As Cadbury’s chocolate marks 200 years, do you know its Christian origins?

Cadbury is synonymous with chocolate and has been a household name for many years. The firm is celebrating its 200 years this year.

In 1824 John Cadbury opened his grocery shop in Birmingham, which sold tea, coffee and cocoa. The Cadbury business went into decline following the death of his wife, and then two of his sons, Richard and George, took over the firm. The Cadbury brothers struggled to make a profit for the first few years. Each brother contemplated career moves but eventually, with the successful developments surrounding chocolate manufacturing, the business flourished.

The Cadburys were Quakers and their Quaker principles impacted the way the workers were treated and various initiatives were created for their welfare. The development of the Bournville village for its workers was one such example. Each workday in the factory started with prayers and Bible reading. One of Richard’s great interests was the establishment of an Institute for Adult Education for the provision of education and Sunday School. Sunday School meant, in its truest sense, education on a Sunday when the workers weren’t employed, using the means of teaching and reading of the Bible.

For Richard Cadbury (1835–1899), his philanthropic work was an outworking of his Christian beliefs. At a young age he was converted. His daughter Helen, in her biography of her father, recounts his conversion experience: ‘In a home so full of beautiful Christian influences, it was natural that Richard’s mind should turn with simple directness to the things of God, for as soon as he was old enough to understand anything he had been told of the love of Jesus. His little heart was very tender, and one day, when he was about five years old, he ran to his own small bedroom, and kneeling down, asked the Lord to forgive him and be his own Saviour.’

Although Richard was referred to as the ‘Prince of Philanthropists’, this work was the fruit of his inward spiritual life and trust in Christ. His family recognised that his useful life was a result of his abiding in Jesus Christ and his devotion to God and the Scriptures. He knew the importance of the Bible and he was keen to ensure that all the schoolchildren in the district should have one. Having raised funds for this endeavour, inside each Bible when it was presented was a slip which stated:

I present you with a copy of the Holy Scriptures, in the hope that you will read a few verses every day. May the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ and the love of God and the communion of the Holy Ghost be with you all!

Your friend,

Richard Cadbury’

Jesus said, ‘I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me’ (John xiv. 6). ‘Search the Scriptures; for they are they which testify of me’ [sic].

Although Richard, along with his younger brother George, had a hard time in establishing the success of the business, they also experienced personal hardships. Richard’s first wife died soon after the birth of their fourth child, and he was left with four young children and a business to run. Richard was able to remarry and have four more children. George also experienced the loss of his first wife with a young family left behind. There was further sadness with the loss of the other Cadbury brothers.

Richard’s daughter Helen knew first-hand his faith in action at home. She wrote: ‘Richard Cadbury’s home life preached silent but enduring sermons to many who entered it. Simplicity, but genuine hospitality, unselfishness and forbearance, earnest ambitions for the good of the world and the glory of God, marked that happy Christian household.’

After Helen’s conversion as a schoolgirl, Richard encouraged her to share the gospel with her fellow students by using the Bible. She established the Pocket Testament League (PTL) at her school, and formed the three foundations of the PTL –‘read, carry and share’ (read the Bible daily, always carry part of the Scriptures with you, and be ready to share the gospel). Richard pledged, at his own cost, to give a New Testament to any of Helen’s fellow students who enlisted as a member of the PTL.

Richard loved family holidays, and he organised a special family expedition to the Middle East to experience the Bible lands first-hand. Whilst there, he fell ill and unexpectedly died of diphtheria. Richard’s body was brought back and buried at Lodge Hill Cemetery in Birmingham. At the funeral, George Cadbury said: ‘Thanks be to God, who giveth us the victory through Jesus Christ our Lord. … Some of us have been helped by the life and faith of our departed brother; some of us have been helped by his words; some of us by his prayers, when he seemed to come into such close union with his God and Father. We are suffering from his loss, but we can rejoice for him … The secret of his fruitful life was his abiding in Jesus Christ …’.

Richard Cadbury has left us with a hymn, which he wrote in 1876. The hymn reflects the centrality of Christ.

Christ is thy light,
O wand’rer, tempest tossed!
The beacon light is pointing to thy rest;
Dark is the night,
And rocky is the coast,
But sure it shines above the billow’s crest;
Christ is thy light!

Christ is thy strength,
O faint and weary soul!
Thy strife is vain; embrace without delay
The grace that pleads
With thee to make thee whole;
Who by His blood has washed thy sins away;
Christ is thy strength!

Christ is thy guide,
O pilgrim seek thy rest!
He gently bids thee open wide the door
For Him to enter
In and be thy guest;
O trust and follow Him forevermore;
Christ is thy guide!

Christ is thy hope!
O cling to self no more,
No more to hopes which flatter and decay,
But to the Rock
That stands the tempest’s roar,
On which thy trembling ark will find a stay;
Christ is thy hope!

Christ is thy king!
He wore the crown for thee,
A crown of thorns, a diadem so meet;
But bow before
His love that made thee free,
And humbly cast thy crown before His feet;
Christ is thy King!’

The next time you see a Cadbury’s chocolate bar, maybe you’ll reflect on the Saviour whom Richard Cadbury knew and loved.