Agapemonites
Encyclopedia
Agapemonites or Community of The Son of Man was a religious sect existing from 1846–1956, named for the meaning 'Abode of Love'.
Founded in 1846 by the charismatic priest Henry James Prince this sect was based upon the theories of various German religious mystics
and its primary object was the spiritualization of the matrimonial state.
. He studied medicine, obtained his qualifications in 1832 and was appointed medical officer to the General Hospital in Bath, his native city. Compelled by ill-health to abandon his profession, he entered himself in 1837 as a student at St David's College, Lampeter (now the University of Wales, Lampeter
), where he gathered about him a band of earnest religious enthusiasts, known as the Lampeter Brethren, and was eventually ordained to the curacy of Charlinch in Somerset
, where he had sole charge in the illness and absence of the rector, the Rev. Samuel Starkey.
By that time he had contracted his first “spiritual marriage”, and had persuaded himself that he had been absorbed into the personality of God
and had become a visible embodiment of the Holy Spirit
. During his illness Mr. Starkey read one of his curate's sermons, and was not only “cured” forthwith, but embraced his strange doctrines, and together they procured many conversions in the countryside and the neighboring towns. In the end the rector was deprived of his living and Prince's licence withdrawn, and together with a few disciples they started the Charlinch Free Church, which had a very brief existence.
Prince shortly afterwards became curate of Stoke in Suffolk
, where, however, the character of his revivalist zeal caused his departure at the end of twelve months. It was now decided that Prince, Starkey (whose sister Prince had married as his second wife) and the Rev. Lewis Prince should leave the Church of England and preach their own gospel; Prince opened Adullam Chapel, Brighton
, and Starkey established himself at Weymouth. The chief success lay in the latter town, and thither Prince soon migrated.
, which was to become the “Abode of Love”, was enlarged and furnished luxuriously, and three sisters, who contributed 6000 each, were immediately married to three of Prince's nearest disciples.
Despite the purely spiritual ideas which underlay the Agapemonite view of marriage, a son was born to one of these couples, and when the father endeavoured to carry it away an action was brought which resulted in the affirmation of the mother's right to its custody. The circumstance in which a fourth sister who joined the community was abducted by her brothers led to an inquiry in lunacy and to her final settlement at Spaxton. A few years after the establishment of the “Abode of Love”, a peculiarly gross scandal, in which Prince and one of his female followers were involved, led to the secession of some of his most faithful friends, who were unable any longer to endure what they regarded as the amazing mixture of blasphemy and immorality offered for their acceptance. The most prominent of those who remained received such titles as the “Anointed Ones”, the “Angel of the Last Trumpet”, the “Seven Witnesses” and so forth.
In 1862 Brother Prince sent to the kings and people of the earth letters making known to all men that flesh is saved.
His house is in St John's Wood
which was visited by John Betjeman
in his film Metro-land
. It is built in the neo-gothic style. It is the home of TV presenter Vanessa Feltz
and was previously dwelt in by Charles Saatchi
.
The Abode of Love by Aubrey Menen
is a novelisation of the history of the Agapemonites under Prince's leadership.
Founded in 1846 by the charismatic priest Henry James Prince this sect was based upon the theories of various German religious mystics
Mysticism
Mysticism is the knowledge of, and especially the personal experience of, states of consciousness, i.e. levels of being, beyond normal human perception, including experience and even communion with a supreme being.-Classical origins:...
and its primary object was the spiritualization of the matrimonial state.
Henry James Prince
Rev. Henry James Prince (1811–1899) was a clergyman of the Church of EnglandChurch of England
The Church of England is the officially established Christian church in England and the Mother Church of the worldwide Anglican Communion. The church considers itself within the tradition of Western Christianity and dates its formal establishment principally to the mission to England by St...
. He studied medicine, obtained his qualifications in 1832 and was appointed medical officer to the General Hospital in Bath, his native city. Compelled by ill-health to abandon his profession, he entered himself in 1837 as a student at St David's College, Lampeter (now the University of Wales, Lampeter
University of Wales, Lampeter
University of Wales, Lampeter is a university in Lampeter, Wales. Founded in 1822 by royal charter, it is the oldest degree awarding institution in Wales and may be the third oldest in England and Wales after Oxford and Cambridge...
), where he gathered about him a band of earnest religious enthusiasts, known as the Lampeter Brethren, and was eventually ordained to the curacy of Charlinch in Somerset
Somerset
The ceremonial and non-metropolitan county of Somerset in South West England borders Bristol and Gloucestershire to the north, Wiltshire to the east, Dorset to the south-east, and Devon to the south-west. It is partly bounded to the north and west by the Bristol Channel and the estuary of the...
, where he had sole charge in the illness and absence of the rector, the Rev. Samuel Starkey.
By that time he had contracted his first “spiritual marriage”, and had persuaded himself that he had been absorbed into the personality of God
God
God is the English name given to a singular being in theistic and deistic religions who is either the sole deity in monotheism, or a single deity in polytheism....
and had become a visible embodiment of the Holy Spirit
Holy Spirit
Holy Spirit is a term introduced in English translations of the Hebrew Bible, but understood differently in the main Abrahamic religions.While the general concept of a "Spirit" that permeates the cosmos has been used in various religions Holy Spirit is a term introduced in English translations of...
