Thomas Barnes (Unitarian)
Encyclopedia
Thomas Barnes was an English Unitarian
minister and educational reformer.
. His mother was Elizabeth, daughter of the Rev. Thomas Blinston, of Wigan
. He was born on 13 February 1747, and he lost his father when he was in his third year. He received his elementary education at Warrington grammar school, and later in the Warrington Academy
. He was subsequently licensed as a preacher of the gospel, and became minister of the congregation at Cockey Moor (Ainsworth, near Bolton) in 1768. He remained there for eleven years. When he left, the numbers in attendance had trebled.
In 1780 he became the minister of Cross Street chapel at Manchester. It was at the time the largest, wealthiest, and most influential congregation of Dissenters in the town and district, and he remained there for thirty years until his death. In 1781, together with Thomas Percival
and Thomas Henry, he founded the Literary and Philosophical Society of Manchester; became one of its two secretaries, and took a leading part, for several years, in its meetings and transactions. In 1783 he read a paper before the society and advocated the extension of liberal education in Manchester. He anticipated a provision for the instruction of youths of the town between their leaving a grammar school and entering into business. His plan was approved; a seminary, called ‘The College of Arts and Sciences,’ was established, and various men of special qualifications were placed on its staff of instructors. Barnes himself delivered a course of lectures on moral philosophy, and a second on commerce. The impact of the institution was less than hoped, however.
Barnes was then induced, in association with his ministerial colleague, the Rev. Mr. Harrison, to undertake the government of Manchester College
. He became its principal, for about twelve years. In 1798 he retired on account of failing strength, but was still involved in local health bodies. He died on 27 June 1810.
. Barnes published ‘A Funeral Sermon on the Death of the Rev. Thomas Threlkeld, of Rochdale,’ and was a contributor (anonymously) to contemporary periodicals. His ‘Discourse upon the Commencement of the Academy,’ published in 1786, was reprinted in 1806.
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 and educational reformer.
Life
He was the son of William Barnes, of WarringtonWarrington
Warrington is a town, borough and unitary authority area of Cheshire, England. It stands on the banks of the River Mersey, which is tidal to the west of the weir at Howley. It lies 16 miles east of Liverpool, 19 miles west of Manchester and 8 miles south of St Helens...
. His mother was Elizabeth, daughter of the Rev. Thomas Blinston, of Wigan
Wigan
Wigan is a town in Greater Manchester, England. It stands on the River Douglas, south-west of Bolton, north of Warrington and west-northwest of Manchester. Wigan is the largest settlement in the Metropolitan Borough of Wigan and is its administrative centre. The town of Wigan had a total...
. He was born on 13 February 1747, and he lost his father when he was in his third year. He received his elementary education at Warrington grammar school, and later in the Warrington Academy
Warrington Academy
Warrington Academy, active as a teaching establishment from 1756 to 1782, was a prominent dissenting academy, that is, a school or college set up by those who dissented from the state church in England...
. He was subsequently licensed as a preacher of the gospel, and became minister of the congregation at Cockey Moor (Ainsworth, near Bolton) in 1768. He remained there for eleven years. When he left, the numbers in attendance had trebled.
In 1780 he became the minister of Cross Street chapel at Manchester. It was at the time the largest, wealthiest, and most influential congregation of Dissenters in the town and district, and he remained there for thirty years until his death. In 1781, together with Thomas Percival
Thomas Percival
Thomas Percival FRS FRSE FSA was an English physician and author, best known for crafting perhaps the first modern code of medical ethics...
and Thomas Henry, he founded the Literary and Philosophical Society of Manchester; became one of its two secretaries, and took a leading part, for several years, in its meetings and transactions. In 1783 he read a paper before the society and advocated the extension of liberal education in Manchester. He anticipated a provision for the instruction of youths of the town between their leaving a grammar school and entering into business. His plan was approved; a seminary, called ‘The College of Arts and Sciences,’ was established, and various men of special qualifications were placed on its staff of instructors. Barnes himself delivered a course of lectures on moral philosophy, and a second on commerce. The impact of the institution was less than hoped, however.
Barnes was then induced, in association with his ministerial colleague, the Rev. Mr. Harrison, to undertake the government of Manchester College
Harris Manchester College, Oxford
Harris Manchester College is one of the constituent colleges of the University of Oxford in the United Kingdom. Formerly known as Manchester College, it is listed in the University Statutes as Manchester Academy and Harris College, and at University ceremonies it is called Collegium de Harris et...
. He became its principal, for about twelve years. In 1798 he retired on account of failing strength, but was still involved in local health bodies. He died on 27 June 1810.
Works
His essays, which were published in the early volumes of the Literary and Philosophical Society, services in the college, won for him in 1784 the honorary degree of Doctor of Divinity from the University of EdinburghUniversity of Edinburgh
The University of Edinburgh, founded in 1583, is a public research university located in Edinburgh, the capital of Scotland, and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The university is deeply embedded in the fabric of the city, with many of the buildings in the historic Old Town belonging to the university...
. Barnes published ‘A Funeral Sermon on the Death of the Rev. Thomas Threlkeld, of Rochdale,’ and was a contributor (anonymously) to contemporary periodicals. His ‘Discourse upon the Commencement of the Academy,’ published in 1786, was reprinted in 1806.