Background
Charles Albert Berry was born on the 14th of December 1852 at Bradshawgate, Leigh, Lancashire, United Kingdom; the son of Peter Berry.
- Photos
- Works
- Photos
- Works
Charles Albert Berry
Charles Albert Berry was an English nonconformist divine.
Education
At the age of seventeen Berry entered Airedale College, Bradford, to train for the Congregational ministry. He was twice conferred with the degree of Doctor of Divinity, by Iowa College, United States, in 1893, and by St. Andrews, Scotland, in 1895.
Career
In 1875 Berry became pastor of St George's Road Congregational church, Bolton. In July 1883 he undertook the pastorate of the church at Queen Street, Wolverhampton, with the supervision of nine dependent churches in the neighbourhood. Here again he exercised a wide influence, due in part to his evangelical conviction, eloquence, broad views and powers of organization, but also to the magnetic force of his personality. In 1887 he went to America in fulfilment of a promise to Henry Ward Beecher of Brooklyn, and received a unanimous invitation to succeed Beecher in what was then the best-known pulpit in the United States. Berry, howrever, felt that his work lay in England and declined the invitation. In 1892 he took part in a conference at Grindelwald on the question of Christian Reunion, and subsequently, with Hugh Price Hughes and Alexander Mackennal of Bowdon, conducted a campaign throughout England, introducing the ideas and principles of Free Church federation. He played an effective part in expressing the popular desire for peace between England and America in reply to President Cleveland's message on the Venezuelan boundary dispute, and was invited to Washington to preach in connexion with the endeavour to establish an international arbitration treaty. In 1898 his health began to fail, and he died suddenly on the 31st of January 1899. His published works consist chiefly of addresses, and two volumes of sermons, Vision and Duty, and Mischievous Goodness.
Achievements
-
He was the first president of the Free Church congress. In 1896 he was elected chairman of the Congregational Union of England and Wales.
Religion
In 1896 he was elected chairman of the Congregational Union of England and Wales.
Personality
He became widely known as a man of administrative ability, a vigorous platform speaker and an eloquent preacher.
Connections
He married on August 11, 1875 at the Chapel Street Congregational Church, Southport to Mary Agnes Martin of Osborne, Promenade, Southport, and had two sons and a daughter.
- Father:
- Peter Berry
- Wife:
- Mary Agnes Martin
joiner, cabinet maker
-
Born
-
Died
January 31, 1899 (aged 46) -
Resting place
Wolverhampton Cemetery, Wolverhampton, United Kingdom -
Nationality
British -
Ethnicity
-
Religion
Congregational
Official Titles
-
president of the Free Church congress