Manor Park Evangelical Church|Serving Christ and the Community in St. John's

It is hard to overestimate the contribution Michael Faraday made to modern life. His inventions lie behind the electrical motors found in everything from washing machines to toy cars, and behind the generators that produce electricity. His image was once to be found on the English twenty pound note.

A poor but happy childhood

"My worldly faculties are slipping away day by day. Happy it is for all of us that the true good does not lie in them. As they ebb, may they leave us as little children, trusting in the Father of mercies and accepting his unspeakable gift. I bow before him who is Lord of all."

Faraday was born in Newington, London, in 1791, in an overcrowded house. He did not get much schooling but spent much of his childhood playing out in the streets. His family was poor; there was a time when supplies were rationed down to one loaf of bread per week per person. But in spite of these hardships Faraday had a happy childhood. His parents were Christians who belonged to a group who met each Sunday in a small building in St. Paul's Alley.

When Faraday was 14 he began an apprenticeship as a bookbinder, where his interest in science began. He would read the books that came in for repair. He read a book on chemistry and the science stories found in Encyclopaedia Britannica.

His brothers and sisters marvelled at the new-found interest of their brother who was now so interested in reading, scientific experiments and hearing lectures!

Eventually Faraday joined a scientific society and began to give lectures himself. He would later turn into the greatest science lecturer of his age. He established the Royal Institute Christmas Lectures for children which continue to this day. One day he wrote to Sir Humphrey Davy for a job and soon he was working for this famous scientist.

The year 1821, when Michael was thirty years old, turned out to be a significant year in Faraday's life. He was promoted to Superintendent of the Royal Institution and married Sarah Barnard, a Christian. This marriage turned out to be a very happy one, in spite of the fame attached to the couple. In that same year he also discovered electromagnetic rotation, the principle behind the electric motor.

Faraday becomes a Christian

But there was something even more important about 1821 - Michael publicly acknowledged that he had become a Christian.

Even though his parents were believers, Michael was not yet a Christian. One thing that made him think about his own spiritual condition was watching someone who said he was a believer but whose life did not stand up to the claim under scrutiny.

Michael realised that only God could change the human heart. In 1821 he told his congregation how he had been to church since he was a boy, but it wasn't until now that he could say that he knew Christ as his Saviour.

More advances - and fame

Faraday went on to make many discoveries in the years to come. He was recognised as the leading man of science. He declined opportunities to acquire wealth that were available to him. People invited Faraday to their parties but he would rather spend his time with his family and among his Christian friends in his local church where he often preached. He would mark the places he loved in the Bible by underlining them - the more precious they were to him, the more he underlined them!

As his life drew to an end he wrote these words:

"My worldly faculties are slipping away day by day. Happy it is for all of us that the true good does not lie in them. As they ebb, may they leave us as little children, trusting in the Father of mercies and accepting his unspeakable gift. I bow before him who is Lord of all."

He died in 1867, a famous scientist, but more importantly to him, he died a true Christian man.

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