Charles Wellbeloved
Encyclopedia
Charles Wellbeloved was a unitarian divine and archaeologist.
, on 6 April 1769, and baptised on 25 April at St. Giles-in-the-Fields. Owing to domestic unhappiness he was brought up from the age of four by his grandfather, Charles Wellbeloved (1713–1782), a country gentleman at Mortlake
, Surrey, an Anglican, and the friend and follower of John Wesley
. He got the best part of his early education from a clergyman (Delafosse) at Richmond. In 1783 he was placed with a firm of drapers on Holborn Hill, but only learned "how to tie up a parcel".
In 1785 he became a student at Homerton Academy under Benjamin Davies. Among his fellow-students were William Field and David Jones (1765–1816). Jones was expelled for heresy in 1786; his opinions had influenced Wellbeloved, who was allowed to finish the session of 1787, but not to return. In September 1787 he followed Jones to New College, Hackney, under Abraham Rees
, the cyclopædist, and Andrew Kippis
, and subsequently (1789) under Thomas Belsham
and (1790) Gilbert Wakefield
. Here he formed a close friendship with Arthur Aikin
, who entered in 1789. He attended the ministry of Richard Price
(1723–1791). His first sermon was preached at Walthamstow
on 13 Nov. 1791. Shortly afterwards he received through Michael Maurice, father of [John] Frederick Denison Maurice, an invitation to become assistant to Newcome Cappe
at St Saviourgate Chapel
, York
. He accepted on 23 Jan. 1792, and began his duties at York on 5 Feb. In 1801 he became sole minister on Cappe's death.
He at once began a Sunday school and a system of catechetical classes. In 1794 he began to take pupils. He was invited in November 1797 (after Belsham had declined) to succeed Thomas Barnes
(1747–1810) as divinity tutor in the Manchester academy. Barnes, an evangelical Arian, gave him no encouragement, but he did not reject the offer till February 1798; it was accepted soon after by George Walker
. On Walker's resignation the trustees proposed (25 March 1803) to remove the institution to York if Wellbeloved would become its director. He agreed (11 April), and from September 1803 to June 1840 the institution was known as Manchester College, York, which eventually became Harris Manchester College, Oxford
. Its management was retained by a committee, meeting ordinarily in Manchester. For thirty-seven years Wellbeloved discharged the duties of the divinity chair in a spirit described by Dr. Martineau, his pupil, as "candid and catholic, simple and thorough". He followed the method which Richard Watson
(1737–1816) had introduced at Cambridge, discarding systematic theology and substituting biblical exegesis.
He married, 1 July 1793, at St. Mary's, Stoke Newington
, Ann (d. 31 January 1823), eldest daughter of John Kinder, and was survived by a son and two daughters. His youngest son, Robert Wellbeloved (b. 15 July 1803, d. 21 Feb. 1856), married heiress Sarah Scott on 17 Feb. 1830 and assumed the name and arms of Scott on her father's death in 1832. Robert was a deputy-lieutenant for Worcestershire
and M.P. for Walsall
(1841–46). His youngest daughter, Emma (d. 29 July 1842), married (1831) Sir James Carter, chief justice of New Brunswick.
Presentations of plate (1840) and of 1,000l. (1843) were made to him on resigning his divinity chair. He retained till death his connection with his chapel, officiating occasionally till 1853, having as assistants John Wright (1845–46) and Henry Vaughan Palmer (1846–58). He died at his residence, Monkgate, York, on 29 Aug. 1858, and was buried (3 September) in the graveyard of St. Saviourgate Chapel; a memorial tablet is in the chapel. His portrait, painted in 1826 by James Lonsdale, it has been engraved by Samuel Cousins
.
, but his careful avoidance of dogmatism left his pupils free, and none of them followed him into ‘Cappism.’ Among his coadjutors were Theophilus Browne
, William Turner
and William Hincks. From 1810 he had the invaluable co-operation of John Kenrick, who married his elder daughter Lætitia.
