David Nasmith (March 1799 – 17 November 1839) founded The
City Mission Movement in the UK, the US and in Europe.
Biography
Born in
Glasgow
Glasgow is the Cities of Scotland, most populous city in Scotland, located on the banks of the River Clyde in Strathclyde, west central Scotland. It is the List of cities in the United Kingdom, third-most-populous city in the United Kingdom ...
, Scotland, Nasmith began life in manufacturing as an apprentice. He set up The Young Men's Society for Religious Improvement (1824),
Glasgow City Mission
Glasgow City Mission is a Christian charitable organisation whose remit covers Glasgow, Scotland. It is dedicated to sharing the Gospel of Jesus Christ and providing practical help and support to homeless and disadvantaged people. Its headquarter ...
(1826),
Edinburgh City Mission
Edinburgh City Mission is a Christian charitable organisation in Scotland, UK.
Overview
The aim of the charity is to share the Gospel of Jesus Christ in words and action. This is done by working in poverty relief among the inhabitants of Edin ...
(1832), and
London City Mission
London City Mission was set up by David Nasmith on 16 May 1835 in the Hoxton area of east London. The first paid missionary was Lindsay Burfoot. Today it is part of the wider City Mission Movement.
History
The London City Mission's early work ce ...
(1835). He "died poor", in 1839, aged 40, in Guildford, Surrey, England. He was buried in
Bunhill Fields
Bunhill Fields is a former burial ground in central London, in the London Borough of Islington, just north of the City of London. What remains is about in extent and the bulk of the site is a public garden maintained by the City of London Cor ...
. His wife was later buried in
Highgate Cemetery
Highgate Cemetery is a place of burial in North London, England, designed by architect Stephen Geary. There are approximately 170,000 people buried in around 53,000 graves across the West and East sides. Highgate Cemetery is notable both for so ...
and some friends from the City Missions erected a monument to David Nasmith over her grave. The inscription reads:
''IN MEMORY OF DAVID NASMITH (BORN A.D.1799 DIED A.D.1839) FOUNDER OF THE LONDON CITY MISSION AND OF VARIOUS CITY AND TOWN MISSIONS THROUGHOUT ENGLAND, SCOTLAND, IRELAND AND AMERICA.''
''A FEW FRIENDS CONNECTED WITH THESE SOCIETIES HAVE ERECTED THIS STONE AS A MEMORIAL OF THEIR ESTEEM AND RESPECT FOR HIS CHARACTER AND WORKS.''
Influence
''City'' and ''Gospel'' missions, also known as
Gospel Rescue Missions in the US, are practical religion outside the walls of the church and an example of
Evangelical
Evangelicalism (), also called evangelical Christianity or evangelical Protestantism, is a worldwide, interdenominational movement within Protestantism, Protestant Christianity that emphasizes evangelism, or the preaching and spreading of th ...
parachurch organisations.
"David Nasmith originated the Young Men’s Christian Association in Glasgow, and set the institution at work in other cities and around the world. His life work was noted for being instrumental in welding the various denominations together for useful purposes. In 1821 he became secretary of the "Religious Societies of Glasgow" at the "Institution Rooms", 59 Glasswork Street. Nasmith possessed a marvelous power of organization and capacity for work. He was a true reformer, and thoroughly sincere in his endeavors to benefit others. He founded City Missions and Young Men’s Christian Associations". (A. G. Callant, author of ''Saint Mungo's Bells'')
"Clubs and associations, missions and societies were in his blood. So many of them could claim him as founder that it is doubtful whether, at the age of thirty-six, he could have kept an accurate record of them all. As a founder of missions, it would be hard to find his equal." (Phyllis Thompson, author of ''To the Heart of the City'')[''To the Heart of the City'', Phyllis Thompson, Hodder & Stoughton Religious (1 May 1985), ]
See also
*
Nathaniel Pidgeon
Nathaniel Pidgeon (16 August 1803 – 17 February 1879) was an Irish born Australian evangelist and is regarded as Sydney's first missionary.
Early life
Pidgeon was born in Bellevue, County Wexford, Ireland, the only son of Richard Pidgeon an ...
References
External links
''David Nasmith'' article, London City Mission
City Missions worldwide
London City MissionMission AustraliaAssociation of Gospel Rescue MissionsCity Mission Movement
{{DEFAULTSORT:Nasmith, David
Burials at Bunhill Fields
Burials at Highgate Cemetery
Leaders of Christian parachurch organizations
1799 births
1839 deaths
YMCA leaders