's in Norwich, Norfolk. His strong gospel preaching gave him a popular following. He resigned from the Church of England in 1845 over the question of baptism. Govett had come to hold a position of Believer's baptism and baptism by immersion. This meant that he could not conscientiously practice Infant baptism|christen infants. This meant that he succeeded from the Church of England, even though he was sacrificing great family expectations for him and breaking with the family commitment to the Church of England. This controversy saw Govett writing numerous 'Baptismal tracts', in which he sought to examine the Scriptures and the questions that were most often used in the discussion of this contentious area of Christian practice.

[edit] Govett's Independent Chapel

Govett started an independent work at the Victoria Rooms in Norwich [known as Bazaar Chapel], where he pastored a growing body of supporters. He was very influenced by 'Brethren' practices, but he always remained the pastor/leader of the Church. Though he was influenced by the writings of J N Darby and other 'Brethren' men, he was always an independent expositor of the Scriptures and could cut his own path and was able to defend his own points of view, as he did in a large number of books and tracts that he produced.

He was able to build Surrey Chapel, Norwich, which could seat 1,500. This work he headed up and remained as pastor until his death on February 20th 1901, though in the latter years his congregation dwindled to around 200. He was succeeded as pastor by David Panton, who founded and helped popularise Govett's writings in his journal The Dawn Magazine.

[edit] Writings

Govett wrote many tracts on Baptism and these were much approved of Charles Haddon Spurgeon, who was also appreciative of other books that Govett published. He became increasing taken up with eschatology and took a distinctive Dispensationalist position, which brought in the idea of Selective Rapture before the great Tribulation, and these saints would be worthy of the Millennial Reign of Christ. Govett was an expositor who sought to give the 'Literal' meaning to Scripture and this led him, at times, into some original understandings of the biblical text.

[edit] List of selected writings

  • "Calvinism by Calvin" (1840);
  • "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" [Govett used the title 'Matheetees] (1861);
  • "The Apocalypse: Expounded by Scripture" ['Matheetees' & in 4 Volumes] (1861-1865);
  • "The Kingdom of God Future" (1870);
  • "Christ's Resurrection and Ours: or, 1Corinthians 15 Expounded" (1876);
  • "Moses or Christ? Being the Argument of the Epistle to the Galatians" (1879);
  • "Tracts on the Kingdom" [Also pubished as separate tracts] (1880);
  • "Exposition of the Gospel of St John" [2 Volumes] (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? or, The Argument of Ephesians" (1889);
  • "Christ the Head; the Church His Body: its dangers, duties, glories; or, the Arguments of Colossians" (1890); The Righteousness of God, the Salvation of the Believer: or, the Argument of Romans" (1891);
  • "The Presence of Christ in its effects on the Church and the World; being the argument of the Epistle to the Thessalonians" (1893);
  • "The Fourth Kingdom of Man and his City compared with the Future Kingdom of God and His City: being the Argument of the Epistle to the Philippians" (1894);

Govett also wrote a great number of tracts, many of these were bound into volumes; eg 'Tracts on the Kingdom', 'Baptismal Tracts', etc.

[edit] Last years

He maintain his leadership and ownership of Surrey Chapel until he died on February 20th 1901. In his last years his congregation had reduced in number to some 200 members.


[edit] Sources

Poole-Connor, E J: "Evangelical Unity" (The Fellowship of Independent Evangelical Churches, London 1941) 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) 426. Codling, Rosamunde: '150 Years at Surrey Chapel, Norwich - 1854-2004: The Anniversary of the opening of the first Surrey Chapel building' (2004).

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