Proposals for editing a family bible were made to Wellbeloved (14 March 1814) by David Eaton (1771–1829), then a bookseller in Holborn in succession to William Vidler
. The prospectus (May 1814) announced a revised translation with commentary. Between 1819 and 1838 nine parts were issued in large quarto, containing the Pentateuch, Job, Psalms, Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, and Canticles. The text was reprinted, with Wellbeloved's revised version of Joshua, Judges, Ruth, and the Minor Prophets, in ‘The Holy Scriptures of the Old Covenant,’ 1859–62, 3 vols. 8vo. In 1823 he took up a controversy, begun by Thomas Thrush (1761–1843), with Francis Wrangham Sydney Smith
wrote: "If I had a cause to gain I would fee Mr. Wellbeloved to plead for me, and double fee Mr. Wrangham to plead against me." As a sub-trustee of the Sarah Hewley Trust he was involved in the suit (1830–42) which removed unitarians from its management and benefits.
He was one of the founders of the York Subscription Library (1794), the Yorkshire Philosophical Society
(1822), and the York Institute (1827), and devoted much time to the archaeology of York
. After the fire of 2 February 1829 he took a leading part in raising funds for the restoration of the minster, and in opposing the removal of the choir-screen. The description of the minster in Lewis's Topographical Dictionary, the article 'York' in the Penny Cyclopædia, and a Guide (1804) to York Minster are from his pen. His Eburacum, or York under the Romans (York, 1842, 8vo), gives the substance of his previous papers and lectures on the subject.
Besides the works mentioned above, and single sermons and pamphlets, he published:
He contributed to the Yorkshire Repository, 1794, 12mo; the Annual Review, 1802–8; and the Proceedings of the Yorkshire Philosophical Society, 1855, vol. i.
Life
Charles Wellbeloved, only child of John Wellbeloved (1742–1787), by his wife Elizabeth (Plaw), was born in Denmark Street, St Giles, LondonSt Giles, London
St Giles is a district of London, England. It is the location of the church of St Giles in the Fields, the Phoenix Garden and St Giles Circus. It is located at the southern tip of the London Borough of Camden and is part of the Midtown business improvement district.The combined parishes of St...
, on 6 April 1769, and baptised on 25 April at St. Giles-in-the-Fields. Owing to domestic unhappiness he was brought up from the age of four by his grandfather, Charles Wellbeloved (1713–1782), a country gentleman at Mortlake
Mortlake
Mortlake is a district of London, England and part of the London Borough of Richmond upon Thames. It is on the south bank of the River Thames between Kew and Barnes with East Sheen inland to the south. Mortlake was part of Surrey until 1965.-History:...
, Surrey, an Anglican, and the friend and follower of John Wesley
John Wesley
John Wesley was a Church of England cleric and Christian theologian. Wesley is largely credited, along with his brother Charles Wesley, as founding the Methodist movement which began when he took to open-air preaching in a similar manner to George Whitefield...
. He got the best part of his early education from a clergyman (Delafosse) at Richmond. In 1783 he was placed with a firm of drapers on Holborn Hill, but only learned "how to tie up a parcel".
In 1785 he became a student at Homerton Academy under Benjamin Davies. Among his fellow-students were William Field and David Jones (1765–1816). Jones was expelled for heresy in 1786; his opinions had influenced Wellbeloved, who was allowed to finish the session of 1787, but not to return. In September 1787 he followed Jones to New College, Hackney, under Abraham Rees
Abraham Rees
Abraham Rees was a Welsh nonconformist minister, and compiler of Rees's Cyclopaedia .- Life :He was the second son of Lewis Rees, by his wife Esther, daughter of Abraham Penry, and was born at born in Llanbrynmair, Montgomeryshire. Lewis Rees Abraham Rees (1743 – 9 June 1825) was a Welsh...
, the cyclopædist, and Andrew Kippis
Andrew Kippis
Andrew Kippis was an English nonconformist clergyman and biographer.The son of Robert Kippis, a silk-hosier, he was born at Nottingham. Having gone to school at Sleaford in Lincolnshire he passed at the age of sixteen to the Dissenting academy at Northampton, of which Dr Philip Doddridge was then...
