John Scott Lidgett
Encyclopedia
The Reverend John Scott Lidgett, CH (Lewisham
, 10 August 1854 – Epsom
, 16 June 1953) was a British
Wesleyan Methodist
minister
and educationist. He achieved prominence both as a theologian
and reformer within British Methodism, stressing the importance of the church's engagement with the whole of society and human culture, and as an effective advocate for education within London
.
in 1874 and his MA in 1875; he was awarded a DD
by the University of Aberdeen
on the strength of a book published in 1902, The fatherhood of God. In later life, he was closely involved with the University of London
, serving on its Senate
from 1922 until he retired in 1946 at the age of 92. He served as deputy vice-chancellor and as Vice-Chancellor from 1930 to 1932. He was active in supporting the development of women's colleges and, through his support for the university's relations with teacher training colleges, was instrumental in the foundation of its Institute of Education
.
doctrine of the atonement, and wanted to move his denomination away from its inherited tendency to a narrow evangelical stance, towards a social gospel
. He founded the Bermondsey Settlement
, the only Methodist foundation among the 19th century settlements
in the East End of London. Like the secular settlements such as Toynbee Hall
, it aimed to bring into the neighbourhood middle class activists who could provide social and educational facilities for the poor, rather than concentrating narrowly on evangelism like the Church's more traditional "Missions" located in poor areas of London.
Within the Church Lidgett founded the "Wesley Guild", a social organization aimed at young people but also offering activities to adults, which claimed over 150,000 members by 1900. He was President of the Wesleyan Methodist Conference (the ruling body of the denomination) in 1908-09. He was also an early supporter of the ecumenical movement and a key architect of British Methodist Union
in 1932, and was the first President of the newly united church's conference. He remained in the active work of the ministry as chairman of the London South-West Methodist District until he was 94.
Lidgett was active in London politics for much of his career. He served as an alderman of the London County Council
, and was leader of the Progressive Party
on the Council from 1928 to 1938. He was prominent on the LCC Education Committee. He was made a Companion of Honour in 1933.
Lidgett married Emmeline Davies in 1884. They had a son (John Cuthbert Lidgett, b. 1885, killed in action 1918) and a daughter (Lettice Mary Lidgett, b. 1887, m. Gerald H. Davy 1911, d. 1980). Emmeline died in 1934.
Lidgett died at Epsom on 16 June 1953, and was buried at West Norwood Cemetery
.
Lewisham
Lewisham is a district in South London, England, located in the London Borough of Lewisham. It is situated south-east of Charing Cross. The area is identified in the London Plan as one of 35 major centres in Greater London.-History:...
, 10 August 1854 – Epsom
Epsom
Epsom is a town in the borough of Epsom and Ewell in Surrey, England. Small parts of Epsom are in the Borough of Reigate and Banstead. The town is located south-south-west of Charing Cross, within the Greater London Urban Area. The town lies on the chalk downland of Epsom Downs.-History:Epsom lies...
, 16 June 1953) was a British
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
Wesleyan Methodist
Methodism
Methodism is a movement of Protestant Christianity represented by a number of denominations and organizations, claiming a total of approximately seventy million adherents worldwide. The movement traces its roots to John Wesley's evangelistic revival movement within Anglicanism. His younger brother...
minister
Minister of religion
In Christian churches, a minister is someone who is authorized by a church or religious organization to perform functions such as teaching of beliefs; leading services such as weddings, baptisms or funerals; or otherwise providing spiritual guidance to the community...
and educationist. He achieved prominence both as a theologian
Theology
Theology is the systematic and rational study of religion and its influences and of the nature of religious truths, or the learned profession acquired by completing specialized training in religious studies, usually at a university or school of divinity or seminary.-Definition:Augustine of Hippo...
and reformer within British Methodism, stressing the importance of the church's engagement with the whole of society and human culture, and as an effective advocate for education within London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
.
Education
Lidgett was educated at University College, London, entering the college in 1873, taking his BABachelor's degree
A bachelor's degree is usually an academic degree awarded for an undergraduate course or major that generally lasts for three or four years, but can range anywhere from two to six years depending on the region of the world...
in 1874 and his MA in 1875; he was awarded a DD
Doctor of Divinity
Doctor of Divinity is an advanced academic degree in divinity. Historically, it identified one who had been licensed by a university to teach Christian theology or related religious subjects....
by the University of Aberdeen
University of Aberdeen
The University of Aberdeen, an ancient university founded in 1495, in Aberdeen, Scotland, is a British university. It is the third oldest university in Scotland, and the fifth oldest in the United Kingdom and wider English-speaking world...
on the strength of a book published in 1902, The fatherhood of God. In later life, he was closely involved with the University of London
University of London
-20th century:Shortly after 6 Burlington Gardens was vacated, the University went through a period of rapid expansion. Bedford College, Royal Holloway and the London School of Economics all joined in 1900, Regent's Park College, which had affiliated in 1841 became an official divinity school of the...
