Richard W Owens

Early Life

Richard W. Owens was born in December 1842 in Enniscorthy, County Wexford, Ireland. He grew up during a period of deep spiritual unrest and awakening in Ireland, circumstances that would profoundly shape his life. As a young man, he was apprenticed to the drapery trade in Dublin, a practical training that gave him discipline and steadiness, though his heart was already being drawn toward greater spiritual concerns.

Conversion During the 1859 Revival

Owens came to a clear and life-changing faith in Jesus Christ during the great Irish Revival of 1859, one of the most significant evangelical awakenings of the nineteenth century. This conversion marked the decisive turning point of his life. From that moment onward, his faith was not merely personal but active, practical, and outward-looking.

Soon after his conversion, he became closely associated with believers meeting at Merrion Hall in Dublin, a centre of vibrant Christian fellowship and service. There, his faith quickly expressed itself in what Scripture calls “works of faith and labours of love.”

Early Christian Service in Dublin

While living in Dublin, Owens devoted himself wholeheartedly to Christian service. He was especially drawn to work among the poor, the neglected, and those living on the margins of society. During these years he laboured alongside Dr. Thomas Barnardo, who later became famous for his work with destitute children. Together they served among the “down and outs” of Dublin’s slums, bringing both practical help and the message of the Gospel.

These early experiences shaped Owens permanently. They developed in him a deep compassion for people, a shepherd’s heart, and a lifelong conviction that Christian faith must be expressed in love, hospitality, and service.

Emigration to America and Marriage

In 1871, Richard Owens emigrated to New York City, seeking both opportunity and a wider field for Christian service. Later that same year, in December 1871, he married Miss Marion Bunn, a fellow believer from Dublin. Their marriage proved to be a remarkable partnership that lasted 56 years, marked by shared faith, hospitality, and service to others.

Upon settling in New York, Owens identified himself with a small and struggling assembly of believers who met simply in the name of the Lord. Though the group was weak in numbers, Owens saw it as fertile ground for patient pastoral labour.

Pastoral Ministry in New York

Richard Owens possessed what many recognised as a true pastoral instinct. In an environment that often offered more discouragement than visible success, he remained steadfast, gentle, and faithful. Over a period of more than fifty years, he quietly but persistently strengthened believers, encouraged the faint-hearted, and helped many to grow in faith.

As assemblies of believers gradually increased throughout New York and its surrounding areas, Owens became a trusted counsellor. His advice was sought not because of forceful personality or public prominence, but because of his wisdom, humility, and evident love for God’s people.

The mark of Christlike love—“By this shall all men know that ye are My disciples, if ye have love one toward another”—was clearly seen in his life.

Fellowship, Hospitality, and Gospel Zeal

Richard and Marion Owens regarded it as a privilege to serve the people of God in any way they could. Their home became a place of extraordinary hospitality, open to believers from many countries and backgrounds. They welcomed Christians not on the basis of denominational labels or origins, but simply because they were children of God.

Among those who stayed in their home were well-known servants of Christ such as Henry Moorhouse, Donald Ross, Donald Munro, Alexander Marshall, and many others. For travelling preachers and missionaries arriving in New York, the Owens’ home was often the first place of warmth, guidance, and rest.

Owens also gave generously of his time—meeting believers at the docks, guiding them through the complexities of New York City, assisting them practically, and often spiritually. These acts, largely unseen, formed a major part of his lifelong ministry.

Alongside his pastoral care, he had a deep love for the Gospel. He preached whenever and wherever opportunities arose—in halls, chapels, tents, meeting rooms, and in the open air. He delighted in making Christ known and was ready to speak “in season and out of season.”

Later Years and Recognition

In 1921, Richard and Marion Owens celebrated their golden wedding anniversary. To mark the occasion and to express gratitude for decades of faithful service, friends organised a service of praise and thanksgiving, at which Mr. Owens was presented with a purse of gold. The event reflected the deep affection and appreciation felt for them by believers far and wide.

One of Owens’s old friends from Dublin wrote that he would be missed by thousands of people across the world, a statement that captured the quiet but far-reaching influence of his life.

Character and Legacy

Richard W. Owens was not known for public prominence or literary output, but for something far rarer: consistent Christlike love lived out over a lifetime. He sought outlets for truth rather than limits, and believed deeply in welcoming all who belonged to Christ.

His legacy lives on in:

• Strengthened assemblies

• Encouraged believers

• Countless acts of unseen kindness

• A model of pastoral faithfulness and hospitality

Together with his devoted wife, he demonstrated that a life quietly spent in love, service, and faithfulness can leave a mark felt across generations and continents.