Charles Simeon

Charles Simeon (1759-1836) served as minister at Holy Trinity Church, Cambridge, 1783-1836.  His reputation for piety provoked hostility from his parishioners initially, but by 1788 he had won most of them over to his evangelical aims.  He helped found the Church Missionary Society in 1797 and was an early supporter among the Anglican divines of the British and Foreign Bible Society.  By the time of the above letter, Simeon was imm­ensely popular and influential in the religious life of Cambridge.  He had a bitter public feud with Robert Hall in 1795 (see Flower, National Sins), but by 1802 their rift had healed.  As Hall notes in a letter to the Rev. James Phillips on 14 February 1801: “Mr. Simeon and I are upon very friendly terms.  I lately dined with him at his own rooms, and have repeatedly met him in company, in which the conversation has been very agreeable.  The reconciliation was effected principally by the intervention of Mr. Owen, of Fulham, and of Alderman Ind.  A paper was drawn up, and signed by each party.  We are upon very comfortable terms with the church-people at present; never was less party spirit at Cambridge” (Olinthus Gregory, ed., The Works of Robert Hall, A. M.  6 vols.  [London:  Henry G. Bohn, 1853], 5.421-22).