A wonderful assemblage of over 600 pages of manuscript sermons, accounts of a tour of America, lectures, etc., by two important 19th century Baptists, including one who wrote the most influential Baptism hymn of the 19th century and both of whom were friendly with the Spurgeons.
John Eustace Giles [1805-1875] was the son of Reverend William Giles [1771-1846], also a Baptist Minister. He was born at Dartmouth, Devonshire, probably in the house built for the Giles family above Baptist Chapel in Meeting House Lane.
His father, William [1771-1846], as a young man studied with Thomas Coke in London to obtain some rudimentary medical skills to serve him as a missionary with the Methodists to Sierra Leone [1792]. He also heard John Wesley preach. Then, on the way via ship, he became deeply influenced by his time with a pair of early Baptist missionaries [James Rodway and Jacob Grigg] and himself, being convinced of believer’s baptism, joined in with them, returning from his time in Sierra Leone a confirmed Baptist. Upon his return, he became pastor at Dartmouth.
John Eustace succeeded his father in the Baptist ministry and was educated at the Baptist College, Bristol. After preaching for a short time at Haverfordwest, he became, in 1830, pastor of the church in Salter's Hall, London. Leaving Baiter's Hall in 1836, he ministered successively at Leeds, Bristol, Sheffield, Bathmines (Dublin), and Clapham Common, London. He died at Clapham Common, just down the road from Spurgeon’s Tabernacle, June 24, 1875. His works include A Funeral Sermon on the Death of Robert Hall; Lectures on the Separation of Church and State; Hymns and Poetical pieces; a Hymn in Celebration of Negro Emancipation written at the request of the Baptist Missionary Committee, etc.
The hymn by which he is best known is:—
“Hast Thou said, Exalted Jesus?” It is a composition of special merit, and in English Baptist congregations is probably oftener sung on Baptismal occasions than any other hymn. It was written "during a serious illness, in 1830, and in anticipation of having to baptize several persons at Salter's Hall, London, on his recovery." It was printed in 1830 in 6 stanzas of 6 lines. In 1858 it was given in the Baptist Psalms & Hymns, No. 705, with the omission of st. ii. The full original text is in the Baptist Hymnal, 1879, No. 639. It is also in several other collections, including Our Own Hymn Book by C. H. Spurgeon, being sung at the occasion of public baptisms at the Metropolitan Tabernacle. Wonderful historical connection then between these manuscripts and the ministry of C. H. Spurgeon.
William Lease Giles [1834-1922], son of John Eustace, studied for the Baptist ministry in London, it seems possibly at the earliest years of the Pastor’s College, which began in 1856, which seem to not have good records. This would coincide with his first ministry position, from 1860 to 1862, at Abbey Street Chapel in Dublin, and for many years, beginning in 1863 at Cannon Street Chapel, Birmingham. Then, in 1882, he emigrated to the United States, pastoring several congregations in New York.
His family had a long association with the Spurgeons, often ministering at the Baptist Chapel at Clapham Common, just down the road from Spurgeon College. The rosters show him to have been a regular donor to the Pastor’s College of C. H. Spurgeon and he regularly preached the Annual Sermon at Baptist Meeting House at Clapham Common.
MANUSCRIPT ITEMS OF REV J. E. GILES
77 Page Manuscript on Folio Sheets including:
*Our Indian Empire
*The Uses and Advantages of Poetry
*The Literary Men of the Present Age
*Meteorological Phenomena
*Unity of the Human Race
MANUSCRIPTS OF REVEREND WILLIAM L. GILES:
Preached in the Exchange Rooms at Birmingham, Cannon Street, Cloughfold Shepherd Bush
Manuscript Sermon, Acts ii. 24. Preached 1867. 12pp.
