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John Henry Jowett
John Henry Jowett (1864–1923) was an English preacher and Congregationalist minister whose eloquent sermons and devotional writings earned him a reputation as one of the early 20th century’s most gifted pulpit orators. Born in Halifax, Yorkshire, to a working-class family—his father, Joseph, a tailor, and his mother, Sarah, a devout Christian—he grew up in a religious home and excelled academically at Airedale College and Edinburgh University, where he trained for ministry. Ordained in 1889, he began his career at St. James’s Congregational Church in Newcastle-upon-Tyne, serving until 1895, when he succeeded R.W. Dale at Carr’s Lane Chapel in Birmingham, a post he held for 16 years. Married to Mary Jane Langhorne in 1891, with whom he had no children, Jowett’s personal warmth and intellectual depth fueled his pastoral work. Jowett’s ministry reached its zenith in the United States and London, where his preaching drew widespread acclaim—Charles Haddon Spurgeon reportedly called him a successor in spirit. In 1911, he accepted a call to Fifth Avenue Presbyterian Church in New York City, serving until 1918, captivating American audiences with his poetic style and emphasis on Christ’s transformative power. Returning to England, he ministered at Westminster Chapel in London from 1918 until ill health forced his retirement in 1922. Author of over 30 books, including The Passion for Souls and The Preacher: His Life and Work (from his 1912 Yale lectures), Jowett blended mysticism with practical faith. He died in 1923 in London, leaving a legacy as a preacher whose lyrical voice and spiritual insight inspired congregations across two continents.
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John Henry Jowett emphasizes the lasting impact of our lives even after we are gone, highlighting how our actions, whether good or evil, continue to speak and influence others. He delves into the concept that our faith, avarice, pride, and overall character persist beyond our physical existence, shaping the lives of those around us. Jowett challenges the audience to consider what part of them will remain alive and what forces they will leave behind for future generations.
The Voice of the Dead
HEBREWS xi. 1-6. With what voice shall we speak when we are dead? What will men hear when they turn their thoughts toward us? What part of us will remain alive, singing or jarring in men's remembrance? It is the biggest part of us that retains its voice. In some it is wealth, in others it is goodness; some go on speaking in their cruelty, others in their gentleness. Cain still speaks in his jealous passion. Abel speaks in his faith. Dorcas speaks in her "good works and alms-deeds which she did"; Judas Iscariot speaks in his betrayal. Yes, something goes on speaking. What shall it be? But these biggest things not only continue to speak in the ears of memory, they persist as actual forces in the common life of men. Our faith is not buried with our bones, nor is our avarice or pride. Our characters do not die when our hearts cease to beat. "The evil that men do lives after them," and so does the good. But deeper than our deeds, our dominant dispositions persist and mingle as friends or enemies in the lives of others. By them we, being dead, still speak, and we speak in subtle forces which aid or hinder other pilgrims who are fighting their way to God and heaven.
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John Henry Jowett (1864–1923) was an English preacher and Congregationalist minister whose eloquent sermons and devotional writings earned him a reputation as one of the early 20th century’s most gifted pulpit orators. Born in Halifax, Yorkshire, to a working-class family—his father, Joseph, a tailor, and his mother, Sarah, a devout Christian—he grew up in a religious home and excelled academically at Airedale College and Edinburgh University, where he trained for ministry. Ordained in 1889, he began his career at St. James’s Congregational Church in Newcastle-upon-Tyne, serving until 1895, when he succeeded R.W. Dale at Carr’s Lane Chapel in Birmingham, a post he held for 16 years. Married to Mary Jane Langhorne in 1891, with whom he had no children, Jowett’s personal warmth and intellectual depth fueled his pastoral work. Jowett’s ministry reached its zenith in the United States and London, where his preaching drew widespread acclaim—Charles Haddon Spurgeon reportedly called him a successor in spirit. In 1911, he accepted a call to Fifth Avenue Presbyterian Church in New York City, serving until 1918, captivating American audiences with his poetic style and emphasis on Christ’s transformative power. Returning to England, he ministered at Westminster Chapel in London from 1918 until ill health forced his retirement in 1922. Author of over 30 books, including The Passion for Souls and The Preacher: His Life and Work (from his 1912 Yale lectures), Jowett blended mysticism with practical faith. He died in 1923 in London, leaving a legacy as a preacher whose lyrical voice and spiritual insight inspired congregations across two continents.