George Harris (Unitarian)
Encyclopedia
George Harris was an English Unitarian
minister, controversialist and editor.
in Kent
on 15 May 1794, he was son of Abraham Harris, Unitarian minister at Swansea
for 40 years. George was at the age of fourteen placed in a Manchester warehouse in Cheapside
, London, but, wishing to enter the Unitarian ministry, he gave up his place. In his eighteenth year he entered the Islington Academy, then under John Evans
. In November 1812 he matriculated at Glasgow University, on a bursary from Dr Daniel Williams
's trust, and attended classes in Glasgow
during three winter sessions. His studies were interrupted by engagements as a preacher and lecturer.
The Scottish Unitarian Association was formed in July 1813. Harris was one of its originators, and was for three years its secretary. He also spent time in establishing Unitarian churches, principally in Paisley
, Greenock
, and neighbouring towns, and in directing Unitarian stations in different parts of Scotland. In 1816 he issued A Statement of the Principles of Unitarian Christianity addressed to the Inhabitants of Greenock and Port Glasgow, and to the Friends of Free Inquiry throughout Scotland, by a Unitarian, a concise manual of Unitarian teaching. By his efforts a Unitarian chapel was erected in Port Glasgow
. It was opened by him in January 1822; the sermon which he preached on the occasion was published. At this period he also published Select Pieces for Reading and Recitation.
In April 1817 Harris was invited to become minister of Renshaw Street Chapel, Liverpool
, then vacant by the resignation of Robert Lewin. He was inducted in July, and his convictions soon engaged him in numerous controversies. Many censured his severe attacks on evangelical doctrine. His pamphlet, Unitarianism, the only Religion which can become Universal, and a course of Sunday evening lectures, published as Unitarianism and Trinitarianism contrasted, called forth replies. Dr. James Barr of Oldham Street Presbyterian Church, Dr. John Stewart of Mount Pleasant Secession Church, and Mr. Jones of St. Andrew's Church were his most prominent opponents. In 1818 Harris planned a Unitarian Christian Association
for the dissemination of unitarian literature, and he travelled through Lancashire and Cheshire to gain for it sympathy and support.
In the summer of 1821 a division occurred in the Bank Street Unitarian congregation, Bolton
, and in 1822 Harris accepted an invitation to become minister of the seceders. They first met at the Cloth Hall, but in 1823 the Moor Lane Church was purchased from the Scottish presbyterians. Harris was known in Manchester as ‘the intrepid champion of Socinianism
.’ In 1822 he published The Lancashire and Cheshire Unitarian Association, and the Christian Reflector vindicated; in 1823 he published an account of the formation of the Moor Lane congregation, some statements in which provoked replies from other clergymen; and in 1824 appeared Christianity defended. In 1824 a speech by him in Manchester led to a long correspondence, which was afterwards published under the title of The Manchester Socinian Controversy, and indirectly caused the Hewley lawsuit .
In September 1825 Harris resigned his charge in Bolton, and moved to Glasgow, his wife's native place. He preferred the call to Glasgow to one from London, ‘because,’ he said, ‘he wished to stand in the front of the battle.’ The evangelical revival led by Thomas Chalmers
was then at its height, but Harris attracted large audiences.
In 1841 Harris moved to Edinburgh
to assist in reviving the Unitarian congregation. He stayed four years, though with less success than in Glasgow, and in 1845 he accepted an invitation to become the minister of Hanover Square Chapel, Newcastle-upon-Tyne. A new church was erected in 1854, and a large congregation gathered. He died on 24 December 1859.
‘massacre’ in Ireland in the seizure of tithes
(18 December 1834), he denounced church establishments. In Scotland he was called ‘the devil's chaplain,’ to which it was replied: ‘The Prince of Darkness must be a gentleman if his chaplains are like George Harris.’
His other publications included:
For twenty-one years Harris was editor of the Christian Pilot and Pioneer.
Attribution
Unitarianism
Unitarianism is a Christian theological movement, named for its understanding of God as one person, in direct contrast to Trinitarianism which defines God as three persons coexisting consubstantially as one in being....
minister, controversialist and editor.
