David Watson (evangelist)
Encyclopedia
David C. K. Watson was an English Anglican priest, evangelist and author.
. He became involved with the ministry of E. J. H. Nash by the invitation of David Sheppard
, later to become Bishop of Liverpool. Watson noted: "Undoubtedly the most formative influence on my faith during the five years at Cambridge was my involvement with... 'Bash camps.' [...] It was the best possible training I could receive." He became an ordained minister in the Church of England
, starting work among the dock workers of Gillingham, Kent
.
Watson's second curacy took him to the Round Church
in Cambridge, where the vicar was Mark Ruston. Around the same time, encouraged by Dr Martyn Lloyd Jones, Watson sought the religious experience known as baptism in the Holy Spirit and began to speak in tongues.
Watson became Curate-in-Charge of St. Cuthbert's, York
in 1965 which was attended by no more than twelve at any service, and was twelve months away from redundancy. Eight years later the congregation had out-grown St. Cuthbert's and an array of annexes resulting in a move to St. Michael le Belfrey
, York
. Subsequently the congregation grew to many hundreds, in only a few years. As his ministry progressed, Watson was involved with missionary enterprises throughout the world and was a high profile advocate of reconciliation and ecumenism in Northern Ireland. He met the Vineyard Leader John Wimber
in 1980, and was one of the first people to welcome him to the UK. This encouraged the connection between Wimber
and Terry Virgo
of Newfrontiers that ensued. He left St. Michael-Le-Belfrey in 1982 for London.
David Watson was a regular contributor to Renewal
magazine, a publication of the interdenominational charismatic movement which started in the 1960s.
He died of cancer on 18 February 1984 after recording his fight with the disease in a book, Fear No Evil. John Gunstone remarked of David Watson: "It is doubtful whether any other English Christian leader has had greater influence on this side of the Atlantic since the Second World War." J. I. Packer
called him "one of the best-known clergymen in England."
Biography
Watson was educated at Wellington College school and St. John's College, Cambridge where he converted to ChristianityChristianity
Christianity is a monotheistic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus as presented in canonical gospels and other New Testament writings...
. He became involved with the ministry of E. J. H. Nash by the invitation of David Sheppard
David Sheppard
David Stuart Sheppard, Baron Sheppard of Liverpool was the high-profile Bishop of Liverpool in the Church of England who played cricket for Sussex and England in his youth...
, later to become Bishop of Liverpool. Watson noted: "Undoubtedly the most formative influence on my faith during the five years at Cambridge was my involvement with... 'Bash camps.' [...] It was the best possible training I could receive." He became an ordained minister in the Church of England
Church of England
The Church of England is the officially established Christian church in England and the Mother Church of the worldwide Anglican Communion. The church considers itself within the tradition of Western Christianity and dates its formal establishment principally to the mission to England by St...
, starting work among the dock workers of Gillingham, Kent
Gillingham, Kent
Gillingham is a town in the unitary authority of Medway in South East England. It is part of the ceremonial county of Kent. The town includes the settlements of Brompton, Hempstead, Rainham, Rainham Mark and Twydall....
.
Watson's second curacy took him to the Round Church
The Holy Sepulchre, Cambridge
- Recent history and present day:By 1994 the congregation had grown too big to be accommodated and it moved to the nearby Church of St Andrew the Great. Holy Sepulchre is managed by Christian Heritage and is open for visitors. It contains an exhibition entitled The Impact of Christianity in...
in Cambridge, where the vicar was Mark Ruston. Around the same time, encouraged by Dr Martyn Lloyd Jones, Watson sought the religious experience known as baptism in the Holy Spirit and began to speak in tongues.
Watson became Curate-in-Charge of St. Cuthbert's, York
York
York is a walled city, situated at the confluence of the Rivers Ouse and Foss in North Yorkshire, England. The city has a rich heritage and has provided the backdrop to major political events throughout much of its two millennia of existence...
in 1965 which was attended by no more than twelve at any service, and was twelve months away from redundancy. Eight years later the congregation had out-grown St. Cuthbert's and an array of annexes resulting in a move to St. Michael le Belfrey
St. Michael le Belfrey
St. Michael le Belfrey is an Anglican church in York, England. It is situated directly next to York Minster in the heart of the city.-History:...
, York
York
York is a walled city, situated at the confluence of the Rivers Ouse and Foss in North Yorkshire, England. The city has a rich heritage and has provided the backdrop to major political events throughout much of its two millennia of existence...
. Subsequently the congregation grew to many hundreds, in only a few years. As his ministry progressed, Watson was involved with missionary enterprises throughout the world and was a high profile advocate of reconciliation and ecumenism in Northern Ireland. He met the Vineyard Leader John Wimber
John Wimber
John Richard Wimber was a musician, charismatic pastor and one of the founding leaders of the Vineyard Movement, a neocharismatic Evangelical Christian denomination which began in the USA and has now spread to many countries world-wide.-Life and ministry:John Richard Wimber was the son of Basil...
in 1980, and was one of the first people to welcome him to the UK. This encouraged the connection between Wimber
John Wimber
John Richard Wimber was a musician, charismatic pastor and one of the founding leaders of the Vineyard Movement, a neocharismatic Evangelical Christian denomination which began in the USA and has now spread to many countries world-wide.-Life and ministry:John Richard Wimber was the son of Basil...
and Terry Virgo
Terry Virgo
Terry Virgo is a prominent leader in the British New Church Movement, . He is the founder of the Newfrontiers family of neocharismatic evangelical churches, which has grown into an international apostolic network of over 700 churches in more than 60 nations. He is a leading Reformed Charismatic...
of Newfrontiers that ensued. He left St. Michael-Le-Belfrey in 1982 for London.
David Watson was a regular contributor to Renewal
Fountain Trust
The Fountain Trust was an ecumenical agency formed in the UK in 1964 to promote the charismatic renewal. The trust operated on the principle that it was the purpose of the Holy Spirit to "renew the historic churches". D...
magazine, a publication of the interdenominational charismatic movement which started in the 1960s.
He died of cancer on 18 February 1984 after recording his fight with the disease in a book, Fear No Evil. John Gunstone remarked of David Watson: "It is doubtful whether any other English Christian leader has had greater influence on this side of the Atlantic since the Second World War." J. I. Packer
J. I. Packer
James Innell Packer is a British-born Canadian Christian theologian in the low church Anglican and Reformed traditions. He currently serves as the Board of Governors' Professor of Theology at Regent College in Vancouver, British Columbia...
called him "one of the best-known clergymen in England."
Video works
- Jesus Then and Now - V. 1 - Beginnings and Temptation - (1983)
- Jesus Then and Now - V. 2 - Disciples and Miracles - (1983)
- Jesus Then and Now - V. 3 - Lifestyle and Prayer - (1983)
- Jesus Then and Now - V. 4 - The Man and Opposition - (1983)
- Jesus Then and Now - V. 5 - Crucifixion and Resurrection - (1983)
- Jesus Then and Now - V. 6 - The Spirit and the New Age - (1983)
Biographical
- Teddy Saunders and Hugh Sansom David Watson, A Biography (Sevenoaks: Hodder, 1992)
- Edward England (Ed) A Portrait by his Friends (Godalming: Highland, 1985)
- Porter, Matthew. David Watson: Evangelism, Renewal, Reconciliation (Cambridge: Grove Books, 2003)