Historical Writings

Today in Christian History

Friday, September 3

590
St. Gregory the Great was consecrated the 64th Catholic pope, ruling 14 years. Gregory's administration took responsibility for converting the Anglo-Saxon tribes in England, chiefly through the work of St. Augustine of Canterbury.
590
St. Gregory the Great was consecrated the 64th Catholic pope, ruling 14 years. Gregory's administration took responsibility for converting the Anglo-Saxon tribes in England, chiefly through the work of St. Augustine of Canterbury.
1658
Death of Oliver Cromwell, the Lord Protector of England. A Presbyterian, he had made a strong profession of faith early in life. Authority for the date: Standard encyclopedias.
1692
Death in Berlin of David Ancillon, a learned and highly respected pastor of the Reformed Church. He had built up a famous library while at Metz, which was plundered when he fled France after the recovation of the Edict of Nantes. Authority for the date: Chalmers' Biography
1752
This date became September 14th, when Great Britain (including Scotland, Ireland, Wales and the American colonies) officially implemented the Gregorian Calendar (developed by Pope Gregory XIII in 1582 to replace the Julian calendar).
1776
Anglican clergyman and hymnwriter John Newton wrote in a letter: 'The love I bear Christ is but a faint and feeble spark, but it is an emanation from himself: He kindled it and he keeps it alive; and because it is his work, I trust many waters shall not quench it.'
1831
Death of John Holt Rice, Presbyterian theologian, who had been the first professor of Christian theology at Union Theological Seminary, Virginia, and the editor of the influential Virginia Evangelical and Literary Magazine. Authority for the date: www.findagrave.com
1905
Baptism of Sundar Singh, formerly an enemy of Christ, who had converted to Christianity following a dramatic vision of the risen Lord. Authority for the date: Davey, Cyril. Sadhu Sundar Singh. Moody Press, n.d.
1906
Conversion of Bentley Deforest Ackley, an alcoholic, who will write almost four thousand hymns, and become Billy Sunday's organist and secretary. Among his hymns is "I Would Be Like Jesus." Coincidentally, he dies on this same day in 1958. Authority for the date: Select Seed from the Granary.
1918
Walter Grand Taylor becomes superintendent of the Pacific Garden Mission. Authority for the date: Henry, Carl F. The Pacific Garden Mission. Grand Rapids, Michigan: Zondervan, 1942.
1924
Isobel Kuhn enrolls in Moody Bible Institute. She will be known for her mission work in Southeast Asia and for her inspirational books. Authority for the date: Kuhn, Isobel. By Searching. Chicago: Moody Press, 1959.
1934
In London, Evangeline Cory Booth, 69, the seventh child of founder William Booth (1829-1912), became the fourth elected commander and the first woman general of the Salvation Army.
1939
Death of American Presbyterian evangelist W. E. Biederwolf, who had been director of the Winona Lake Bible School of Theology, and founder and general director of the Family Altar League. Authority for the date: New York Times.
1941
Death of Rafailo Momcilovic, abbot of the Šišatovac Monastery and a notable painter of icons, after days of torture at the hands of a Croationa nationlist militia. Authority for the date: orthodoxwiki.org.
1946
Founder Sidney N. Correll established United World Mission. This interdenominational agency focuses on evangelism, church planting and Christian education in 13 world countries.
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