Percy Weston Heward (13 December 1882 – 6 May 1948) was an independentHe was never affiliated with a Christian denomination. English Christian evangelist, Biblical scholar, author and principal of a "Bible Training College" in London. In 1908 he founded a movement which aimed to "literally carry out the word of the Gospel" and re-establish Churches/Assemblies according to the New Testament pattern.P.W. Heward: Thoughts from the Word of God, Vol. viii, Jan. 1908, p. 5. He became the leading teacher of a gathering of Christians"Believers/Christians (not otherwise designated)" – Application form to local tribunal by a person provisionally registered in the register of conscientious objectors, National Service Act, dated 27/08/1940; Heward acting as a witness in Forest Gate, East London, which was in association with a number of other similar assemblies in England.
Life Heward was born in Hackney (parish) (today London Borough of Hackney), England on 13 December 1882 and was "raised in a godly home" by his parents John Reeves Heward and Sarah Ann Heward. They were married in "Clapton Park Congregational Chapel" on 10 January 1878.according to the entry of their marriage in the "Register Book of Marriages in the District of Hackney" He was converted at the age of 4, "trusting [Jesus Christ] as his personal Saviour".P.W. Heward: The Student of Scripture, 1948, p. 38. His parents, who "had a deep spiritual interest in fellow-believers and held meetings in their own home", taught him according to their understanding of the Bible. His tutors at St Olave's Grammar School,St Olave's Grammar School Southwark, London "desired him to follow a scholastic profession" because of his "very successful career" at school. He refused. His parents "had dedicated him to the service of the Lord Jesus Christ" and so his education was centred on the Bible and languages. Later the American missionary S.C. Duce wrote: "He seemed to enter into the very warp and woof of the Scriptures and his deep knowledge of the Hebrew and Greek languages made him an authority on questions of interpretation. A learned Hebrew Christian in the United States once remarked to the writer that Mr. Heward was the most deeply instructed student of the Scriptures in the original languages he had met on either side of the Atlantic".
"Straight from school he entered into Christian service", began to issue his magazines and then "instituted courses of Bible study amongst men". "In June 1901 'The Young Men's Bible Study and Training Association' was begun with Mr. Heward as 'General Secretary'." In 1903 a "Bible Training College" (B.T.C.) on an interdenominational basis was established, which moved in 1904 into No. 68 Fleet Street, London. Although he was now only 21 years of age, "the work of the college was under his supervision as principal, his father and many friends helping". "His work of overseeing the B.T.C., and taking a large share of the lectures (others also lectured for the B.T.C., e.g. Mr. Archibald Brown, pastor of East London Tabernacle; Mr. Marcus Bergman, Hebrew Christian worker with the London City Mission; Mr. E. Bendor Samuel, Mr. Bloxsidge, Mr. J. Neil, Mr. Wilkinson of the Mildmay Mission to the Jews), necessitated constant study of Holy Scriptures". From his study of the Scripture he realized in 1906:
"There is a need for more and more simplicity and a return to Scriptural arrangements, so that some of the grander developments proposed must be put aside and others delayed till the basis thereof (a local Christian church to which they can be attached on right lines) are organized". And in March 1907 he wrote: "The idea of our "Bible Training College", as an organization, apart from any church after God's appointment, and training preachers for varied connexions, failed to stand God's test."P.W. Heward: Thoughts from the Word of God, Vol. vii, No. 3, March 1907, p. 29. Putting his teaching into practice, he had in 1906 shut the college down while inviting those "who had joined in the work to take an assembly (or church) position. Some continued with him, and some did not, but whatever choice they made, they did not cease to regard [Percy Heward] with respect. Thenceforward the work proceeded on lines conceived by him to be in accord with God's revealed will for this present age."
The work under his direction was characterized by strong evangelistic efforts locally in Forest Gate and beyond, "sound doctrine" followed by godly practice and an increasing literature ministryP.W. Heward: Thoughts from the Word of God, Vol. xix, Oct. 1919, p. 75; compare with Vol. xxiii, October 1923, p. 74 and with Vol. xxviii, Oct. 1928, p. 74. maintained on a basis of faith.P.W. Heward: Thoughts from the Word of God, Vol. xv, No. 8, Aug. 1915, p. 58. Several missionary journeys (e.g. 4 March – 25 May 1935) to countries such as Poland, Belgium, Netherlands, Germany, France, Austria,P.W. Heward: Thoughts from the Word of God, Vol. xxviii, Aug. 1928, p. 63. Switzerland, Luxembourg, Latvia and CzechoslovakiaP.W. Heward: Thoughts from the Word of God, Vol. xxxv, July 1935, p. 50. were undertaken and international connections to Christian workers and fellowships (e.g. in South America, Germany and United States) marked his latter life.
He remained unmarried to the end of his life and after contracting pneumonia he died suddenly at the age of 65 on 6 May 1948 in London, shortly after returning from his last missionary journey to Germany, where he had stayed for about one month. A crowd of about 150 Christians assembled at his funeral in Ilford on 13 May 1948.P.W. Heward / E. Kirk: The Student of Scripture, 1948, p. 17.