, and subsequently (1789) under Thomas Belsham
Thomas Belsham
Thomas Belsham was an English Unitarian minister- Life :Belsham was born in Bedford, England, and was the elder brother of William Belsham, the English political writer and historian. He was educated at the dissenting academy at Daventry, where for seven years he acted as assistant tutor...
and (1790) Gilbert Wakefield
Gilbert Wakefield
Gilbert Wakefield was an English scholar and controversialist.Gilbert Wakefield was the third son of the Rev. George Wakefield, then rector of St Nicholas' Church, Nottingham but afterwards at Kingston-upon-Thames. He was educated at Jesus College, Cambridge, where he graduated B.A. as second...
. Here he formed a close friendship with Arthur Aikin
Arthur Aikin
Arthur Aikin , English chemist, mineralogist and scientific writer, was born in Warrington, Lancashire into a distinguished literary family of prominent Unitarians....
, who entered in 1789. He attended the ministry of Richard Price
Richard Price
Richard Price was a British moral philosopher and preacher in the tradition of English Dissenters, and a political pamphleteer, active in radical, republican, and liberal causes such as the American Revolution. He fostered connections between a large number of people, including writers of the...
(1723–1791). His first sermon was preached at Walthamstow
Walthamstow
Walthamstow is a district of northeast London, England, located in the London Borough of Waltham Forest. It is situated north-east of Charing Cross...
on 13 Nov. 1791. Shortly afterwards he received through Michael Maurice, father of [John] Frederick Denison Maurice, an invitation to become assistant to Newcome Cappe
Newcome Cappe
Newcome Cappe , was an English unitarian divine.-Life:Cappe was the eldest son of the Rev. Joseph Cappe, minister of the nonconformist congregation at Millhill Chapel, Leeds, who married the daughter and coheiress of Mr. Newcome of Waddington, Lincolnshire, and was born at Leeds 21 February 1733....
at St Saviourgate Chapel
York Unitarian Chapel
York Unitarian Chapel is a building on St. Saviourgate, York, England. It is a member of the General Assembly of Unitarian and Free Christian Churches, the umbrella organisation for British Unitarians....
, York
York
York is a walled city, situated at the confluence of the Rivers Ouse and Foss in North Yorkshire, England. The city has a rich heritage and has provided the backdrop to major political events throughout much of its two millennia of existence...
. He accepted on 23 Jan. 1792, and began his duties at York on 5 Feb. In 1801 he became sole minister on Cappe's death.
He at once began a Sunday school and a system of catechetical classes. In 1794 he began to take pupils. He was invited in November 1797 (after Belsham had declined) to succeed Thomas Barnes
Thomas Barnes
Thomas Barnes may refer to:*Thomas Barnes , British journalist and former editor of The Times*Thomas Barnes , MP for Bolton*Tom Barnes , journalist from Pennsylvania...
(1747–1810) as divinity tutor in the Manchester academy. Barnes, an evangelical Arian, gave him no encouragement, but he did not reject the offer till February 1798; it was accepted soon after by George Walker
George Walker (Presbyterian)
George Walker was a versatile English dissenter, known as a mathematician, theologian, Fellow of the Royal Society, and activist.-Life:...
. On Walker's resignation the trustees proposed (25 March 1803) to remove the institution to York if Wellbeloved would become its director. He agreed (11 April), and from September 1803 to June 1840 the institution was known as Manchester College, York, which eventually became Harris Manchester College, Oxford
Harris Manchester College, Oxford
Harris Manchester College is one of the constituent colleges of the University of Oxford in the United Kingdom. Formerly known as Manchester College, it is listed in the University Statutes as Manchester Academy and Harris College, and at University ceremonies it is called Collegium de Harris et...
