Nelson, Warren. T. C. Hammond, His Life and Legacy 
in Ireland and Australia. Edinburgh: The Banner of Truth Trust, 1994.
171 pages.
This book is the biography of T. C. Hammond, Irish street evangelist and pastor, and later President of Moore College in Sydney. I chose to read this book because it captures an important piece of Australian church history. Sydney Anglicanism is internationally known as a stronghold of conservative Evangelical Christianity, and T. C. Hammond is a significant part of the story of how that came to be. Hammond was a contemporary of Archbishop Mowll and a theologian/apologist. Hammond was also a significant author. I’ve perused his In Understanding Be Men which was extremely influential in Australian theological training, not to mention around the world. I also recently read his Perfect Freedom which is an introduction to ethics and a gospel-rooted, theologically sound, and intellectually substantive work.
The ups
First, this is the only biography of Hammond of which I’m aware. Warren Nelson has done the Australian church a great service in writing it. It is well-written and properly researched.
Second, this book provides invaluable historical data on Australian religious history during the first half of the 20th century. Hammond’s interaction with or relationship to many other notable figures is included as well as his relationship to noted world events in this period.
The downs
This book gives an undue emphasis, in my view, to Irish religious history and politics. Without wishing to begrudge historical data of Hammond’s other home, much space is devoted to Irish history in areas that are seemingly unrelated to Hammond’s life and ministry.
Conclusion
I heartily recommend this biography to anyone with an interest in Australian or Irish religious history. Nelson’s account of Hammond’s life will, I believe, build you up and draw you to Christ.
Grace to you.
