Alfred Sturge

Alfred Sturge (5 May 1816 – 25 January 1901) was a Baptist missionary and minister who served in Devon, India and Kent.

Ancestry and early life Alfred Sturge was born to Jeanette née Emeric de St. Dalmas (b.1788 d.1874) and Nathan Sturge (b.1789 d.1864) at Bishopsgate in London on 5 May 1816.

He came from a family among the Society of Friends from the days of George Fox. His grandfather, Thomas Sturge, was one of the founders of the British and Foreign Bible Society. George Sturge, one of his uncles, left £500,000 to charity, and another uncle, Thomas Sturge, was an intimate friend of Lord Macaulay. Both were active in the movement for the abolition of slavery, as was his relative Joseph Sturge. On his mother’s side, he was descended from a noble French family, and Count Emerie de St. Dalmas was his maternal grandfather, whose eldest son converted to the Protestant Christian faith, and was consequently prevented by the law of those times from inheriting his father’s title and estates.

He was educated at a Quakers’ School, but found the long and sometimes silent meetings very trying, being only a small boy. The visit of some Quaker Missionaries from America seems to have been the chief factor in him committing his life to Christ. On leaving school, he sat under the ministry of Rev. George Clayton (b.1783 d.1862), and sometimes heard such men as John Leifchild (b.1780 d.1862), an independent minister, and Thomas Binney (b.1798 d.1874), a congregational minister. Subsequently, he moved to Plymouth, where he sat under the ministry of Samuel Nicholson of the George Street Baptist Church (1845–1941), which he joined when he was about twenty-five years old.

His disposition, reputation and influence recommended him to many in the community. He was a member, and for a long time chairman, of the School Board, a member of the Board of Guardians, a governor of the Grammar School,

Retirement In his retirement, he was a valued friend and adviser to all the neighboring churches and pastors, becoming known as the "Bishop of West Kent". He maintained his interest in national and denominational affairs, attending the regular meetings of the London Baptist ministers' fraternal. who fell asleep in JesusSeptember 21st 1882in his 21st year.'As in Adam all die, even so in Christshall all be made alive.' 1.Cor. XV.22.

Alsoin loving memory ofthe Revd ALFRED STURGE,for nearly 40 years a faithful minister ofJesus Christin this town,founder and first pastor of the Baptist church in Highfield RoadEntered into his rest Jan 25th 1901in his 85th year.'He was a good man, and full of the HolyGhost and of faith: and much people wasadded unto the Lord.' Acts.XI.24.

Also in loving memory ofMARGARET TAIT STURGEwife of the Rev ALFRED STURGE,a devoted wife & mother and an earnest Christian worker.Entered into her rest on March 29th 1913,in the 95th year of her age.