Henry VARLEY

VARLEY, HENRY (b. Tattershall, Lincolnshire, England, 25 Oct 1835; d. Brighton, England, 30 March 1912). Non-denominational (Brethren) evangelist.

Henry Varley, whose father was a brewer and evangelical mother a headmistress, learned the butcher's trade. Converted under Baptist Noel's ministry in 1851 he sailed to Australia in 1854. Unsuccessful as a gold seeker, he prospered as a butcher in Geelong. Returning with his trade to London he married Sarah Pickworth and won an honest reputation. Varley commenced working with a mission to pig feeders at Notting Dale. Each Sunday he walked the streets which reeked of boiling pig wash, encouraging residents to meet for hymn singing and a short Bible message. From 12 adults, numbers quickly grew to 700. Though criticised for commencing an unaffiliated church Varley insisted his congregation would not feel at home in a traditional church.

Varley's persuasive premillennial preaching attracted Charles Spurgeon who invited him to preach to 5000 at The Metropolitan Tabernacle. Varley prayed for effectiveness in the 'wholesale business' of winning souls. Aware of his dependence on the indwelling Christ he strove for personal holiness; as his people prayed his ministry was inspired by God's Spirit and following his meetings in Brantford, Canada, there was a 'blaze of revival'. Varley's work as international evangelist commenced in Melbourne in 1877 with over 1000 responses; many employers remarked great change in converted workmen. Varley, always forthright, criticised Bp Moorhouse for encouraging Christians to attend the theatre. His Sin and Social Wickedness in Melbourne, (Melbourne, 1891) denounced gambling rackets, land boom swindlers and newspaper editors whose policy was 'serve God in such a way ... [that] the devil and bad men are not offended'. From 1888 Varley, who retained a lifelong passion for evangelism, regarded Melbourne as home; he rejoiced that many Australians converted in 1877 remained vital. One of the Youngs, a significant evangelical family, was converted through Varley's preaching. He had challenged Dwight Moody to become wholly committed for God's use; under Varley's preaching Gypsy Smith's father was converted. F B Meyer regarded him as one of the great evangelists of the Victorian era.

R Torrey, Why God Used D. L. Moody (New York, 1923); H Varley, Henry Varley's Life-Story (London, nd); Willing Work, 3 Nov 1877

MARGARET YARWOOD LAMB