Manuscript Sermon, Matthew v. 25, 26. Preached 1867. 12pp
Manuscript Sermon, Proverbs x. 9. Preached 1867. 12pp
Manuscript Sermon, Romans v. 3. Preached 1867. 12pp
Manuscript Sermon, Matthew xxvii. 51, 52. Preached 1867. 12pp.
Manuscript Sermon, I John iii. 3. Preached 1867. 12pp.
Manuscript Sermon, 2 Corinthians i. 24. Preached 1867. 12pp.
Manuscript Sermon, Colossians iii. 12. Preached 1867. 12pp.
Manuscript Sermon, Job xxix. 2, 3. Preached 1868. 12pp.
Manuscript Sermon, I John iii. 8. Preached 1867 at the Reopening Service at Cannon St. 12pp.
Manuscript Sermon, Proverbs xiv. 9. Preached 1867. 12pp.
Manuscript Sermon, John vi. 53-55. Preached 1867. 12pp.
Manuscript Sermon, John xi. 35. Preached 1868. 12pp.
Manuscript Sermon, Galatians vi. 7. Preached 1868. 12pp.
Manuscript Sermon, Isaiah xxi. 11, 12. Preached 1868. 12pp.
Manuscript Sermon, Psalm cix. 4. Preached 1868. 12pp.
Manuscript Sermon, Proverbs xxix. 1. Preached 1868. 12pp.
Manuscript Sermon, Romans vi. 23. Preached 1867. 12pp.
Manuscript Sermon, Psalms cxxvi. 3. Preached 1867. 12pp.
Manuscript Sermon, Revelation vi. 15-16. Preached 1867. 12pp.
Manuscript Sermon, Psalm lxiii. 1. Preached 1867 on the Sudden Death of a Young Girl. 12pp.
Manuscript Sermon, Hebrews xii. 14. Preached 1868. 12pp.
Manuscript Sermon, Psalm cix. 4. Preached 1868. 12pp.
Manuscript Sermon, Matthew xxv. 22, 23. Preached 1868. 12pp.
Manuscript Sermon, Proverbs xxii. 6. Preached 1868. 12pp.
Manuscript Sermon, Job xxxii. 8. Preached 1868. 12pp.
Manuscript Sermon, Psalm xxxvii. 5. Preached 1868. 12pp.
Manuscript Sermon, Proverbs xiii. 15. Preached 1868. 12pp.
Manuscript Sermon, Judges v. 23. Preached 1868. 12pp.
Manuscript Sermon, Hebrews xiii. 16. Preached 1868 for a Home Mission Collection. 12pp.
Manuscript Sermon, Romans iii. 31. Preached 1868. 12pp.
Manuscript Sermon, Psalm cxxxix. 23, 24. Preached 1868. 12pp.
Manuscript Sermon, John viii. 32. Preached 1867. 12pp.
A Further c.200 Pages of MSs, Including a 66 Page Manuscript Entitled, “Notes of an American Tour.”
PRINTED ITEMS:
Printed. The Birmingham Pulpit, 20th January, 1872. Poor condition, but includes a printed sermon by Rev. W. L. Giles from Canon Street Chapel.
Printed. Fine 6 x 9 inch mounted photograph presumably of either his church in Dublin or Birmingham. Interior view.
Printed. Fine 6 x 9 inch mounted photograph presumably of either his church in Dublin or Birmingham. Exterior view.
Printed. The Spirit of Faith Essential to Success: A Circular Letter by Rev. J. E. Giles. Leeds. John Heaton. 1850. 16pp. Inscribed on the top of the title page from Rev. J. E. Giles [Father] to Rev. W. L. Giles [The Author of our Manuscripts]
Printed. Carte de Visite of William Leese Giles. Photographer: James Huff of Greenwich.
Printed. Carte de Visite of Rev and Mrs. William L. Giles, c.1860. Dublin. Photographer: London School of Photography.
Printed. London Meeting on Behalf of the Baptists in Denmark. December. 1841. 12pp. Wraps. Very Rare. Wraps Chipped.