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Dr Thomas Payne
1848-1930
Dr Thomas Payne
1848-1930
Obituary published in The Christian, January 9th 1931
Evangelist & Expositor
From a Friend of Forty Years
We regret to announce the death of Dr Thomas Payne, the well known evangelist, and author of numerous books on the Holy Spirit and other devotional subjects. He was apparently in good health until the moment of his death, from heart failure, almost immediately after returning from the Watch Night Service. Feeling the cold of the midnight air, he hurried home; the strain proved too much for him, and as he sat down by the fire to warm himself, he gave only one moan - "and was not, for God took him."
Born at Chepstow, Monmouthshire, Thomas Payne early gave his heart to God, and as a young man became a Methodist local preacher. On Saturday evenings, when his work was done, he would take his Bible and ride for miles on horseback to preach or take open-air services - often alone. He was one of the earliest men to rally round William Booth, in the "Christian Mission," and was prominent in the early days of the Salvation Army. He always had passion for his open-air work, and loved to preach in London Parks.
In its early days, before the Army had won public confidence, such a man was invaluable and was sent to open up work in the district of Marylebone and Chalk Farm. Having no place in which to conduct services, he began preaching in Regent's Park, and did so with such prowess that it was the usual thing to see penitents kneeling on the grass around him, seeking salvation. But as the winter approached, a hall became necessary. One day he came upon a disused Baptist chapel, and finding just to his purpose, he knelt down on the unwashed and neglected doorstep, and asked God to give it to him for a preaching hall. The prayer was answered, and that old sanctuary soon became the scene of a glorious revival. Men and women in scores yielded to Christ, and so far did the influence spread that policemen were converted on their beats in the midnight hours.
"Chalk Farm Riots."
The publicans of the neighbourhood began to find their trade diminishing, and stirred up their customers to oppose the preacher. The celebrated "Chalk Farm riots" were the result: one of the outstanding incidents of the early struggles of the Salvation Army. The young evangelist and his wife and children were, night after night, set upon by drunken mobs, thrown down, kicked, and insulted in a shameful way. One night on trying to escape in a cab, they were surrounded, and pulled out through the windows. Three nights they were obliged to lie hid in the vestry, and remain there till morning. But the storm died down, and the revival continued.
At another period of Thomas Payne's Army career, he was stationed in Carlisle, and there again his ministry was signally blessed. A wave of religious conviction gathered men and women into the household of faith. So remarkable was the success of the movement that the then Bishop of Carlisle visited Captain Payne, to discuss with him the social and religious condition of the town; and those two men, so different in many ways yet one in the great purpose for which they lived, knelt and prayed together. In these days he won the confidence - both for himself and the Army - of such men as T.A. Denny, John Cory, John Colville, M.P. and Sir Miles McInness, M.P.
Pastoral Work
After leaving the Salvation Army, there came two pastorates, one at Wellington Road Hall, London, and the other at Star Hall, Manchester - the latter centre of evangelism and spiritual life being carried on by the sainted Frank W. Crossley. Then followed years of unceasing evangelism in many parts of England, Wales and America. So deep was the impression created by his first visit to the United States that a few months later he was invited to go out again, specially to preside over a great Convention of ministers in Richmond, Virginia; and it was on that occasion that he received his honorary degree of D.D.
It was while still in office in the Salvation Army that he published his first book, "The Covenant Promise of the Father," and its fresh, heart searching message immediately attracted attention. Hudson Taylor was so impressed with it that he bought a supply to give his missionaries in China. Edition after edition was published, and only a year ago, almost at the close of his life, yet another edition was called for, for use in both in England and America. For half a century a steady stream of books issued from his pen, of which the best known are "Apostolic Christianity", "Revivals, How Promoted", "A New Discovery of Jesus Christ", "The Greatest Force on Earth", and "The Christianity that Always Triumphs". Most of these volumes dealt with the personality and work of the Holy Spirit, for Dr. Payne always regarded that as the cardinal point of his message.
Star Hall, Ancoates, Manchester
A Man of Prayer
Powerful as an evangelist and an open-air preacher - for which he was gifted with a strong voice and fine physique - he was unquestionably at his best when conducting meetings for the deepening of spiritual life. for he made the ministry of the Spirit his life-long study. He was a man of intense passionate conviction.
By his oral and written messages, Dr. Payne wielded a wide influence. He was the spiritual father of large numbers of people, and not a few of them have become Christian workers, ministers or clergymen. He was constantly receiving letters from all parts of the world testifying to the help received from reading his works.
To those who knew him best, Dr. Payne was essentially a man of prayer. Every day he spent hours with God. To him private prayer and family prayer were inseparable from the Christian life. One who knew him for forty years writes: "What a man of prayer he was! I have seen the whole atmosphere of a meeting changed as he interceded with God."
He was busy to the last. He preached on Christmas Day and Boxing Day - on the verge of his 83rd year - and had only just finished writing another book. Then came that last New Year Eve. He insisted, in spite of the cold weather, in going to Watch Night Service - and from it he walked straight home to God.
From the Baptist Messenger, Oklahoma City, 12th March 1924
Books by Rev Thomas Payne DD
Books by Rev Thomas Payne DD
Greatest Force on Earth, The Power of Intensified Prayer
Revivals - How Promoted, or Channels of Blessings
Apostolic Christianity and How It Turned the World Upside Down
The True Knowledge of Jesus Christ, and How Obtained
Ministry of Divine Helpfulness
The Christianity That Always Triumphs and The Glory that Excelleth. Is It Ours?
Crisis of the Churches: Bible or Evolution?
Pentecostal Baptism: Is It Regeneration?
New Discovery of Jesus Christ
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