Teaching From 1902 to 1904 Heward had published his magazine "The Puritan Quarterly".The Puritan Quarterly. Edited by P.W. Heward. Vol. 1. no. 1-4-Vol. 2. no. 2. Nov. 1902-Sept. 1903, April 1904 Together with his own writings it contained "contributions from modern Puritans, such as Jonathan Ranken Anderson". The strong influence of his devout parents, his "great love for the writings of the Puritans", hints of Christian friends and especially his own studies of the Scriptures in Hebrew and Greek gradually led him to the conviction that many customs, traditions and teachings amongst the Christians of his time were not to be found in the Bible, but originated from man. His life-long ministry amongst Christians was characterized by standing against what he saw to be error and by his fervent pleas to return to the doctrine of the Holy Scriptures. However, Heward was marked by a readiness to learn from other Christians if the matter in question could be proven by Scripture. A learning process in his magazines is clearly visible. Many of his sermons, preached either to the congregation in the "Meeting room" in Forest Gate (East London) or in other places, were transcribed as he spoke and were published as Typewritten NotesP.W. Heward: Thoughts from the Word of God, Vol. xxv, Jan. 1925, p. 7. and are still available. S.J. Duce wrote in his short biography about his perceived characteristics of Heward's teaching: "I was attracted by some of his writings which came into my hands (Duce did not know him at this time) and particularly with the emphasis put upon the finished work of Christ for the redemption of the sinner and the complete efficacy of His grace". Apart from his emphasis on the sovereignty of GodHeward wrote: "The wishes of sin are the wishes of man; man is guilty; man is to be blamed, but the All-wise God prevents those wishes from producing actions indiscriminately. He compels those wishes to take a certain divinely narrowed course. The floods of iniquity are from the hearts of men, but they are not allowed to cover the land; they are shut up to the channel of God's sovereign appointment, and men unwittingly are thus held in bounds, so that not one iota of God's purpose shall fail. He brings the floods of the ungodly into the channel of His providence to turn the mill of His purpose"; quoted by T.P. Simmons in chapter 12 of "A Systematic Study of Bible Doctrine". and on "absolute inspiration" of Scripture,P.W. Heward: Thoughts from the Word of God, Vol. xv, May 1915, p. 7. Heward's own words in 1917 show revealing aspects of his theological views: "Alas, God's greatness, His holiness, and His righteous wrath against sin, are not emphasized in these perilous times. Neither is the utter depravity of man believed, though the Holy Scriptures set this forth throughout. Hence there is little, or no sense of the dreadfulness of sin [...]. Consequently the work of Christ is not appreciated, as it should be [...]. We have become accustomed to think lightly about God [...]."P.W. Heward: Thoughts from the Word of God, Vol. xxv, Jan. 1917, p. 6.
Evangelistic zeal His ministry, however, was not restricted to believers. "The Gospel of the grace of God"P.W. Heward: Thoughts from the Word of God, Vol. xxxiv, Feb. 1934, p. 34. was his motive for open-air preaching in various locations in London (e.g. in Jewish streets, Hyde Park) and abroad, for "a quiet word to his fellow passengers in a bus or on the subway", for leaflet distribution on race courses (Epsom, Ascot),P.W. Heward: Thoughts from the Word of God, Vol. xxviii, Aug. 1928, p. 59. and for regular visits to the London docks,Stanley C. Bown: A Reminiscence, London 1967, p. 5. to which he held a pass. Unusually gifted with languages,"Mr. Heward learned several languages, and encouraged his brethren to do likewise. He himself could preach in French and German. He studied Chinese and Indian languages, and was able to converse simply with the men of various nationalities who are found in East London, and on ships in the many docks. Scriptures and tracts in various tongues were freely given and, in most cases, gladly accepted." E. Kirk: Thoughts from the Word of God, Vol. 58, May/June 1958, p. 27. he was able to spread the Gospel message not only to immigrants (e.g. "Chinese in their gambling dens", "Arab bar tenders"), but also in the ports of Cardiff, LiverpoolP.W. Heward: Thoughts from the Word of God, Vol. xxvi, July 1926, p. 18. and London amongst the seamen of many nations, either by word or by a leaflet in their particular language.P.W. Heward: Thoughts from the Word of God, Vol. xxv, July 1925, p. 51. A short message to the assembled crew of a foreign vessel was not unusual in his outreach activities. Hospitals and sick individuals were visited, and during the two wars, [Heward] was allowed access to some of the camps, including those where there were prisoners of war.E. Kirk: Thoughts from the Word of God, Vol. 58, May/June 1958, p. 27. On Tuesdays he held a mid-week meeting in the "John Pearce Restaurant","Temperance hotels" were known as such because they were unlicensed and did not serve alcohol. Percy Heward held his mid-week meetings in the "John Pearce Restaurant", which is mentioned in an article of "Temperance Caterer", a newspaper connected with the temperance movement. See: Unknown Aldgate, where he taught Greek and Hebrew. As a result of these endeavours he had to deal with a worldwide correspondence.P.W. Heward: Thoughts from the Word of God, Vol. xxiii, October 1923, p. 75. Duce wrote about him: "Most of his Gospel preaching and ministry was in England but he also made visits to the countries of Europe in the service of the Lord and he reached the far corners of the earth by his tracts and correspondence."
Writings