The Rills and Rivers of F.W. Boreham’s Preaching

Abstract

Frank William Boreham (1871-1959) had a significant influence on
Baptist churches throughout New Zealand and Australia. He was a noted
essayist, author and minister, who served Baptist churches in Mosgiel
(N.Z.), Hobart (Tasmania, Australia.) and Armadale (Victoria, Australia.)
This article is devoted to examining Boreham’s earliest sermon
manuscripts, taken from a collection held by the Baptist Union of
Victoria. No other scholarly research has been done to date on these
works. The sermons derive from Boreham’s period as a minister in
England from 1891 to 1894, prior to him leaving for New Zealand in
1895. These sermons were delivered at a variety of locations around
London, such as: Brixton and Theydon Bois. The task of this research
has been to examine what kind of influences were prevalent in the
manuscripts. 

The paper finds that the following factors shaped
Boreham’s early preaching: a love of nature and stories, a desire to be
practical, a strongly evangelistic theology, ministry models such as F.B.
Meyer, Joseph Parker and C.H. Spurgeon, training at Spurgeon’s College
and experience as a Student Minister at Theydon Bois. The conclusion
drawn is that at this early stage, Boreham had not yet found a way to
bring his distinctive personality and preaching style into his messages. It
would not be until F.W. Boreham started his ministry in New Zealand
and Australia that he would allow his unique voice to be shared from the pulpit.