Richard Wright (Unitarian)
Encyclopedia
Richard Wright was a Unitarian minister, and the itinerant missionary
of the Unitarian Fund, a missionary society established in 1806.
, Norfolk
, on 7 February 1764. His father was a labourer; his mother, Anne (d. 11 October 1810), claimed cousinship with Sir John Fenn. A relative (who died in 1776) sent him to school, and would have done more had his parents not become dissenters. He served as page, and was apprenticed to a shopkeeper, joined (1780) the independent church at Guestwick
under John Sykes (d. 1824), and began village preaching on week nights; for which he was excommunicated. The Wesleyans allowed Wright to preach, but he did not join them.
For a short time he ministered to a newly formed General Baptist
congregation at Norwich
. Here he made the acquaintance of Samuel Fisher, who had been dismissed on a moral charge from the ministry of St. Mary's Particular Baptist church, Norwich, and had joined the Sabellian
Particular Baptists, founded by John Johnson
. Fisher ministered for periods of six months alternately at a chapel in Deadman's Lane, Wisbech
, Cambridgeshire, and a chapel erected (1778) by his friends in Pottergate Street, Norwich: Wright was engaged to alternate with Fisher at both places. Shortly the arrangement was broken, and Wright gave his whole time to Wisbech.
His views rapidly changed; he brought his congregation with him from Calvinism
to unitarianism. Some time after they had been disowned by the Johnsonian Baptists, he gained their admission to the General Baptist assembly. His influence extended to the General Baptist congregation at Lutton
, Lincolnshire
, which had become universalist (1790). This introduced him (1797) to William Vidler
, to whose periodical, the Universalist's Miscellany, he contributed (in the last half of 1797) a series of letters (reprinted Edinburgh, 1797). Vidler and he exchanged visits, and he made Vidler a unitarian (by 1802). At this time Wright wrote much on universalism.
Wright began to travel as a missionary, and in 1806 the Unitarian Fund was established in London, with Wright as the first travelling missionary. His journeys were mostly on foot; his effectiveness was greater in private than as a preacher. In 1810 he resigned his charge at Wisbech, to devote himself entirely to itinerant work. His travels took him through most parts of England and Wales, and in Scotland as far as Aberdeen
. In 1819 the Unitarian Fund brought him to London to superintend the organisation of local preachers.
He became (September 1822) minister of a Baptist congregation at Trowbridge
, Wiltshire
, which he brought into the General Baptist assembly. In 1827 he moved to the charge of a small congregation at Kirkstead
, Lincolnshire, where John Taylor had once preached. Here he died on 16 September 1836; a tablet to his memory was set up in Kirkstead chapel.
. He also acknowledged his legacy to Fausto Sozzini (i.e. Socinianism
). In his discussions and missionary visits around northern England
he continually challenged other Christians to address the question of whether Christ wholly died on the cross: "to his real person, whatever natures might constitute that person, did the real person who is called Christ actually die?". He taught against the pre-existence of Christ
and followed the views of Joseph Priestley
and Thomas Belsham
in rejecting the virgin birth of Jesus.
Missionary
A missionary is a member of a religious group sent into an area to do evangelism or ministries of service, such as education, literacy, social justice, health care and economic development. The word "mission" originates from 1598 when the Jesuits sent members abroad, derived from the Latin...
of the Unitarian Fund, a missionary society established in 1806.
Life
The eldest son of Richard Wright, he was born at BlakeneyBlakeney, Norfolk
Blakeney is a coastal village and civil parish in the English county of Norfolk. Blakeney lies within the Norfolk Coast AONB and the North Norfolk Heritage Coast. The North Norfolk Coastal Path passes through the village...
, Norfolk
Norfolk
Norfolk is a low-lying county in the East of England. It has borders with Lincolnshire to the west, Cambridgeshire to the west and southwest and Suffolk to the south. Its northern and eastern boundaries are the North Sea coast and to the north-west the county is bordered by The Wash. The county...
, on 7 February 1764. His father was a labourer; his mother, Anne (d. 11 October 1810), claimed cousinship with Sir John Fenn. A relative (who died in 1776) sent him to school, and would have done more had his parents not become dissenters. He served as page, and was apprenticed to a shopkeeper, joined (1780) the independent church at Guestwick
Guestwick
Guestwick is a village and a civil parish in the English county of Norfolk. The village is south-west of Cromer, north-west of Norwich and north-east of London. The village lies west of the nearby town of Aylsham. The village lies far from any High roads. The nearest railway station is at...
under John Sykes (d. 1824), and began village preaching on week nights; for which he was excommunicated. The Wesleyans allowed Wright to preach, but he did not join them.
For a short time he ministered to a newly formed General Baptist
General Baptist
General Baptists is a generic term for Baptists who hold the view of a general atonement, as well as a specific name of groups of Baptists within the broader category.General Baptists are distinguished from Particular or Reformed Baptists.-History:...
congregation at Norwich
Norwich
Norwich is a city in England. It is the regional administrative centre and county town of Norfolk. During the 11th century, Norwich was the largest city in England after London, and one of the most important places in the kingdom...
. Here he made the acquaintance of Samuel Fisher, who had been dismissed on a moral charge from the ministry of St. Mary's Particular Baptist church, Norwich, and had joined the Sabellian
Sabellianism
In Christianity, Sabellianism, is the nontrinitarian belief that the Heavenly Father, Resurrected Son and Holy Spirit are different modes or aspects of one God, as perceived by the believer, rather than three distinct persons in God Himself.The term Sabellianism comes from...
Particular Baptists, founded by John Johnson
John Johnson (Baptist)
John Johnson was an English baptist minister, the founder of a sect that became known as Johnsonian Baptists.-Life:The son of an agricultural worker, he was born at Lostock Gralam, in the parish of Eccles, near Manchester, in March 1706. He was piously brought up, and when only twenty years old...
