Daventry Academy
Encyclopedia
Daventry Academy was a dissenting academy
, that is, a school or college set up by English Dissenters
. It moved to many locations, but was most associated with Daventry
, where its most famous pupil was Joseph Priestley
. It had a high reputation, and in time it was amalgamated into New College London
.
and Philip Doddridge
was chosen as its first principal. Soon thereafter it attracted the support of the Coward Trust, funded through the philanthropy of William Coward (died 1738), a London merchant who used his money to train ministers for the "protestant dissenters
". After the death of Doddridge in 1751, the trustees took over the academy. This establishment moved to Northampton
, Daventry
, back to Northampton, then to Wymondley
, and finally in 1833 to London
. In the second quarter of the 18th century it was "undoubtedly one of the best dissenting academies", according to Priestley's most recent biographers.
Its final home was built by Thomas Cubitt
the year before, and was located in Byng Place, south of the Catholic Apostolic Church
. "Here it took the name of Coward College and remained as a residential College for Theological Students until May, 1850" when, with Highbury College
and the theological function of Homerton College, it became New College London
.
(died 1775) and Samuel Clark (died 1769) took over after Doddridge died in 1751.
Joseph Priestley
studied theology there in the 1750s. Because he had already read widely, Priestley was allowed to skip the first two years of coursework. He continued his intense study; this, together with the liberal atmosphere of the school, shifted his theology further leftward and he became a Rational Dissenter. Abhorring dogma and religious mysticism, Rational Dissenters emphasized the rational analysis of the natural world and the Bible.
Dissenting academies
The dissenting academies were schools, colleges and nonconformist seminaries run by dissenters. They formed a significant part of England’s educational systems from the mid-seventeenth to nineteenth centuries....
, that is, a school or college set up by English Dissenters
English Dissenters
English Dissenters were Christians who separated from the Church of England in the 16th, 17th and 18th centuries.They originally agitated for a wide reaching Protestant Reformation of the Established Church, and triumphed briefly under Oliver Cromwell....
. It moved to many locations, but was most associated with Daventry
Daventry
Daventry is a market town in Northamptonshire, England, with a population of 22,367 .-Geography:The town is also the administrative centre of the larger Daventry district, which has a population of 71,838. The town is 77 miles north-northwest of London, 13.9 miles west of Northampton and 10.2...
, where its most famous pupil was Joseph Priestley
Joseph Priestley
Joseph Priestley, FRS was an 18th-century English theologian, Dissenting clergyman, natural philosopher, chemist, educator, and political theorist who published over 150 works...
. It had a high reputation, and in time it was amalgamated into New College London
New College London
New College London was founded as a Congregationalist college in 1850.-Predecessor institutions:...
.
History
An academy was started in Market HarboroughMarket Harborough
Market Harborough is a market town within the Harborough district of Leicestershire, England.It has a population of 20,785 and is the administrative headquarters of Harborough District Council. It sits on the Northamptonshire-Leicestershire border...
and Philip Doddridge
Philip Doddridge
Philip Doddridge DD was an English Nonconformist leader, educator, and hymnwriter.-Early life:...
was chosen as its first principal. Soon thereafter it attracted the support of the Coward Trust, funded through the philanthropy of William Coward (died 1738), a London merchant who used his money to train ministers for the "protestant dissenters
English Dissenters
English Dissenters were Christians who separated from the Church of England in the 16th, 17th and 18th centuries.They originally agitated for a wide reaching Protestant Reformation of the Established Church, and triumphed briefly under Oliver Cromwell....
". After the death of Doddridge in 1751, the trustees took over the academy. This establishment moved to Northampton
Northampton
Northampton is a large market town and local government district in the East Midlands region of England. Situated about north-west of London and around south-east of Birmingham, Northampton lies on the River Nene and is the county town of Northamptonshire. The demonym of Northampton is...
, Daventry
Daventry
Daventry is a market town in Northamptonshire, England, with a population of 22,367 .-Geography:The town is also the administrative centre of the larger Daventry district, which has a population of 71,838. The town is 77 miles north-northwest of London, 13.9 miles west of Northampton and 10.2...
, back to Northampton, then to Wymondley
Wymondley
Wymondley is a civil parish in Hertfordshire, England.Wymondley forms part of the district of North Hertfordshire, formerly it was in the now-defunct Hitchin Rural District. Its principal settlements are Little Wymondley and the smaller Great Wymondley, it also includes Todd's Green and Titmore...
, and finally in 1833 to 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...
. In the second quarter of the 18th century it was "undoubtedly one of the best dissenting academies", according to Priestley's most recent biographers.
Its final home was built by Thomas Cubitt
Thomas Cubitt
Thomas Cubitt , born Buxton, Norfolk, was the leading master builder in London in the second quarter of the 19th century, and also carried out several projects in other parts of England.-Background:...
the year before, and was located in Byng Place, south of the Catholic Apostolic Church
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...
. "Here it took the name of Coward College and remained as a residential College for Theological Students until May, 1850" when, with Highbury College
Highbury College (Dissenting Academy)
Highbury College was a dissenting academy, that is, a school or college set up by English Dissenters. Its most famous student was Christopher Newman Hall. It had a high reputation, and in time it was amalgamated into New College London.-History:...
and the theological function of Homerton College, it became New College London
New College London
New College London was founded as a Congregationalist college in 1850.-Predecessor institutions:...
.
People associated with it
Two of its principals were the Rev. Thomas Morell and Dr. Thomas William Jenkyn. Caleb AshworthCaleb Ashworth
-Life:Ashworth was born at Clough-Fold, Rossendale, Lancashire, in 1722. His father, Richard Ashworth, who died in 1751, aged eighty-four, was a lay preacher among the Particular Baptists; he had three sons—Thomas, Particular Baptist minister at Heckmondwike; Caleb; and John, General Baptist...
(died 1775) and Samuel Clark (died 1769) took over after Doddridge died in 1751.
Joseph Priestley
Joseph Priestley
Joseph Priestley, FRS was an 18th-century English theologian, Dissenting clergyman, natural philosopher, chemist, educator, and political theorist who published over 150 works...
studied theology there in the 1750s. Because he had already read widely, Priestley was allowed to skip the first two years of coursework. He continued his intense study; this, together with the liberal atmosphere of the school, shifted his theology further leftward and he became a Rational Dissenter. Abhorring dogma and religious mysticism, Rational Dissenters emphasized the rational analysis of the natural world and the Bible.