Frederick E. Raven (1837–1903)

In 1865, at the age of 28, Mr Frederick Edward Raven (F.E.R.) left the Church of England and came into fellowship with the Plymouth Brethren.

F.E.R. ministered extensively amongst the Brethren in the British Isles. He visited assemblies in France and Germany and sailed to North America twice. He stood faithfully by the truth of Scripture, as taught by Mr J.N. Darby.

Those who knew and loved F.E.R. described him as ‘a man of sterling fairness’ and that the impression you had in his company was that, for him, ‘it was the next world that mattered.’

F.E.R. was born on 9 September 1837 in Islington, North London, the third child in a family of four. He was baptised in the nearby Church of St Mary.

From the age of 13, F.E.R. was educated at a private school, where he studied Greek, Latin, English, Mathematics and Geography. He started his working life as a temporary clerk at the Admiralty in 1856 and 1857 and passed the advanced examinations with honours to become a Grade 3 Clerk.

In 1873, F.E.R. (36) married Miss Kate Wallis Glenny (22). In the year of their marriage they moved to Greenwich for Mr Raven to take up a Royal Naval College official appointment as Senior Clerk and Secretary. He reported to the Admiral President of the College.

Britain was at the height of its naval power and F.E.R. had to do with the education of young naval cadets, sub-Lieutenants, Naval Architects, Marine Engineers, and the examination of the Navy’s Captains, Commanders and Lieutenants. His duties included writing letters to be signed by the Admirals and collating reports from the Commanders and Captains for presentation to the Lords of the Admiralty.

Mr and Mrs Raven had nine children who followed their own careers.

After retiring from the Naval College in 1897, F.E.R. and his family moved to a house at the bottom of Crooms Hill, Greenwich.

F.E.R. made two visits to North America, in 1898 and 1902, teaching and preaching in many places including Montreal, Toronto, Rochester, Minneapolis, Chicago, Indianapolis, Baltimore, Plainfield, Boston, Knoxville and New York.

On his return to England after the 1902 visit to America he was noticeably unwell. His health deteriorated very rapidly and he endured much discomfort and suffering.

F.E.R. died on Lord’s Day, 16 August, 1903, aged 66 years, and was buried in Nunhead cemetery in London.