. Fisher ministered for periods of six months alternately at a chapel in Deadman's Lane, Wisbech
Wisbech
Wisbech is a market town, inland port and civil parish with a population of 20,200 in the Fens of Cambridgeshire. The tidal River Nene runs through the centre of the town and is spanned by two bridges...
, Cambridgeshire, and a chapel erected (1778) by his friends in Pottergate Street, Norwich: Wright was engaged to alternate with Fisher at both places. Shortly the arrangement was broken, and Wright gave his whole time to Wisbech.
His views rapidly changed; he brought his congregation with him from Calvinism
Calvinism
Calvinism is a Protestant theological system and an approach to the Christian life...
to unitarianism. Some time after they had been disowned by the Johnsonian Baptists, he gained their admission to the General Baptist assembly. His influence extended to the General Baptist congregation at Lutton
Lutton, Lincolnshire
Sometimes called Lutton-Bourne, Lutton is a small village and civil parish located about south east of the town of Holbeach, Lincolnshire, England. The village of Lutton has also been known by the alternative name of Sutton St Nicholas...
, Lincolnshire
Lincolnshire
Lincolnshire is a county in the east of England. It borders Norfolk to the south east, Cambridgeshire to the south, Rutland to the south west, Leicestershire and Nottinghamshire to the west, South Yorkshire to the north west, and the East Riding of Yorkshire to the north. It also borders...
, which had become universalist (1790). This introduced him (1797) to William Vidler
William Vidler
William Vidler was an English nonconformist minister and editor, ultimately of universalist views.-Life:The tenth child of John and Elizabeth Vidler, he was born at Battle, Sussex, on 4 May 1758. As a boy he was kept from school by poor health, and was apprenticed to his father, a bricklayer...
, to whose periodical, the Universalist's Miscellany, he contributed (in the last half of 1797) a series of letters (reprinted Edinburgh, 1797). Vidler and he exchanged visits, and he made Vidler a unitarian (by 1802). At this time Wright wrote much on universalism.
Wright began to travel as a missionary, and in 1806 the Unitarian Fund was established in London, with Wright as the first travelling missionary. His journeys were mostly on foot; his effectiveness was greater in private than as a preacher. In 1810 he resigned his charge at Wisbech, to devote himself entirely to itinerant work. His travels took him through most parts of England and Wales, and in Scotland as far as Aberdeen
Aberdeen
Aberdeen is Scotland's third most populous city, one of Scotland's 32 local government council areas and the United Kingdom's 25th most populous city, with an official population estimate of ....
. In 1819 the Unitarian Fund brought him to London to superintend the organisation of local preachers.
He became (September 1822) minister of a Baptist congregation at Trowbridge
Trowbridge
Trowbridge is the county town of Wiltshire, England, situated on the River Biss in the west of the county, approximately 12 miles southeast of Bath, Somerset....
, Wiltshire
Wiltshire
Wiltshire is a ceremonial county in South West England. It is landlocked and borders the counties of Dorset, Somerset, Hampshire, Gloucestershire, Oxfordshire and Berkshire. It contains the unitary authority of Swindon and covers...
, which he brought into the General Baptist assembly. In 1827 he moved to the charge of a small congregation at Kirkstead
Kirkstead
Kirkstead is an ancient village and former parish on the River Witham in Lincolnshire, England. It was amalgamated with the civil parish of Woodhall Spa in 1987.-History:...
, Lincolnshire, where John Taylor had once preached. Here he died on 16 September 1836; a tablet to his memory was set up in Kirkstead chapel.
Views
Wright was a Biblical fundamentalist in his teaching, following the model of John BiddleJohn Biddle (Unitarian)
John Biddle or Bidle was an influential English nontrinitarian, and Unitarian. He is often called "the Father of English Unitarianism".- Life :...
. He also acknowledged his legacy to Fausto Sozzini (i.e. 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 his discussions and missionary visits around northern England
Northern England
Northern England, also known as the North of England, the North or the North Country, is a cultural region of England. It is not an official government region, but rather an informal amalgamation of counties. The southern extent of the region is roughly the River Trent, while the North is bordered...
he continually challenged other Christians to address the question of whether Christ wholly died on the cross: "to his real person, whatever natures might constitute that person, did the real person who is called Christ actually die?". He taught against the pre-existence of Christ
Pre-existence of Christ
The pre-existence of Christ refers to the doctrine of the ontological or personal existence of Christ before his conception. One of the relevant Bible passages is where, in the Trinitarian view, Christ is identified with a pre-existent divine hypostasis called the Logos or Word...
and followed the views of 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...
and Thomas Belsham
Thomas Belsham
Thomas Belsham was an English Unitarian minister- Life :Belsham was born in Bedford, England, and was the elder brother of William Belsham, the English political writer and historian. He was educated at the dissenting academy at Daventry, where for seven years he acted as assistant tutor...
in rejecting the virgin birth of Jesus.
Works
His publications also include:- ‘An Abridgment of Five Discourses … Universal Restoration,’ Wisbech, 1798.
- ‘The Anti-Satisfactionist,’ Wisbech, 1805, (against the doctrine of atonement).
- ‘An Apology for Dr. Michael Servetus,’ Wisbech, 1806.
- ‘An Essay on the Existence of the Devil,’ 1810.
- ‘Essay on the Universal Restoration,’ 1816.
- ‘Essay on a Future Life,’ Liverpool, 1819.
- ‘The Resurrection of the Dead,’ Liverpool, 1820.
- ‘Christ Crucified,’ Liverpool, 1822.
- ‘Review of the Missionary Life and Labours … by Himself,’ 1824. He left another autobiography, in manuscript.