Rowland Hill: Theater Going Will Never Do
by Dan Graves
[Above: Rowland Hill from an engraving by S. Freeman in William Jones's Memoirs of the Life, Ministry and Writings of the Rev. Rowland Hill.]
In Christian History #152, Christianity and the Theater, we quoted several Christians who deplored the stage. Rowland Hill (1744–1833) could have been included among them. A successful Church of England evangelist of great diligence and power, and the pastor of Surrey Chapel, London (which was built for him), he had a strong aversion to attendance at plays. I was reading for another project and stumbled across the following anecdote which, in light of our recent issue, seemed too apt not to share.
A member of his congregation was in the habit of going to the theatre. Mr. Hill went to him and said, "This will never do—a member of my Church in the habit of attending the theater!"
Mr. So-and-So replied that it surely must be a mistake, as he was not in the habit of going there, although it was true he did go now and then for a treat.
"Oh!" said Rowland Hill, "then you are a worse hypocrite than ever, Sir. Suppose anyone spread the report that I ate carrion, and I answered, 'Well, there is no wrong in that; I don't eat carrion every day in the week, but I have a dish now and then for a treat!' Why, you would say, 'What a nasty, foul, and filthy appetite Rowland Hill has, to have to go to carrion for a treat.' Religion is the Christian's truest treat, Christ is his enjoyment."
In one of his sermons Hill raised the subject in similar terms: "What is to be done with those professors [i.e., persons who profess to be Christians] who are half for Baal and half for God? They know so much of religion that they are spoiled for the world; they do not go very often to the play house, only now and then as a rarity. God keep us from the devil's rarities!"