. Its management was retained by a committee, meeting ordinarily in Manchester. For thirty-seven years Wellbeloved discharged the duties of the divinity chair in a spirit described by Dr. Martineau, his pupil, as "candid and catholic, simple and thorough". He followed the method which Richard Watson
Richard Watson (bishop)
Rt Rev Richard Watson was an Anglican clergyman and academic, who served as the Bishop of Llandaff from 1782 to 1816. He wrote some notable political pamphlets....
(1737–1816) had introduced at Cambridge, discarding systematic theology and substituting biblical exegesis.
He married, 1 July 1793, at St. Mary's, Stoke Newington
Stoke Newington
Stoke Newington is a district in the London Borough of Hackney. It is north-east of Charing Cross.-Boundaries:In modern terms, Stoke Newington can be roughly defined by the N16 postcode area . Its southern boundary with Dalston is quite ill-defined too...
, Ann (d. 31 January 1823), eldest daughter of John Kinder, and was survived by a son and two daughters. His youngest son, Robert Wellbeloved (b. 15 July 1803, d. 21 Feb. 1856), married heiress Sarah Scott on 17 Feb. 1830 and assumed the name and arms of Scott on her father's death in 1832. Robert was a deputy-lieutenant for Worcestershire
Worcestershire
Worcestershire is a non-metropolitan county, established in antiquity, located in the West Midlands region of England. For Eurostat purposes it is a NUTS 3 region and is one of three counties that comprise the "Herefordshire, Worcestershire and Warwickshire" NUTS 2 region...
and M.P. for Walsall
Walsall
Walsall is a large industrial town in the West Midlands of England. It is located northwest of Birmingham and east of Wolverhampton. Historically a part of Staffordshire, Walsall is a component area of the West Midlands conurbation and part of the Black Country.Walsall is the administrative...
(1841–46). His youngest daughter, Emma (d. 29 July 1842), married (1831) Sir James Carter, chief justice of New Brunswick.
Presentations of plate (1840) and of 1,000l. (1843) were made to him on resigning his divinity chair. He retained till death his connection with his chapel, officiating occasionally till 1853, having as assistants John Wright (1845–46) and Henry Vaughan Palmer (1846–58). He died at his residence, Monkgate, York, on 29 Aug. 1858, and was buried (3 September) in the graveyard of St. Saviourgate Chapel; a memorial tablet is in the chapel. His portrait, painted in 1826 by James Lonsdale, it has been engraved by Samuel Cousins
Samuel Cousins
Samuel Cousins was an English mezzotint engraver, born at Exeter.He was preeminently the interpreter of Sir Thomas Lawrence, his contemporary. During his apprenticeship to S. W. Reynolds he engraved many of the best amongst the three hundred and sixty little mezzotints illustrating the works of...
.
Works
The chief feature of his exegetical work was his treatment of prophecy, limiting the range of its prediction, confining that of Hebrew prophecy to the age of its production, and bounding our Lord's predictions by the destruction of Jerusalem. He broke with the Priestley school, rejecting a general resurrection and fixing the last judgment at death. In these and other points he closely followed the system of Newcome CappeNewcome Cappe
Newcome Cappe , was an English unitarian divine.-Life:Cappe was the eldest son of the Rev. Joseph Cappe, minister of the nonconformist congregation at Millhill Chapel, Leeds, who married the daughter and coheiress of Mr. Newcome of Waddington, Lincolnshire, and was born at Leeds 21 February 1733....
, but his careful avoidance of dogmatism left his pupils free, and none of them followed him into ‘Cappism.’ Among his coadjutors were Theophilus Browne
Theophilus Browne
Theophilus Browne was a Unitarian clergyman who was born in 1763 in Derby, England. He had a varied career, with a congregation once paying him to leave a chapel. He also proposed that church funds could be improved using state lotteries....
, William Turner
William Turner (biographer)
William Turner was an English Unitarian minister, known as a biographer.-Life:The son of William Turner, he was born at Newcastle on 13 January 1788. He was educated at Glasgow University, where he graduated M.A. in 1806, at Manchester College , and at Edinburgh University...
and William Hincks. From 1810 he had the invaluable co-operation of John Kenrick, who married his elder daughter Lætitia.