Life
Born at MaidstoneMaidstone
Maidstone is the county town of Kent, England, south-east of London. The River Medway runs through the centre of the town linking Maidstone to Rochester and the Thames Estuary. Historically, the river was a source and route for much of the town's trade. Maidstone was the centre of the agricultural...
in Kent
Kent
Kent is a county in southeast England, and is one of the home counties. It borders East Sussex, Surrey and Greater London and has a defined boundary with Essex in the middle of the Thames Estuary. The ceremonial county boundaries of Kent include the shire county of Kent and the unitary borough of...
on 15 May 1794, he was son of Abraham Harris, Unitarian minister at Swansea
Swansea
Swansea is a coastal city and county in Wales. Swansea is in the historic county boundaries of Glamorgan. Situated on the sandy South West Wales coast, the county area includes the Gower Peninsula and the Lliw uplands...
for 40 years. George was at the age of fourteen placed in a Manchester warehouse in Cheapside
Cheapside
Cheapside is a street in the City of London that links Newgate Street with the junction of Queen Victoria Street and Mansion House Street. To the east is Mansion House, the Bank of England, and the major road junction above Bank tube station. To the west is St. Paul's Cathedral, St...
, London, but, wishing to enter the Unitarian ministry, he gave up his place. In his eighteenth year he entered the Islington Academy, then under John Evans
John Evans (Baptist)
-Life:He was born at Usk in Monmouthshire, 2 October 1767. After schooling in Bristol he became a student in November 1783 in the Baptist academy there, where his relative Dr. Caleb Evans was theological tutor. During part of the time Robert Hall was his classical tutor. In 1787 he matriculated at...
. In November 1812 he matriculated at Glasgow University, on a bursary from Dr Daniel Williams
Daniel Williams (theologian)
The Revd. Dr. Daniel Williams was a Welsh Presbyterian benefactor, minister and theologian.-Early ministry:Williams was born in Wrexham, Denbighshire, and was a cousin of Stephen Davies, minister at Banbury...
's trust, and attended classes in Glasgow
Glasgow
Glasgow is the largest city in Scotland and third most populous in the United Kingdom. The city is situated on the River Clyde in the country's west central lowlands...
during three winter sessions. His studies were interrupted by engagements as a preacher and lecturer.
The Scottish Unitarian Association was formed in July 1813. Harris was one of its originators, and was for three years its secretary. He also spent time in establishing Unitarian churches, principally in Paisley
Paisley
Paisley is the largest town in the historic county of Renfrewshire in the west central Lowlands of Scotland and serves as the administrative centre for the Renfrewshire council area...
, Greenock
Greenock
Greenock is a town and administrative centre in the Inverclyde council area in United Kingdom, and a former burgh within the historic county of Renfrewshire, located in the west central Lowlands of Scotland...
, and neighbouring towns, and in directing Unitarian stations in different parts of Scotland. In 1816 he issued A Statement of the Principles of Unitarian Christianity addressed to the Inhabitants of Greenock and Port Glasgow, and to the Friends of Free Inquiry throughout Scotland, by a Unitarian, a concise manual of Unitarian teaching. By his efforts a Unitarian chapel was erected in Port Glasgow
Port Glasgow
Port Glasgow is the second largest town in the Inverclyde council area of Scotland. The population according to the 1991 census for Port Glasgow was 19426 persons and in the 2001 census was 16617 persons...
. It was opened by him in January 1822; the sermon which he preached on the occasion was published. At this period he also published Select Pieces for Reading and Recitation.
In April 1817 Harris was invited to become minister of Renshaw Street Chapel, Liverpool
Liverpool
Liverpool is a city and metropolitan borough of Merseyside, England, along the eastern side of the Mersey Estuary. It was founded as a borough in 1207 and was granted city status in 1880...
, then vacant by the resignation of Robert Lewin. He was inducted in July, and his convictions soon engaged him in numerous controversies. Many censured his severe attacks on evangelical doctrine. His pamphlet, Unitarianism, the only Religion which can become Universal, and a course of Sunday evening lectures, published as Unitarianism and Trinitarianism contrasted, called forth replies. Dr. James Barr of Oldham Street Presbyterian Church, Dr. John Stewart of Mount Pleasant Secession Church, and Mr. Jones of St. Andrew's Church were his most prominent opponents. In 1818 Harris planned a Unitarian Christian Association
Unitarian Christian Association
The Unitarian Christian Association is a relatively small fellowship of Christians who feel an affinity with traditional Unitarianism and Free Christianity...
for the dissemination of unitarian literature, and he travelled through Lancashire and Cheshire to gain for it sympathy and support.
