Charles Simeon facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Charles Simeon
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Portrait of Charles Simeon
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| Born | 24 September 1759 Reading, Berkshire, England
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| Died | 13 November 1836 (aged 77) |
| Nationality | English |
| Relatives | Sir John Simeon, 1st Baronet (brother) Edward Simeon (brother) Sir Richard Simeon, 2nd Baronet (nephew) Sir John Simeon, 3rd Baronet (great-nephew) |
Charles Simeon (born 24 September 1759 – died 13 November 1836) was an important English Christian leader. He was an evangelical Anglican clergyman. This means he was a priest in the Church of England who believed strongly in personal faith and the Bible.
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Charles Simeon's Early Life and Education
Charles Simeon was born in Reading, Berkshire, England, in 1759. He was the youngest of four sons. His family was well-known. One of his brothers, John, became a lawyer and a Member of Parliament. Another brother, Edward, worked as a director at the Bank of England.
Becoming a Priest: Simeon's Path
Simeon went to school at Eton College and then King's College, Cambridge. While at King's College, he had a special experience that made his Christian faith much stronger. He decided he wanted to dedicate his life to God.
In 1782, he became a Fellow at King's College. Soon after, he was ordained as a deacon. In 1783, he became a priest in the Church of England. He started his work helping another priest in Cambridge. During this time, he met other important Christian leaders. They helped him develop his strong evangelical beliefs.
Simeon's Time at Holy Trinity Church
In 1783, Charles Simeon was given a job as a priest at Holy Trinity Church, Cambridge. He was quite young, under 23 years old. At first, many people in the church were not happy about his appointment. They wanted a different priest. Services were sometimes difficult, and people even insulted him in the streets.
However, Charles Simeon stayed at Holy Trinity Church for the rest of his life. Over time, his hard work and strong faith won people over. The church eventually became very popular and was often full of people. He died on 13 November 1836, and was buried in King's College Chapel, Cambridge.
Charles Simeon's Wide Influence
Charles Simeon became very influential among students at Cambridge University. He was a key leader among evangelical church members. He helped start important groups that spread Christian ideas.
Founding Important Christian Societies
In 1799, he was one of the people who helped create the Church Missionary Society. This group sends missionaries to different parts of the world. He also helped start the London Society for Promoting Christianity Amongst the Jews in 1809. Today, this group is known as the Church's Ministry Among Jewish People (CMJ). Simeon also advised the British East India Company on choosing priests to work in India.
A famous historian named Thomas Babington Macaulay once said that Simeon's influence was huge. He said Simeon's power in the Church was "far greater than that of any primate" (a very senior bishop). This shows how respected and important Simeon was.
Simeon's Writings and Legacy
Charles Simeon wrote many books and sermons. He published hundreds of sermons and outlines for sermons. These were called "sermon skeletons." They are still available today. His main work is a large commentary on the entire Bible, called Horae homileticae.
Remembered in the Church
Charles Simeon is remembered in the Church of England on 13 November each year. This is a special day to honor him. He is also remembered in the Episcopal Church in the United States and the Anglican Church of Canada.
Simeon's Trust for Churches
Simeon set up a special trust to help support evangelical priests in Church of England parishes. This trust uses money he inherited to buy "church patronage." This means the trust helps choose who becomes the priest in certain churches. Today, Simeon's Trustees help choose priests for over 160 Church of England parishes.
There are also modern groups named after him. These include the Charles Simeon Trust, started in 2001, and the Charles Simeon Institute, started in 2014. Both of these groups operate in the USA and Canada.
