The biography of one of the leaders of the Evangelical Movement at the beginning of the nineteenth century. As the son of Henry Venn of Huddersfield and friend of Charles Simeon, William Wilberforce, Henry Thornton, and Hannah More, John Venn tends only to be remembered because of his relationship to them, but his avoidance of the limelight should not lead to an underestimation of his influence.

As Rector of Clapham, Venn was the prototypically effective nineteenth-century town parson, but through his role as first Chairman of the Church Missionary Society and as Chaplain to the Clapham Sect his influence was felt on the wider Church.

Full use has been made of the Venn Family Papers and other original sources, including letters and diaries.

Preface and Acknowledgements

1. Father and Son
2. Cambridge and Little Dunham
3. Clapham
4. Words and Deeds – A Chapter on the Clapham Sect
5. John Venn and the Church Missionary Society

Epilogue

Appendices
Genealogical Table of the Venn Family
Bibliography
Index

• Extract from Chapter 2: Cambridge and Little Dunham (PDF, 241 KB)
• Extract from Chapter 5: John Venn and the Church Missionary Society (PDF, 323 KB)