William Grimshaw of Hawarth

Roger Pomeroy | June 2014 - Highfields Book of the Month

By Faith Cook - (1997) Edinburgh: The Banner of Truth Trust

What possible interest could there be today for us to study the life of a man who lived over three hundred years ago in the sleepy town of Haworth nestling in the moors of North Yorkshire? 

The biography of William Grimshaw is a remarkable account of someone whose life and ministry was greatly influential in the wonderful years of the eighteenth century Evangelical Awakening.

Until recently, this rugged evangelist, who spent the years of his ministry in the little Yorkshire town of Haworth (made famous by the Bronte sisters) was little known.  Faith Cook's moving account of William Grimshaw reveals the Lord's intimate dealings with someone who was so very ordinary and earthy yet became a mighty man of God in Yorkshire and beyond. We also find here the wonderful way in which God moved mysteriously to revive his work in a time of great spiritual declension.

Insight is given into the lives of the leaders in the great awakening like the Wesley brothers, George Whitfield, John Newton and lesser known men are also introduced and so this biography is also an introduction to God’s mighty working in the north of England when there seemed little prospect of any spiritual awakening in our land.

Surely in the dark days through which we are now passing, it is time for us to read and understand the ways of God from the pages of history and to prepare ourselves for the possibility that such times of refreshing may yet be realised among us. 

Here are some 'tasters' to whet your appetite:

Conditions at the beginning of Grimshaw's ministry are described by John Newton (p45) who paints a dismal picture of life in Haworth, as would have been found by the young William when he arrived to start ministry in May 1742:  'the bleak and barren face of the adjacent country was no improper emblem of the state of the inhabitants; who in general had little more sense of religion than their cattle and were wild and uncultivated like the mountains and rocks which surrounded them.'

By 1745 there were great changes and revival is much in evidence. 'It would appear that there were early fruits from Grimshaw's ministry during his first two years at Haworth. Much of his ministry was directed at breaking up the fallow ground by calling people to forsake their sins. Such preaching was leading to a widespread spiritual concern both among his own parishioners and in the surrounding areas, an anxiety which in God’s mercy would shortly turn to a powerful converting work and yield an abundant harvest of blessing not only among the people of Haworth but also in many other parts of Yorkshire and further afield.' (pages 66-67)

In the exercise of his own spiritual life and to encourage other believers Grimshaw describes (p182-3) how he would spend a typical day: 'as soon as you awake in the morning employ half an hour in five things: bless God for the mercies of the night past; pray for the blessing of a new day; examine well your own heart; meditate upon some spiritual subject and lastly plan the business of the new day'. He continues to urge his people regarding the working hours of the day and continues... 'it would be well to spend a little time in prayer with your family after dinner'. His conclusion of the day also is a great challenge: 'At going to bed revise the thoughts, words and actions of the past day. What appears amiss beg pardon for. What is well bless God alone for and never close your eyes with any unforgiven sin upon your conscience'.