THE REVEREND NOEL BROOKS (1914-2006)
A Life Shining and Burning
Noel Brooks was born in 1914 in the often harsh coal country of northwestern Yorkshire and Lancashire, England, to Absalom Brooks. Noel’s grandfather, according to writings by Noel, had been an alcoholic until God stepped in to miraculously transform his life and forever changed the destinies of his four sons: Edward, Solomon, Absalom, and Will Brooks.
The home of Absalom Brooks was said to have been the epitome of the phrase “Holiness Unto the Lord” (Out of a Horrible Pit, pg. 56). Although Noel worked in the same coal mines his father, uncles, and grandfather had labored in, he was being pulled to study and prepare himself for ministry. At the age of 20 years he entered into the ministry (ibid, cover).
Noel Brooks joined with the English Pentecostal Holiness Church in 1954. He served as pastor of the Pentecostal Holiness Church in Bristol, then later served as director of evangelism of the English PHC, and then served as General Superintendent of the British Conference. He served as College President of the Christian View Bible College in Eastern Canada (founded September 7, 1971).
He founded the British Bible College which was located in the city of Bristol. Many noteworthy titled from their library collection now reside in the Noel Brooks Reading Room in the SCU Library.
A graduate of London University with a Bachelor of Divinity, he was later awarded an honorary doctorate from Holmes Theological Seminary in Greenville, South Carolina.
During his long career he taught on the faculty of several institutions around the globe and served as guest speaker and lecturer in countless churches in England, North America, and Africa. In the mid 1970’s he taught Bible and Theology on the campus of Southwestern, then known as Oklahoma City Southwestern College.
He was noted for his “keen analytical insights” over the years and authored several books, some of which are considered to be classic treatments of the subject of holiness. In addition, he authored a long series of lessons for adults published in the Pentecostal Holiness Advocate. Many of his titles are located in the SCU Library’s Pentecostal Research Collection (PRC) or in the Noel Brooks Collection or in the IPHC Archives.
In his family memoir he noted that many books tell the story of the lives of great and influential men and women. His “little book”, as he called it, told the story of ordinary people who “shined and burned” in their efforts for God. He recalled the words of his uncle Edward Brooks:
“Do the best you can, be the best you are,Shine like a glow worm if you cannot be a star.”
Noel Brooks throughout his long career as a scholar and a devoted man of God has called people to remember the way of the Lord, to strive for holiness, and “to shine and burn” for the cause of Christ.
Major Works by Noel Brooks:
Pardon, Purity and Power: The Threefold Ministry of the Holy Spirit (1959).
Scriptural Holiness (1967).
Sickness, Health, and God (n.d.)
Studies in Christian Doctrine (n.d.)
Out of a Horrible Pit: A family memoir (1976).
Let there be life (1975).
The Biblical Basics of missions (1976).
Ephesians outlined and unfolded (1984).
Fingertip Holiness (studies in practical holiness) (1988).
[see updated listing for further titles]
---Compiled by M.A. Hudson, Director of Library Services, SCU
[Additional biographical information or corrections are welcome]
While serving as both a conference superintendent and pastor of the Pentecostal Holiness Church in Bristol, Brooks was involved with the establishment of a Bible College. In early 1960, the British Bible College was located in the city of Bristol.[1] A ‘prospectus’ for the college located the school at 24 Sydenham Road, Cotham, Bristol. The board of education consisted of Noel Brooks, William Sherrard, R.J. Shackford, Charles Hopla, and Howard Wallis. The faculty was Noel Brooks, Lawrence J. Harding, and Ian Davis. Nora Brooks and Iris Harding rounded out the personnel as matron and secretary respectively.[2] 
