"Then will I tell to sinners round
What a dear Saviour I have found
I'll point to the atoning blood
And say, Behold the way to God."

It was here at Bedminster that Doudney was to commence the larger part of his writing ministry. As a result of his parochial visitations he felt the need of good simple literature to give to his parishioners. From his pen came a wonderful little book, Walks and Talks with Jesus. First published in 1875 or 1876, it went through many editions.

The book which is considered to be the classic on conversion is Alliene's Alarm to the Unconverted or A sure Guide to Heaven. It was first published in 1671. Ian Murray in his introduction to the Banner of Truth Trust edition to that book quotes Dr Calamy who wrote in 1702 saying "Multitudes will have cause for ever to be thankful for it. ... there have been twenty thousand sold under the title of 'the Call' or 'Alarm', and fifty thousand of the same under the title of the 'Sure Guide to Heaven." That is a total of 70,000 copies in 31 years.

Compare that with Doudney's little book. Between 1875 and 1893, the year of the author's death, that is 18 years, some 209,000 copies of Walks and Talks with Jesus had been printed and distributed. This book was followed up with other parochial visitation books, Mornings with Jesus; Evenings with Jesus, Conversations by the Way, Sympathy, For Ever with Jesus &c. Here was a man desirous of wining the lost for his Lord, and used all the means at his disposal.

He retired from pastoral ministry in 1890, when he was 79 years old. The reason he gave was that he was getting rather deaf and could therefore no longer undertake visitation. He retired to Southsea and died on the 21st April, 1893 whilst he was still undertaking his written ministry through the pages of the Gospel Magazine. One who was by his side when he died wrote:
"His great wish was that he might testify to the last of the loving-kindness and tender mercy of his covenant God. He especially desired that the readers of the Gospel Magazine might be told that the Lord had manifested himself in such an especial manner, and so sweetly filled him with his own presence, peace and love, that from the first moment of his illness he had not the least dread of death; he feared it no more than putting on his night things. He also many times wished them particularly to note Zechariah 3:1-5 (A brand plucked from the fire).

"He said, 'I love to have my dear Lord with me here, but I long more to go to him up there. I put no trust for salvation in anything I have done in my humble way, or that I can do; it is all of God's free and sovereign grace..'
"Pointing to his venerable mother's portrait, he often said, 'Her words were, "It is a warfare, but God has promised complete victory through the blood of the Lamb."

On Sunday, April 2nd, he had the following verse written out:

"Jesus can make a dying bed
Feel soft as downy pillows are;
While on his breast I lean my head,
And breathe my life out sweetly there."

He dated it himself, and signed it as his dying experience. He kept praying to be taken, 'Do, dear Lord, take me;' but said he would on no account dictate to the Lord. Whenever he awoke, he was much disappointed to find himself still in the body. With what joy he spoke of going home! home to him! His countenance and voice quite changed when he uttered those words."
The funeral service was conducted by Rev J C Martin at St Silas Church, Southsea and he was buried in Southsea Cemetery. It would appear that the tomb stone was removed some years ago, probably because it was in a dangerous state of repair. A picture of the tombstone appears as the frontis piece to the December 1895 issue of the Gospel Magazine. The stone read:

"In ever-loving memory of the Rev. David Alfred Doudney, D.D., formerly Vicar of St. Luke's, Bedminster, Bristol, and for fifty-three years the beloved Editor of the Gospel Magazine. He died at Southsea, April 21st, 1893, aged 82. Amongst his last words were these: 'I shall be satisfied - satisfied - when I awake after thy likeness.' This monument is erected by some of his friends and readers.Also in memory of Eliza, his second wife, who died in 1868, aged 57."