Christopher Heath
Encyclopedia
Christopher Heath was an English minister of the Catholic Apostolic Church
.
manufacturer in Birmingham
. His father, John Heath, was a surgeon in the navy, who, after being present in Lord Howe's action of 1 June 1794, left the sea service and practised at 69 Hatton Garden as a surgeon dentist.
The son, Christopher, entered St Paul's School, London, 1 November 1813; in 1817 became a pupil under his father, and eventually succeeded to his profession. He was brought up in the church of England, but being attracted by the preaching of Edward Irving
at the Caledonian Chapel, Cross Street, Hatton Garden, became a member of his congregation there in May 1832.
He moved with Irving when he took his congregation to Newman Street Hall on 24 October 1832, and was called to be an elder of the church. Some time after Irving's death (3 June 1835) Heath was appointed to succeed him as angel or minister of the congregation, being ordained by John Bate Cardale
, the apostle. At this point he gave up his profession, and moved to 14 Newman Street, adjoining the church. In course of time, finding that the Newman Street Hall was small and inconvenient, in conjunction with his deacons he obtained plans from Raphael Brandon for an early English building in Gordon Square. He laid the first stone in 1851, and it was opened on Christmas Eve 1853,. The west end of the church was, however, never finished, owing to want of funds. Here he and his congregation continued to be the central point in London of the Catholic Apostolic church (commonly called the Irvingite church). He paid official visits to the branch churches in France, Belgium, Switzerland, Germany, and Denmark. But his main work was in London, where he was a trustee and administrator of church funds.
He died of congestion of the lungs at 3 Byng Place, Gordon Square, on 1 November 1876.
Catholic Apostolic Church
The Catholic Apostolic Church was a religious movement which originated in England around 1831 and later spread to Germany and the United States. While often referred to as Irvingism, it was neither actually founded nor anticipated by Edward Irving. The Catholic Apostolic Church was organised in...
.
Life
Heath was born in London on 26 March 1802. His grandfather, Benjamin Heath, was a velvetVelvet
Velvet is a type of woven tufted fabric in which the cut threads are evenly distributed,with a short dense pile, giving it a distinctive feel.The word 'velvety' is used as an adjective to mean -"smooth like velvet".-Composition:...
manufacturer in Birmingham
Birmingham
Birmingham is a city and metropolitan borough in the West Midlands of England. It is the most populous British city outside the capital London, with a population of 1,036,900 , and lies at the heart of the West Midlands conurbation, the second most populous urban area in the United Kingdom with a...
. His father, John Heath, was a surgeon in the navy, who, after being present in Lord Howe's action of 1 June 1794, left the sea service and practised at 69 Hatton Garden as a surgeon dentist.
The son, Christopher, entered St Paul's School, London, 1 November 1813; in 1817 became a pupil under his father, and eventually succeeded to his profession. He was brought up in the church of England, but being attracted by the preaching of Edward Irving
Edward Irving
*For Edward Irving, the Canadian geologist, see Edward A. Irving.Edward Irving was a Scottish clergyman, generally regarded as the main figure behind the foundation of the Catholic Apostolic Church.-Youth:...
at the Caledonian Chapel, Cross Street, Hatton Garden, became a member of his congregation there in May 1832.
He moved with Irving when he took his congregation to Newman Street Hall on 24 October 1832, and was called to be an elder of the church. Some time after Irving's death (3 June 1835) Heath was appointed to succeed him as angel or minister of the congregation, being ordained by John Bate Cardale
John Bate Cardale
John Bate Cardale was the first apostle of the Catholic Apostolic Church.J. B. Cardale was born in London on 7 November 1802, as the eldest of five children. In 1815 he entered Rugby School and in 1818 joined his father's law firm, though he would have preferred to take holy orders...
, the apostle. At this point he gave up his profession, and moved to 14 Newman Street, adjoining the church. In course of time, finding that the Newman Street Hall was small and inconvenient, in conjunction with his deacons he obtained plans from Raphael Brandon for an early English building in Gordon Square. He laid the first stone in 1851, and it was opened on Christmas Eve 1853,. The west end of the church was, however, never finished, owing to want of funds. Here he and his congregation continued to be the central point in London of the Catholic Apostolic church (commonly called the Irvingite church). He paid official visits to the branch churches in France, Belgium, Switzerland, Germany, and Denmark. But his main work was in London, where he was a trustee and administrator of church funds.
He died of congestion of the lungs at 3 Byng Place, Gordon Square, on 1 November 1876.