Thomas Belsham
Encyclopedia
Thomas Belsham was an English
Unitarian
minister
, 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. After three years spent in a charge at Worcester
, he returned as head of Daventry Academy
, a post which he continued to hold till 1789, when, having adopted Unitarian principles, he resigned. With Joseph Priestley
for colleague, he superintended during its brief existence the New College at Hackney
, and was, on Priestley's departure in 1794, also called to the charge of the Gravel Pit congregation. In 1805 he accepted a call to the Essex Street Chapel
, which was also headquarters and offices of the Unitarian Church under John Disney
, there succeeding as minister Theophilus Lindsey
who had retired and died three years later in 1808. Belsham remained at Essex Street, in gradually failing health, till his death.
(who introduced the word "Unitarian" into print in English from Dutch sources in 1673) and John Biddle
, to the more Bible-critical positions of Priestley's generation. Belsham adopted critical ideas on the Pentateuch by 1807, the Gospels by 1819, and Genesis by 1821. Later, following Priestley, Belsham was to dismiss the virgin birth as "no more entitled to credit, than the fables of the Koran, or the reveries of Swedenborg." (1806)
, Elements of the Philosophy of the Human Mind (1801), which is entirely based on Hartley's psychology.
Belsham's Life of Theophilus Lindsey
(1812) contained a chapter titled "American Unitarianism" that argued many American clergy entertained Unitarian views. The Calvinist minister Jedidiah Morse
published the chapter separately, as part of his campaign against New England's liberal ministers—contributing to "the Unitarian Controversy" (1815) that eventually produced permanent schism among New England's Congregationalist churches.
His main Christological work was A Calm Inquiry into the Scripture Doctrine concerning the Person of Christ (1817).
Belsham was one of the most vigorous and able writers of his church, and the Quarterly Review
and Gentlemans Magazine of the early years of the 19th century abound in evidences that his abilities were recognized by his opponents.
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
Unitarian
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
Life
Belsham was born in BedfordBedford
Bedford is the county town of Bedfordshire, in the East of England. It is a large town and the administrative centre for the wider Borough of Bedford. According to the former Bedfordshire County Council's estimates, the town had a population of 79,190 in mid 2005, with 19,720 in the adjacent town...
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
, and was the elder brother of William Belsham
William Belsham
William Belsham was an English political writer and historian, noted as a supporter of the Whig Party and its principles. In 1789 he coined the term libertarian in a discussion of free will and in opposition to "necessitarian" views...
, the English political writer and historian. He was educated at the dissenting academy at 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 for seven years he acted as assistant tutor. After three years spent in a charge at Worcester
Worcester
The City of Worcester, commonly known as Worcester, , is a city and county town of Worcestershire in the West Midlands of England. Worcester is situated some southwest of Birmingham and north of Gloucester, and has an approximate population of 94,000 people. The River Severn runs through the...
, he returned as head of Daventry Academy
Daventry Academy
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...
, a post which he continued to hold till 1789, when, having adopted Unitarian principles, he resigned. With 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...
for colleague, he superintended during its brief existence the New College at Hackney
New College at Hackney
The New College at Hackney was a dissenting academy set up in Hackney, at that time a village on the outskirts of London, by Unitarians. It was in existence from 1786 to 1796...
, and was, on Priestley's departure in 1794, also called to the charge of the Gravel Pit congregation. In 1805 he accepted a call to the Essex Street Chapel
Essex Street Chapel
Essex Street Chapel, also known as Essex Church, is a Unitarian place of worship in London. It was the first church in England set up with this doctrine, and was established at a time when Dissenters still faced legal threat...
, which was also headquarters and offices of the Unitarian Church under John Disney
John Disney (Unitarian)
John Disney was an English Unitarian minister and biographical writer, initially an Anglican clergyman active against subscription to the Thirty Nine Articles.-Life:...
, there succeeding as minister Theophilus Lindsey
Theophilus Lindsey
Theophilus Lindsey was an English theologian and clergyman who founded the first avowedly Unitarian congregation in the country, at Essex Street Chapel.-Life:...
who had retired and died three years later in 1808. Belsham remained at Essex Street, in gradually failing health, till his death.
Beliefs
Belsham's beliefs reflect that transition that the Unitarian movement was going through during his lifetime, particularly from the early Bible-fundamentalist views of earlier English Unitarians like Henry HedworthHenry Hedworth
Henry Hedworth of Huntingdon was a Unitarian writer.Henry Hedworth is chiefly notable for being the first person in the English language to introduce Latin term Unitarian into print in England 1673, fourteen years before Stephen Nye of Hertfordshire became the first to use the word on a title...
(who introduced the word "Unitarian" into print in English from Dutch sources in 1673) and John Biddle
John Biddle (Unitarian)
John Biddle or Bidle was an influential English nontrinitarian, and Unitarian. He is often called "the Father of English Unitarianism".- Life :...
, to the more Bible-critical positions of Priestley's generation. Belsham adopted critical ideas on the Pentateuch by 1807, the Gospels by 1819, and Genesis by 1821. Later, following Priestley, Belsham was to dismiss the virgin birth as "no more entitled to credit, than the fables of the Koran, or the reveries of Swedenborg." (1806)
Works
Belsham's first work of importance, Review of Mr Wilberforces Treatise entitled Practical View (1798), was written after his conversion to Unitarianism. His most popular work was the Evidences of Christianity; the most important was his translation and exposition of the Epistles of St Paul (1822). He was also the author of a work on philosophyPhilosophy
Philosophy is the study of general and fundamental problems, such as those connected with existence, knowledge, values, reason, mind, and language. Philosophy is distinguished from other ways of addressing such problems by its critical, generally systematic approach and its reliance on rational...
, Elements of the Philosophy of the Human Mind (1801), which is entirely based on Hartley's psychology.
Belsham's Life of Theophilus Lindsey
Theophilus Lindsey
Theophilus Lindsey was an English theologian and clergyman who founded the first avowedly Unitarian congregation in the country, at Essex Street Chapel.-Life:...
(1812) contained a chapter titled "American Unitarianism" that argued many American clergy entertained Unitarian views. The Calvinist minister Jedidiah Morse
Jedidiah Morse
Jedidiah Morse was a notable geographer whose textbooks became a staple for students in the United States. He was the father of Samuel F. B. Morse, the man who developed Morse code.-Early life and education:...
published the chapter separately, as part of his campaign against New England's liberal ministers—contributing to "the Unitarian Controversy" (1815) that eventually produced permanent schism among New England's Congregationalist churches.
His main Christological work was A Calm Inquiry into the Scripture Doctrine concerning the Person of Christ (1817).
Belsham was one of the most vigorous and able writers of his church, and the Quarterly Review
Quarterly Review
The Quarterly Review was a literary and political periodical founded in March 1809 by the well known London publishing house John Murray. It ceased publication in 1967.-Early years:...
and Gentlemans Magazine of the early years of the 19th century abound in evidences that his abilities were recognized by his opponents.
- [Thomas Belsham et al.,] The New Testament, An improved version upon the basis of Archbishop NewcomeWilliam NewcomeWilliam Newcome was an Englishman and cleric of the Church of Ireland who was appointed to the bishoprics of Dromore , Ossory , Waterford and Lismore , and lastly to the Primatial See of Armagh .-Life:...
's new translation with a corrected text and notes critical and explanatory. London: Richard Taylor & Co., 1808. Boston 1809.