, serving on its Senate
Academic Senate
An Academic Senate is a governing body in some universities and colleges, and is typically the supreme academic authority for the institution.-Scotland:...
from 1922 until he retired in 1946 at the age of 92. He served as deputy vice-chancellor and as Vice-Chancellor from 1930 to 1932. He was active in supporting the development of women's colleges and, through his support for the university's relations with teacher training colleges, was instrumental in the foundation of its Institute of Education
Institute of Education
The Institute of Education is a public research university located in London, United Kingdom specialised in postgraduate study and research in the field of education and a constituent college of the federal University of London. It is the largest education research body in the United Kingdom, with...
.
Theology
By the standards of 19th century British Methodism, Lidgett's theology was liberal. He rejected the penal substitutionPenal substitution
Penal substitution is a theory of the atonement within Christian theology, developed with the Reformed tradition. It argues that Christ, by his own sacrificial choice, was punished in the place of sinners , thus satisfying the demands of justice so God can justly forgive the sins...
doctrine of the atonement, and wanted to move his denomination away from its inherited tendency to a narrow evangelical stance, towards a social gospel
Social Gospel
The Social Gospel movement is a Protestant Christian intellectual movement that was most prominent in the early 20th century United States and Canada...
. He founded the Bermondsey Settlement
Bermondsey Settlement
The Bermondsey Settlement was a settlement house founded in Bermondsey, East London, by the Rev'd John Scott Lidgett. It was the only Methodist foundation among the settlements that appeared in the late 19th and early 20th century. Like other settlement houses it offered social, health and...
, the only Methodist foundation among the 19th century settlements
Settlement movement
The settlement movement was a reformist social movement, beginning in the 1880s and peaking around the 1920s in England and the US, with a goal of getting the rich and poor in society to live more closely together in an interdependent community...
in the East End of London. Like the secular settlements such as Toynbee Hall
Toynbee Hall
Toynbee Hall is a building in Tower Hamlets, East London which is the home of a charity working to bridge the gap between people of all social and financial backgrounds, with a focus on eradicating poverty and promoting social inclusion....
, it aimed to bring into the neighbourhood middle class activists who could provide social and educational facilities for the poor, rather than concentrating narrowly on evangelism like the Church's more traditional "Missions" located in poor areas of London.
Within the Church Lidgett founded the "Wesley Guild", a social organization aimed at young people but also offering activities to adults, which claimed over 150,000 members by 1900. He was President of the Wesleyan Methodist Conference (the ruling body of the denomination) in 1908-09. He was also an early supporter of the ecumenical movement and a key architect of British Methodist Union
Methodist Union
For English Methodists, Methodist Union refers to the joining together, in 1932, of several of the larger groups of English Methodists. These were the Wesleyan Methodists, the Primitive Methodists, and the United Methodists.-Methodist Union:...
in 1932, and was the first President of the newly united church's conference. He remained in the active work of the ministry as chairman of the London South-West Methodist District until he was 94.
Lidgett was active in London politics for much of his career. He served as an alderman of the London County Council
London County Council
London County Council was the principal local government body for the County of London, throughout its 1889–1965 existence, and the first London-wide general municipal authority to be directly elected. It covered the area today known as Inner London and was replaced by the Greater London Council...
, and was leader of the Progressive Party
Progressive Party (London)
The Progressive Party was a political party based around the Liberal Party that contested municipal elections in the County of London.It was founded in 1888 by a group of Liberals and leaders of the labour movement. It was also supported by the Fabian Society, and Sidney Webb was one of its...
on the Council from 1928 to 1938. He was prominent on the LCC Education Committee. He was made a Companion of Honour in 1933.
Lidgett married Emmeline Davies in 1884. They had a son (John Cuthbert Lidgett, b. 1885, killed in action 1918) and a daughter (Lettice Mary Lidgett, b. 1887, m. Gerald H. Davy 1911, d. 1980). Emmeline died in 1934.
Lidgett died at Epsom on 16 June 1953, and was buried at West Norwood Cemetery
West Norwood Cemetery
West Norwood Cemetery is a cemetery in West Norwood in London, England. It was also known as the South Metropolitan Cemetery.One of the first private landscaped cemeteries in London, it is one of the Magnificent Seven cemeteries of London, and is a site of major historical, architectural and...
.
Published works
- The Spiritual Principle of the Atonement (the 1897 Fernley lecture)
- The Fatherhood of God (1902)
- The Christian Religion, its Meaning and Proof (1907)
- God in Christ Jesus (1915)
- Sonship and Salvation (1921.
- The Victorian Transformation of Theology (the 1934 Maurice lectures)
- The Idea of God and Social Ideals (1938).