Henry Moorhouse

Early Life

Henry Moorhouse—known affectionately across Britain and beyond as “Harry Moorhouse”—was born in Manchester in 1840. His early life gave little indication of the extraordinary influence he would later exert on the evangelical world. From childhood he was restless, rebellious, and repeatedly in trouble with the law. While still very young he was sent to prison on more than one occasion, and later joined the army, hoping that military discipline might steady him. Even that failed. Eventually, his father paid a substantial sum to have him released from service, desperate to rescue his son from a self-destructive path.

By any human measure, Henry Moorhouse appeared headed for ruin.

A Sudden and Dramatic Conversion

The turning point in Moorhouse’s life came in the most unexpected way. One day, while passing the Alhambra Circus in Manchester, he heard loud noises coming from inside. Assuming a fight was in progress, he instinctively buttoned his coat and rushed in, ready to defend himself.

Instead of violence, he encountered a Gospel meeting. Richard Weaver, the former coal miner turned evangelist, was preaching. As Henry burst into the building, a single word rang out from the platform:

“Jesus.”

That one word stopped him in his tracks. It struck his heart with the force of a bullet and, at the same time, healed it like balm. In an instant, his reckless life, his guilt, his danger, and his lost condition all rose vividly before him. The message of the “glorious gospel” pierced his conscience. The man who had come in looking for a fight stayed behind to pray, repent, and praise God.

Henry Moorhouse was soundly and suddenly converted.

A Life Given Completely to Christ

From the moment of his conversion, Moorhouse threw himself wholeheartedly into the service of Christ. His earliest ministry took place almost entirely in the open air—on streets, in marketplaces, at fairs, and wherever crowds gathered. From morning until night, he distributed tracts, spoke personally with individuals, and lifted up his voice to warn sinners and invite them to “flee from the wrath to come.”

He possessed a fearless boldness, tireless energy, and a burning love for souls. Moorhouse seemed unable to rest while anyone around him remained unconverted.

A Vision That Marked His Ministry

Moorhouse’s deep spiritual sensitivity was reflected in an experience he later recounted. One night, he dreamed of three young men in Manchester, each wearing a white jacket on which the words were clearly written:
“These men are going to Hell.”

They walked unknowingly toward a burning lake of fire. Henry cried out to warn them, but they paid no attention—until he fell to his knees and prayed, “Lord, it is not by might, nor by power, but by Thy Spirit.” At that moment, the men turned back in alarm.

The dream took on astonishing reality. That very Sunday evening, while Moorhouse was preaching again in the Alhambra Circus, three identical young men entered the building. Before the meeting ended, all three were on their knees, crying for mercy, and each found salvation in Christ.

This experience deeply shaped Moorhouse’s confidence in the sovereign power of the Holy Spirit.

Part of a Generation of Revivalists

Moorhouse was converted during the height of the revival movement of the mid-nineteenth century. He soon became closely associated with a remarkable band of evangelists and Christian workers, including:

• Richard Weaver, the collier preacher

• John Hambleton, the converted actor

• Edward Usher, the dock labourer and singer

• William Carter, the converted chimney sweep

• Henry Varley, later famous for his influence on D. L. Moody

• Reginald Radcliffe, the Liverpool lawyer

• Brownlow North, the aristocratic evangelist

• J. Denham Smith, the gifted expositor

• C. H. Spurgeon, pastor of the Metropolitan Tabernacle

Later, D. L. Moody and Ira D. Sankey would become among his closest friends and co-labourers.

A Call to Full-Time Evangelism

For a short time, Moorhouse supported himself by working as an auctioneer, selling small goods. One evening, while he was energetically calling for bids, an eccentric preacher—known locally as “the hatless preacher”—suddenly appeared, pointed at him, and cried out:

“You ought to have your Bible in your hand out amongst the people, and not that hammer for the devil!”

Then the man vanished as abruptly as he had appeared.

Those words struck Moorhouse like a thunderbolt. Convicted that God was calling him to give himself entirely to evangelistic work, he immediately abandoned the auctioneer’s hammer, sought out John Hambleton, and joined him on evangelistic tours throughout Britain.

From that point onward, Henry Moorhouse lived by faith alone, without a fixed salary or guaranteed support.

Tireless Evangelistic Labour

The stories of Moorhouse’s labours are almost legendary. He preached:

• In theatres—sometimes as many as fourteen theatres in London on a single Sunday night

• At race meetings, fairs, and public gatherings

• In slums and centres of vice

• Among Roman Catholics in Ireland

• Even near public executions, which were still common at the time

Along with Hambleton and others, he once attended the Shakespeare Tercentenary at Stratford-on-Avon, carrying large text boards reading:
“Christ for Me! Praise the Lord! Mercy’s Free!”

His methods were bold, unconventional, and often controversial—but unmistakably effective.

Crossing the Atlantic: Influence on D. L. Moody

By the late 1860s, Moorhouse’s relentless pace had taken a toll on his health. Never physically strong, he travelled to the United States in 1868 seeking rest and change. Instead, he found one of the most fruitful fields of his life.

During his visits, he profoundly influenced D. L. Moody, who later described Moorhouse as “the man who moved the man who moved the world.” Moody famously recounted Moorhouse’s seven consecutive sermons on John 3:16, each one unfolding the love of God in deeper measure.

Moorhouse’s preaching revolutionised Moody’s theology and ministry. As Moody later testified:

“I have preached a different Gospel since, and I have had more power with God and man since then.”

From that point on, the message of God’s love became central to Moody’s preaching worldwide.

Final Years and Home-Call

In the last years of his life, Moorhouse returned to a style of work similar to his earliest days—travelling with a Bible carriage, preaching and selling Scriptures. In just two years, he sold over 150,000 Bibles and Testaments, while distributing millions of tracts and books.

By 1876, it was clear his strength was failing. Doctors discovered that his heart was dangerously enlarged, yet his spirit remained joyful and steadfast. Near the end, he said that if God raised him up again, he would like to preach once more from John 3:16.

On December 28, 1880, at only forty years of age, Henry Moorhouse quietly passed into the presence of his Lord.

Legacy

Henry Moorhouse lies buried in Ardwick Cemetery, Manchester, not far from Richard Weaver. Inscribed on his memorial are the words that shaped his life and ministry:

“God so loved the world.”

Shortly before his death, he wrote words that perfectly summarise his heart:

“Ask prayer for me to suffer for Christ better than ever I preached for Him; I only want to glorify Him.”

Though his life was brief, Henry Moorhouse’s influence was vast. Through his preaching, his example, and especially his impact on D. L. Moody, his voice continues to echo around the world—still declaring the love of God to sinners in need of grace.