Christopher Newman Hall

Christopher Newman Hall(22 May 1816 – 18 February 1902), born atMaidstoneand known in later life as a 'Dissenter's Bishop', was one of the most celebrated nineteenth century EnglishNonconformistdivines. He was active in social causes; supportingAbraham Lincolnandabolitionofslaveryduring theAmerican Civil War,theChartistcause, and arranging for influential Nonconformists to meetGladstone.His tractCome to Jesus,first published in 1848 also contributed to his becoming a household name throughout Britain, the US and further afield, supposedly selling four million copies worldwide over his lifetime.

Christopher Newman Hall
Christopher Newman Hall; aWoodburytypephotograph published inMen of Mark,1877
Born	22 May 1816 Maidstone,England
Died	18 February 1902
Nationality	English
Occupation	Nonconformist divine

Early life and the Albion Chapel

Photograph of Newman Hall taken c.1865

Christopher Newman Hall's father wasJohn Vine Hall(1774–1860), proprietor and printer of theMaidstone Journal,and the author of a popular evangelical work calledThe Sinner's Friend.Christopher's first university degree was a London University BA in theology obtained atHighbury College, Middlesexin 1841. The following year he began his pastoral work at aCongregationalchapel, the Albion Chapel, Albion Street,Hull.In 1843 he travelled through Scotland with a companion, where he found himself debating slavery with two American ladies who were slave owners themselves.

At Hull, Newman Hall engaged actively in social causes, including support forChartismandtemperance reform.To promote the latter cause he wroteThe Scriptural Claims of Teetotalism,whilst his thoughts on Chartism and political causes, being influenced by the weeklyChristian Socialistwritten byCharles Kingsley,Frederick MauriceandThomas Hughes,was brought together in a small pamphlet entitledDivine Socialism, or The Man Christ Jesus.In 1846 Christopher Newman Hall married his first wife, Charlotte, only daughter ofDr William GordonFLS,both of Hull. During the twelve years of his ministry at Albion Chapel, the membership increased greatly, necessitating a branch chapel. A school was also opened. His popularity led to invitations to preach at many of Yorkshire's Free Churches in Beverley, Selby, Leeds, Huddersfield, Filey, Harrogate, York, and Ripon.

Surrey Chapel

In 1854 Newman Hall succeeded theRev. James Shermanas pastor of the celebratedSurrey Chapelin London, which was founded in 1783 by theRev. Rowland Hilland by now had numerous foundations and charities associated with it. Whilst ministering at the chapel, Newman Hall won a scholarship to study law in his spare time; he was awarded an LLB degree in 1856.

Abolition & American Civil War

carte de visiteof Newman Hall taken c.1865

Newman Hall byMontbardinVanity Fair,1872

During the 1860s, dissenting from the British government's position, Newman Hall passionately supported the north in theAmerican Civil War.He disapproved of secession by southern states.England should side with the North,he wrote,particularly becauseemancipation of the slavesis just.He felt so strongly that he published one of his few non-theological books:The American War. A Lecture delivered in London, October 20, 1862.Newman Hall visited the United States during theCivil War,and published a passionate anti-slavery speech co-authored byAbraham LincolnandHenry Ward Beecher.

At theGreat Union and Emancipation MeetingatExeter Hall,London, on 29 January 1863 in support of Lincoln'sEmancipation Proclamation,the crowning speech of the evening was given by Christopher Newman Hall. The meeting was a huge success, showing support for abolition in the United States of America, and reported byHarper's Weeklyto have beenone of the largest and most enthusiastic meetings ever held in London;its overspill of people who could not get into the packed meeting itself, was formed into three large, ancillary, open-air meetings. Subsequently, Newman Hall made extensive tours in the United States. AtWashington,he was invited to openCongresswith prayer, and in theHouse of Representativeshe delivered an address on international relations.

