Who Was Henry Varley?
Tuesday, October 21, 2025
“The world has yet to see what God can do with and for and through and in a man who is fully and wholly consecrated to Him." – Henry Varley
Henry Varley was one of the most significant and influential itinerant evangelists of the 19th century. However, he was largely overshadowed by the more famous British pastor Charles Spurgeon as well as the American evangelist Dwight L. Moody. As a result, he is mostly forgotten today, even in evangelical circles.
And yet, Henry Varley played a leading role in the life of both of the aforementioned preachers. On a trip to England to meet Spurgeon and hear him speak, both Moody and Varley were moved by the powerful sermons of the “Prince of Preachers”. So much so, that upon leaving a conference at which Spurgeon spoke, Varley felt compelled to make the statement that is included in today’s quote.
After a brief pause to allow the gravity of Varley’s words to sink in, Moody reportedly replied, “I will be that man.” He then added, “If God is looking for a man of integrity, a man of honor and courage and faithfulness, with God’s help I will be such a man.”
In modern-day parlance, we would call Henry Varlance a facilitator. He was more than capable of expounding God’s truth on his own, but he was just as content to act as a conduit of God’s blessing. In other words, Henry Varley didn’t care who got the credit for the lives being transformed and the souls being saved; he simply wanted to see God’s work accomplished “on earth as it is in heaven” (Matthew 6:10).
In my humble opinion, the world – and the body of Christ, in particular – could use a lot more Henry Varleys!
“I planted the seed and Apollos watered it, but God made it grow. So neither he who plants nor he who waters is anything, but only God, who makes things grow.” I Corinthians 3:6-7 (BSB)
- Rev. Dale M. Glading, President
