Anthony Norris Groves

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Anthony Norris Groves (1795–1853) was an English dentist who became a missionary and writer. He is often called the father of faith missions because he taught that missionaries should go where God calls them and trust Him to provide, rather than raise money beforehand. He started the first Protestant mission to Arabic-speaking Muslims, settled in Baghdad, and later worked in southern India. His ideas helped shape the Plymouth Brethren movement, influencing leaders like George Müller (his brother-in-law), John Nelson Darby, and Lord Congleton.

Groves wanted to return to the methods described in the New Testament. He believed churches should be formed by indigenous believers without dependence on foreign training, authorization, or funding. He also promoted simple, Bible-based church life—fellowship, breaking bread, and prayer in private homes without ordained ministers.

Early life and career:
- Born February 1, 1795, in Newton Valence, Hampshire, England. He was the only son in a family of six and grew up Anglican.
- Trained as a dentist in London and set up practice in Plymouth at age 19. He married his cousin Mary Bethia Thompson and later moved to Exeter.
- In 1826, he began studying theology at Trinity College Dublin with hopes of joining the Church of England, but felt the New Testament model should guide missionary work. A burglary the night before he was to travel convinced him not to go to Dublin, and he began meeting with other believers in private homes.

Mission work:
- In 1829 Groves and his wife set out for Baghdad with two young sons, joined by friends. A second group joined them in 1830.
- Baghdad faced civil war, plague, floods, and famine in 1831; Mary died in May and a newborn daughter died in August.
- With the new freedom to work in India, Groves visited Indian missions in 1833 and later returned to Britain. He remarried Harriet Baynes in 1835 and went back to India in 1836 with Harriet and others.
- In Madras, he built a missionary team, a farm, and a settlement in Chittoor. He recruited many to help, expanding work in areas like the Godavari Delta and Tamil Nadu.

Influence and ideas:
- Groves wrote Christian Devotedness (1825), urging Christians to live simply, trust God to supply needs, and devote wealth to the gospel. This influenced George Müller and other leaders.
- He promoted indigenous church leadership and open fellowship, arguing that ordination to preach was not required by the Bible.
- His approach to faith missions inspired later generations, including Indian leaders like John Arulappan and, in a broader sense, Watchman Nee in China.

Later life and death:
- Poor health forced him back to England in 1852. He died May 20, 1853, in Bristol and was buried in Arnos Vale Cemetery.
- Groves believed his life was a work in progress and didn’t live to see the full global impact of faith missions.

He left behind journals and letters that remain important sources for understanding the early Plymouth Brethren and the spread of faith-based missionary work.