Alexander Boddy

Alexander Alfred Boddy (* November 15, 1854, † September 10, 1930 ) was an Anglican pastor and co-founder of the Pentecostal movement in Britain.

Life

Boddy grew up in a Christian family. His father was a clergyman and his mother was a descendant of Mary Vazeille, who later married John Wesley. First, he wanted to become a lawyer like his father. Under the influence of Keswickbewegung he decided to study theology and was eventually ordained by the Bishop of Durham Joseph Barber Lightfoot. Then he was a pastor in All Saints in Monkwearmouth, Sunderland ( 1884-1922 ). In 1891 he married Mary Pollock.

Boddy was inspired by the Holiness movement. He had already in 1892 an intense religious experience made ​​, when in 1899 his wife Mary was cured from asthma. From now on, they were both convinced that Mary has the gift hang people by hand to heal. In search of new inspiration for his work as a pastor, he traveled in 1904 to the revival in Wales, where he met Evan Roberts. The following year he traveled to Oslo, where Thomas Ball Barratt a revival, similar to that introduced by the Azusa Street.

Beginnings of the Pentecostal movement in Britain

After the experience in Oslo Boddy and his wife began to speak in tongues. Mary Boddy put the evangelist Smith Wigglesworth on the hands and in the following years, All Saints became a center of the British Pentecostalism. From 1908 to 1914 a series of conferences (Sunderland Convention ) took place, which attracted nationwide attention. With Cecil Polhill, he founded the Pentecostal Missionary Union ( Pentecostal Missionary Union ) and he was a member of the Pentecostal International Advisory Council. As a clergyman of the English Church, he tried to prevent the establishment of various denominations.

Teaching

After Boddy the Holy Spirit had to glorify the task of Jesus Christ. He also held the sacraments are important and defended infant baptism. The love of God was more important to him than speaking in tongues. He also warned against exaggerated reports of healings. Finally, he believed that the return of Christ was imminent. He was of the opinion that certain events in the First World War would fulfill Biblical prophecies. Unlike other Pentecostals, he supported the British war effort. He was against an overvaluation of money and wealth, as he had met her in U.S. communities.

Works

Prior to his experience of Pentecost Boddy wrote some Roker Tracts, essays on topics relating to holiness. In addition, he wrote travel reports on Canada, Egypt, Palestine and Russia and received by literary recognition and membership in the Royal Geographical Society and the Russian Geographical Society. From 1908 to 1926 he was editor and principal author of the magazine Confidence ( trust).