Christ Church, Hawkstone Hall and Lincoln Memorial Tower

Christ Church in 1875

After some years at Surrey Chapel it became apparent to Newman Hall and the chapel's trustees that closure was inevitable. A considerable sum had been bequeathed by the chapel's founder for the perpetuation of his work on the expiration of the lease; but, owing to some legal flaw in the will, the bequest had to be given to the residuary legatee,Hackney Itineracy,later known asHackney College,a non-conformist theological institution co-founded byGeorge Collison.The trustees were faced with the prospect of raising all of the funds needed to buy a new lease on Surrey Chapel, or moving elsewhere. Surrey Chapel on Blackfriars Road was by then a popular religious, educational, and music venue with many associated foundations and charities, but was too small to house all of these. To provide sufficient space, a local temperance hall in Waterloo Road had been leased, and duly renamedHawkstone Hall- the country seat of relatives ofRev. Rowland Hill.Were a more spacious site found for an entirely new chapel, the trustees might provide on-site facilities for some of the foundations and perhaps acquire a freehold. Costly though this would be, Newman Hall was undaunted by this challenge. Through weekly offertories and donations, and fund-raising in America, he led a campaign to raise sufficient money and loans. A grand building project emerged at the junction of theKenningtonandWestminster Bridge Roadson the site of a former Orphan Asylum. It comprised a large new chapel,Christ Church,adjoined by a large lecture hall and school building to which the nameHawkstone Hallwas transferred, and an international monument toAbraham Lincoln- theLincoln Memorial Tower.The whole complex was initially designed by the architect E.C. Robins FRIBA in 1873, and then enlarged and modified by Paull & Bickerdike. Within four years of the new complex being opened bySamuel Morley MPin 1876, the total cost of about £60,000 was cleared.

Later life, memorial and legacy

Memorial to Christopher Newman Hall and Harriet atAbney Park CemeteryLondon

In the 1860s Newman Hall became Chairman of the Congregational Union, and was awarded a Doctorate in Divinity fromAmherst Collegein the USA. Newman Hall became involved inW E Forster'seducational bill and met withGladstonepersonally. At a service conducted byRev Henry Allonat Christ Church, on Easter Monday 1880, Newman Hall married his second wife, Miss Harriet Knipe - daughter of Henry Knipe, barrister-at-law and J.P. His first marriage had ended in a controversial divorce case which had eventually led to adecree nisiin February 1880 - a time when divorce was rare. Neither marriage was followed by children. In 1892 he received a second Doctorate of Divinity degree - fromEdinburgh University.

In 1892 Newman Hall resigned as pastor atChrist Churchwhilst continuing with his interests in social and evangelical work. Non-party, but broadlyLiberalin his political views, few preachers of any denomination have exercised so far-reaching an influence.Towards the end of his life he completed an autobiography, in which he set out his philosophy in these words:The Christian Church, as tribunes of the people should be ever ready to plead the people's cause...Christians should be in the forefront of the battle of philanthropy.By this time he had many books to his name, including two books on travelThe Land of the Forum and Vatican,andFrom Liverpool to St. Louis,and a book of poetry entitledPilgrim Songs in Cloud and Sunshine.

Christopher Newman Hall is buried with his father John Vine Hall (d.1860), and wife Harriet (d.1922), in a polished red coffin tomb atAbney Park Cemetery,the garden cemetery founded inStoke Newingtonin 1840 byCongregationalistsas a model for non-denominational burial.

According to Hall, his tractCome to Jesussold more than four million copies during his lifetime. He further claimed that it was read by 100,000 Civil War soldiers, and that it sold 10,000 copies per year inWarsaw.

Works

• Hall, Christopher Newman (1850/reprinted 2007).The Christian Philosopher... a narrative of the life of the late William Gordon.USA: Kessinger Publishing, 2007
• Christopher Newman Hall (1861).The Saviour's Bible.J. Nisbet & Company.
• Christopher Newman HALL (1858).Hymns composed at Bolton Abbey, and other Rhymes.
• Hall, Christopher Newman (1863/reprinted 2007).The American War. by Newman Hall, LLD. A lecture delivered in London October 20, 1862.USA: University of Michigan Library, 2007
• Hall, Christopher Newman (1865/reprinted 2007).Sermon on the Assassination of Abraham Lincoln preached at Surrey Chapel, London, May 14, 1865'.USA: Cornell University Library, 2007
• Hall, Christopher Newman (1898).Newman Hall, an autobiography.Cassell: London.
• Christopher Newman Hall (1871).Pilgrim songs in cloud and sunshine.Hamilton, Adams & co.

References

• Obituary,Congregational Year Book, 1903
• Buckland, Augustus Robert (1912)."Hall, Christopher Newman".InLee, Sidney(ed.).Dictionary of National Biography(2nd supplement).London: Smith, Elder & Co.
• Larson, Timothy (2004).Contested Christianity, the political and social contexts of Victorian theology.Baylor Univ Press.ISBN9780918954930
• This article incorporates text from a publication now in thepublic domain:Chisholm, Hugh,ed. (1911). "Hall, Christopher Newman".Encyclopædia Britannica.Vol. 12 (11th ed.). Cambridge University Press. p. 846.