RICHARD COPE MORGAN, Founder and Editor of
The Christian, was
a native of Abergavenny, in
Monmouthshire, and sustained, during a long period of
years, a position of peculiar influence as a promoter of
Christian work in London and
beyond.
His earliest impressions of the spiritual life came
through the words and example of a godly mother, who
was called to her rest when the son was in his teens.
Friends in the home-circle supported the call to Christ,
and in due time, following upon instructions in the
Gospel, at the age of 22, young
Morgan realised the truth
of the apostolic words: "The Spirit itself beareth witness
with
our spirit, that we are children of God" (Rom. 8. 16, 17).
Writing fifty years later, he said: "Had this
been mere
human reasoning, it would have passed away; but ‘it
is the Spirit that beareth witness,
and the Spirit is truth.’"
This experience was realised while Mr. Morgan had his
home in the city of Bath.
An expert in printing, and the practical management
of a printing office, Mr. Morgan came to the Metropolis
in 1855, where he encountered difficulties and fought
battles, but never for a moment did he doubt his accept-
ance in the Beloved. In 1859 he started the weekly paper,
The Revival, which became The Christian in 1870; and
he retained his editorial responsibilities in large measure
until his death, at the age of 81.