In the summer of 1821 a division occurred in the Bank Street Unitarian congregation, Bolton
Bolton
Bolton is a town in Greater Manchester, in the North West of England. Close to the West Pennine Moors, it is north west of the city of Manchester. Bolton is surrounded by several smaller towns and villages which together form the Metropolitan Borough of Bolton, of which Bolton is the...
, and in 1822 Harris accepted an invitation to become minister of the seceders. They first met at the Cloth Hall, but in 1823 the Moor Lane Church was purchased from the Scottish presbyterians. Harris was known in Manchester as ‘the intrepid champion of Socinianism
Socinianism
Socinianism is a system of Christian doctrine named for Fausto Sozzini , which was developed among the Polish Brethren in the Minor Reformed Church of Poland during the 15th and 16th centuries and embraced also by the Unitarian Church of Transylvania during the same period...
.’ In 1822 he published The Lancashire and Cheshire Unitarian Association, and the Christian Reflector vindicated; in 1823 he published an account of the formation of the Moor Lane congregation, some statements in which provoked replies from other clergymen; and in 1824 appeared Christianity defended. In 1824 a speech by him in Manchester led to a long correspondence, which was afterwards published under the title of The Manchester Socinian Controversy, and indirectly caused the Hewley lawsuit .
In September 1825 Harris resigned his charge in Bolton, and moved to Glasgow, his wife's native place. He preferred the call to Glasgow to one from London, ‘because,’ he said, ‘he wished to stand in the front of the battle.’ The evangelical revival led by Thomas Chalmers
Thomas Chalmers
Thomas Chalmers , Scottish mathematician, political economist, divine and a leader of the Free Church of Scotland, was born at Anstruther in Fife.-Overview:...
was then at its height, but Harris attracted large audiences.
In 1841 Harris moved to Edinburgh
Edinburgh
Edinburgh is the capital city of Scotland, the second largest city in Scotland, and the eighth most populous in the United Kingdom. The City of Edinburgh Council governs one of Scotland's 32 local government council areas. The council area includes urban Edinburgh and a rural area...
to assist in reviving the Unitarian congregation. He stayed four years, though with less success than in Glasgow, and in 1845 he accepted an invitation to become the minister of Hanover Square Chapel, Newcastle-upon-Tyne. A new church was erected in 1854, and a large congregation gathered. He died on 24 December 1859.
Works and views
Harris was constantly writing, lecturing, or preaching, and advocating Sunday schools, benevolent funds, tract and book societies, and institutions for mutual improvement. He threw himself into political and sanitary, educational, and moral movements. He was a keen radical, active for the repeal of the corn laws, on behalf of which he drew up the first petition sent from Scotland. After the RathcormacRathcormac
Rathcormac is a small town in north County Cork, Ireland. Previously situated on the main Cork to Dublin road , it was bypassed in 2006 by the M8. The former N8 through Main St is now the R639 regional road.-Amenities:...
‘massacre’ in Ireland in the seizure of tithes
Tithe War
The Tithe War was a campaign of nonviolent civil disobedience, punctuated by sporadic violent episodes, in Ireland between 1830-36 in reaction to the enforcement of Tithes on subsistence farmers and others for the upkeep of the established state church - the Church of Ireland...
(18 December 1834), he denounced church establishments. In Scotland he was called ‘the devil's chaplain,’ to which it was replied: ‘The Prince of Darkness must be a gentleman if his chaplains are like George Harris.’
His other publications included:
- The Great Business of Life, 1847.
- Christian Unitarianism New Testament Christianity, 1848.
- The Doctrine of the Trinity, 1853.
- The Christian Character, as illustrated in the Life and Labours of the late Rev. William Turner, 1859.
For twenty-one years Harris was editor of the Christian Pilot and Pioneer.
Attribution