Background
Rev. Darwent was born on May 5, 1858, in Durham, United Kingdom; son of Rev. William Darwent.
Rev. Darwent was born on May 5, 1858, in Durham, United Kingdom; son of Rev. William Darwent.
At first he studied at a school kept by his father, then at the Nonconformist Grammar School in Bishop Stortford, Herts. Also, he studied at the Noravian School at Koenigsfeldt where he learned to speak German. Then studying for the Ministry at Spring* Hill College he studied three years at the University of Glasgow.
He was the author of the book “The Story of Fish Street”, which tells about the history of his church at Hull. Also, his book ''Guide to Shanghai" was published through Kelly & Walsh in 1904, where 2,000 copies were sold, enlarged and brought up to date in 1919. He was the founder of ''The Literary and Social Guild''. For many years, he was the leader of the ''Boys’ Brigade'', superseded by the Scout movement. In 1901, he was the founder of the Photographic Society.
He was the writer for eleven years of the weekly sermon published in the North China Daily News. The first one appearing in September 1908 entitled ''The First of Engineers'' as he ''worked in brass and iron'' (Gen. IV, 22). This sermon was published by the North China Daily News a week after it was preached at the request of a marine engineer who was delighted to find his profession mentioned in the Bible, thus adding dignity to it. On his departure from Shanghai, the Directors of the North China Daily News made him a presentation and requested that he continue with a fortnightly sermon for the paper. Arriving at Union Church in January 1899, he became Minister of Union Church.
The name of his father is Rev. William Darwent. He was born on 17 July 1921. He was Congregational Minister at Barnard Castle, but now living retired at Bognor. His mother is still living, having passed her 85th birthday on 10 January 1922.