Charles Bridges (theologian)


Charles Bridges was a preacher and theologian in the Church of England, and a leader of that denomination's Evangelical Party. As a preacher he was well regarded by his contemporaries, but is remembered today for his literary contributions.

Education and ministry

Educated at Queens' College, Cambridge, he was ordained in 1817 and served from 1823 to 1849 as vicar of Old Newton, Suffolk. Thomas Chalmers wrote,
In 1849, he became vicar of Weymouth, Dorset, later serving as vicar of Hinton Martell, Dorset. Bridges participated in the Clerical Conference at Weston-super-Mare of 1858, and also participated in the consecration of the Bishop of Carlisle in York Minster in 1860.

Personal life

Bridges was married to Harriet Torlesse, with whom he had at least two sons, the second of whom was physician John Henry Bridges, BA BM Oxon FRCP.

Literary works

At least twenty-four editions of Bridges' Exposition of Psalm 119 were published in his lifetime. C. H. Spurgeon considered the commentary to be "worth its weight in gold". Spurgeon also pronounced Bridges' Exposition of Proverbs "The best work on the Proverbs".