Proposals for editing a family bible were made to Wellbeloved (14 March 1814) by David Eaton (1771–1829), then a bookseller in Holborn in succession to William Vidler
William Vidler
William Vidler was an English nonconformist minister and editor, ultimately of universalist views.-Life:The tenth child of John and Elizabeth Vidler, he was born at Battle, Sussex, on 4 May 1758. As a boy he was kept from school by poor health, and was apprenticed to his father, a bricklayer...
. The prospectus (May 1814) announced a revised translation with commentary. Between 1819 and 1838 nine parts were issued in large quarto, containing the Pentateuch, Job, Psalms, Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, and Canticles. The text was reprinted, with Wellbeloved's revised version of Joshua, Judges, Ruth, and the Minor Prophets, in ‘The Holy Scriptures of the Old Covenant,’ 1859–62, 3 vols. 8vo. In 1823 he took up a controversy, begun by Thomas Thrush (1761–1843), with Francis Wrangham Sydney Smith
Sydney Smith
Sydney Smith was an English writer and Anglican cleric. -Life:Born in Woodford, Essex, England, Smith was the son of merchant Robert Smith and Maria Olier , who suffered from epilepsy...
wrote: "If I had a cause to gain I would fee Mr. Wellbeloved to plead for me, and double fee Mr. Wrangham to plead against me." As a sub-trustee of the Sarah Hewley Trust he was involved in the suit (1830–42) which removed unitarians from its management and benefits.
He was one of the founders of the York Subscription Library (1794), the Yorkshire Philosophical Society
Yorkshire Philosophical Society
The Yorkshire Philosophical Society is a charitable learned society aimed at promoting the natural sciences, archaeology and history. The society was formed in York in December 1822 by James Atkinson, William Salmond, Anthony Thorpe and William Vernon....
(1822), and the York Institute (1827), and devoted much time to the archaeology of York
York
York is a walled city, situated at the confluence of the Rivers Ouse and Foss in North Yorkshire, England. The city has a rich heritage and has provided the backdrop to major political events throughout much of its two millennia of existence...
. After the fire of 2 February 1829 he took a leading part in raising funds for the restoration of the minster, and in opposing the removal of the choir-screen. The description of the minster in Lewis's Topographical Dictionary, the article 'York' in the Penny Cyclopædia, and a Guide (1804) to York Minster are from his pen. His Eburacum, or York under the Romans (York, 1842, 8vo), gives the substance of his previous papers and lectures on the subject.
Besides the works mentioned above, and single sermons and pamphlets, he published:
- Devotional Exercises, 1801, 12mo; 8th edit. 1832.
- Memoirs of … Rev. W[illiam] Wood, 1809, 8vo. Regarding the botanist, minister William WoodWilliam Wood (botanist)William Wood was an English Unitarian minister and botanist who was involved in efforts to remedy the political and educational disabilities of Nonconformists under the Test Acts.-Life:...
- Three Letters … to Francis Wrangham, 1823, 8vo; 2nd edit. same year.
- Three Additional Letters, 1824, 8vo.
- Memoir’ prefixed to ‘Sermons, 1826, 8vo, by Thomas Watson.
- Account of … the Abbey of St. Mary, York, in Vetusta MonumentaVetusta MonumentaVetusta Monumenta is the title of a published series of illustrated antiquarian papers on ancient buildings, sites, and artefacts, mostly those of Britain, published at irregular intervals between 1718 and 1906 by the Society of Antiquaries of London...
, 1829, vol. v. fol. - Memoir of Thomas Thrush, 1845, 8vo.
- Descriptive Account of the Antiquities in the Museum of the Yorkshire Philosophical Society, 1852, 8vo; 3rd edit. 1858.
He contributed to the Yorkshire Repository, 1794, 12mo; the Annual Review, 1802–8; and the Proceedings of the Yorkshire Philosophical Society, 1855, vol. i.