. During his illness Mr. Starkey read one of his curate's sermons, and was not only “cured” forthwith, but embraced his strange doctrines, and together they procured many conversions in the countryside and the neighboring towns. In the end the rector was deprived of his living and Prince's licence withdrawn, and together with a few disciples they started the Charlinch Free Church, which had a very brief existence.
Prince shortly afterwards became curate of Stoke in Suffolk
Suffolk
Suffolk is a non-metropolitan county of historic origin in East Anglia, England. It has borders with Norfolk to the north, Cambridgeshire to the west and Essex to the south. The North Sea lies to the east...
, where, however, the character of his revivalist zeal caused his departure at the end of twelve months. It was now decided that Prince, Starkey (whose sister Prince had married as his second wife) and the Rev. Lewis Prince should leave the Church of England and preach their own gospel; Prince opened Adullam Chapel, Brighton
Brighton
Brighton is the major part of the city of Brighton and Hove in East Sussex, England on the south coast of Great Britain...
, and Starkey established himself at Weymouth. The chief success lay in the latter town, and thither Prince soon migrated.
Followers
A number of followers, estimated by Prince at 500, but by his critics at one-fifth of the number, were got together, and it was given out by “Beloved” or “The Lamb” the names by which the Agapemonites designated their leader that his disciples must divest themselves of their possessions and throw them into the common stock. This was done, even by the poor or ill-furnished, all of whom looked forward to the speedy end of the present dispensation, and were content, for the short remainder of this world, to live in common, and, while not repudiating earthly ties, to treat them as purely spiritual. With the money thus obtained the house at SpaxtonSpaxton
Spaxton is a small village and civil parish on the Quantocks in the Sedgemoor district of Somerset, South West England.-History:Spaxton was part of the hundred of Cannington....
, which was to become the “Abode of Love”, was enlarged and furnished luxuriously, and three sisters, who contributed 6000 each, were immediately married to three of Prince's nearest disciples.
Despite the purely spiritual ideas which underlay the Agapemonite view of marriage, a son was born to one of these couples, and when the father endeavoured to carry it away an action was brought which resulted in the affirmation of the mother's right to its custody. The circumstance in which a fourth sister who joined the community was abducted by her brothers led to an inquiry in lunacy and to her final settlement at Spaxton. A few years after the establishment of the “Abode of Love”, a peculiarly gross scandal, in which Prince and one of his female followers were involved, led to the secession of some of his most faithful friends, who were unable any longer to endure what they regarded as the amazing mixture of blasphemy and immorality offered for their acceptance. The most prominent of those who remained received such titles as the “Anointed Ones”, the “Angel of the Last Trumpet”, the “Seven Witnesses” and so forth.
In 1862 Brother Prince sent to the kings and people of the earth letters making known to all men that flesh is saved.
John Hugh Smyth-Pigott
After Prince died in 1899 he was replaced by Rev. John Hugh Smyth-Pigott.His house is in St John's Wood
St John's Wood
St John's Wood is a district of north-west London, England, in the City of Westminster, and at the north-west end of Regent's Park. It is approximately 2.5 miles north-west of Charing Cross. Once part of the Great Middlesex Forest, it was later owned by the Knights of St John of Jerusalem...
which was visited by John Betjeman
John Betjeman
Sir John Betjeman, CBE was an English poet, writer and broadcaster who described himself in Who's Who as a "poet and hack".He was a founding member of the Victorian Society and a passionate defender of Victorian architecture...
in his film Metro-land
Metro-land (TV)
Metro-land is a BBC documentary film written and narrated by the then Poet Laureate Sir John Betjeman. It was directed by Edward Mirzoeff and first broadcast in colour on February 26, 1973...
. It is built in the neo-gothic style. It is the home of TV presenter Vanessa Feltz
Vanessa Feltz
Vanessa Jane Feltz is an English television personality, broadcaster and journalist. She currently presents an early morning radio show on BBC Radio 2, a mid morning phone-in show on BBC London 94.9. In 2011, she started hosting The Vanessa Show on Channel 5. The first series ended on June 24th...
and was previously dwelt in by Charles Saatchi
Charles Saatchi
Charles Saatchi is the co-founder with his brother Maurice of the global advertising agency Saatchi & Saatchi, and led that business - the world's largest advertising agency in the 1980s - until they were forced out in 1995. In the same year the Saatchi brothers formed a new agency called M&C...
.
Ending
Smyth-Pigott died in 1927 and the sect gradually declined until the last member, sister Ruth, died in 1956.The Abode of Love by Aubrey Menen
Aubrey Menen
Aubrey Menen was an English writer of Irish and Indian parentage who was primarily a satirist...
is a novelisation of the history of the Agapemonites under Prince's leadership.
External links
- Abode of Love - audio and transcript of an interview with Kate Barlow, Smyth-Piggot's granddaughter, author of a memoir of a childhood spent at the cult's headquarters - broadcast on ABC Radio NationalRadio NationalABC Radio National is an Australia-wide non-commercial radio network run by the Australian Broadcasting Corporation.Radio National broadcasts national programming in areas that include news and current affairs, the arts, social issues, science, drama and comedy...
in February 2009