William Christie (Unitarian)
Encyclopedia
William Christie was a Scottish Unitarian writer, one of the earliest apostles of Unitarianism in Scotland and America.
, and uncle of Thomas Christie
the political writer. He was born at Montrose, and educated at the grammar school there under his kinsman, Hugh Christie
. He spent a few years in commerce at Montrose. Brought up a Presbyterian faith, he studied and adopted Unitarian doctrines, at a high social cost. Writing to Joseph Priestley
in 1781 he stated that, so great was his unpopularity, that he did not suppose any Scottish minister would baptise his children. By Priestley's mediation, Caleb Rotheram
of Kendal
visited Montrose to performed the rite.
About 1782 he, with a few friends of similar opinions, founded a Unitarian church at Montrose, of which he became the minister. This was the first Unitarian congregation established in Scotland. From December 1783 to May 1785 he had as his colleague Thomas Fyshe Palmer
. He retired from business, and went to live in seclusion at Woodston, about six miles from Montrose. In 1794 he accepted the invitation of the Unitarian congregation at Glasgow
to become their minister. He there delivered sermons which he later published under the title of ‘Dissertations on the Unity of God,’ and issued proposals for the publication of a series of lectures on the Revelation of St. John, but the project met with no encouragement. He remained at Glasgow just over a year. Unitarianism and Unitarians were extremely unpopular in Scotland, and in August 1795 he followed his friend and correspondent Priestley to America. There he met with troubles caused to some extent by his combative views.
After periods at Winchester, Virginia
and Northumberland, Pennsylvania
, where he delivered an address at Dr. Priestley's funeral on 9 February 1804, he settled in Philadelphia, where for some time he was the minister of a small Unitarian congregation. The last years of his life were passed in retirement, and were devoted to theological study.
He died at Long Branch
, New Jersey
, on 21 November 1823. Of his eight children three only survived him.
Christie was also a contributor to the Christian Reformer
, Monthly Repository
and the ‘Winchester (Va.) Gazette,’ ‘Northumberland (Pa.) Gazette,’ and ‘Democratic Press’ (Philadelphia).
Life
He was a son of Thomas Christie, merchant and provost of MontroseMontrose
-Places:Scotland* Montrose, AngusAustralia* Montrose, Tasmania, a suburb of Hobart* Montrose, Victoria, a suburb of MelbourneCanada* Montrose, British Columbia* Montrose , neighborhood in Edmonton, Alberta* Montrose No...
, and uncle of Thomas Christie
Thomas Christie
Thomas Christie was a radical political writer during the late 18th century. He was one of the two original founders of the important liberal journal, the Analytical Review....
the political writer. He was born at Montrose, and educated at the grammar school there under his kinsman, Hugh Christie
Hugh Christie
Hugh Christie OBE was a farmer and educator. He was a founder member of the National Farmers Union and was also involved in the formation of the Women's Institutes....
. He spent a few years in commerce at Montrose. Brought up a Presbyterian faith, he studied and adopted Unitarian doctrines, at a high social cost. Writing to 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...
in 1781 he stated that, so great was his unpopularity, that he did not suppose any Scottish minister would baptise his children. By Priestley's mediation, Caleb Rotheram
Caleb Rotheram
-Life:He was born on 7 March 1694 at Great Salkeld, Cumberland. He was educated at the grammar school of Great Blencow, Cumberland, under Anthony Ireland, and prepared for the Presbyterian ministry in the academy of Thomas Dixon at Whitehaven...
of Kendal
Kendal
Kendal, anciently known as Kirkby in Kendal or Kirkby Kendal, is a market town and civil parish within the South Lakeland District of Cumbria, England...
visited Montrose to performed the rite.
About 1782 he, with a few friends of similar opinions, founded a Unitarian church at Montrose, of which he became the minister. This was the first Unitarian congregation established in Scotland. From December 1783 to May 1785 he had as his colleague Thomas Fyshe Palmer
Thomas Fyshe Palmer
Thomas Fyshe Palmer was an English-born Unitarian minister, political reformer and political exile.-Early life:Palmer was born in Ickwell, Bedfordshire, England, the son of Henry Fyshe who assumed the added name of Palmer because of an inheritance, and Elizabeth, daughter of James Ingram of...
. He retired from business, and went to live in seclusion at Woodston, about six miles from Montrose. In 1794 he accepted the invitation of the Unitarian congregation at 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...
to become their minister. He there delivered sermons which he later published under the title of ‘Dissertations on the Unity of God,’ and issued proposals for the publication of a series of lectures on the Revelation of St. John, but the project met with no encouragement. He remained at Glasgow just over a year. Unitarianism and Unitarians were extremely unpopular in Scotland, and in August 1795 he followed his friend and correspondent Priestley to America. There he met with troubles caused to some extent by his combative views.
After periods at Winchester, Virginia
Winchester, Virginia
Winchester is an independent city located in the northwestern portion of the Commonwealth of Virginia in the USA. The city's population was 26,203 according to the 2010 Census...
and Northumberland, Pennsylvania
Northumberland, Pennsylvania
Northumberland is a borough in Northumberland County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 3,714 at the 2000 census.-History:Northumberland was founded in 1772. The land that became Northumberland was purchased from the Iroquois in the first Treaty of Fort Stanwix in 1768, and the...
, where he delivered an address at Dr. Priestley's funeral on 9 February 1804, he settled in Philadelphia, where for some time he was the minister of a small Unitarian congregation. The last years of his life were passed in retirement, and were devoted to theological study.
He died at Long Branch
Long Branch
Long Branch may refer to:In geography:* Long Branch, New Jersey, United States* Long Branch, Pennsylvania, United States* Long Branch, Eastland County, Texas, United States* Long Branch, Panola County, Texas, United States...
, New Jersey
New Jersey
New Jersey is a state in the Northeastern and Middle Atlantic regions of the United States. , its population was 8,791,894. It is bordered on the north and east by the state of New York, on the southeast and south by the Atlantic Ocean, on the west by Pennsylvania and on the southwest by Delaware...
, on 21 November 1823. Of his eight children three only survived him.
Works
In 1784 he published the most popular of his works, Discourses on the Divine Unity. His other main works are:- ‘An Essay on Ecclesiastical Establishments in Religion, showing their Hurtful Tendency. … By a Protestant Dissenter,’ Montrose, 1791.
- ‘A Farewell Discourse to the Society of Unitarian Christians at Montrose,’ Montrose, 1794.
- ‘A Serious Address to the Inhabitants of Winchester on the Unity of God and Humanity of Christ,’ Winchester, Virginia, 1800.
- ‘A Speech delivered at the Grave of the Rev. Joseph Priestley,’ Northumberland, Pennsylvania, 1804.
- ‘Dissertations on the Unity of God,’ Philadelphia, 1810.
- ‘A Review of Dr. Priestley's Theological Works, appended to the Memoirs of Dr. P.,’ London, 1806–7.
Christie was also a contributor to the Christian Reformer
Christian Reformer
The Christian Reformer was a British Unitarian magazine edited by Robert Aspland....
, Monthly Repository
Monthly Repository
The Monthly Repository was a British monthly Unitarian periodical which ran between 1806 and 1838.The Monthly Repository was established when Robert Aspland bought William Vidler's Universal Theological Magazine and changed the name to the Monthly Repository of Theology and General Literature...
and the ‘Winchester (Va.) Gazette,’ ‘Northumberland (Pa.) Gazette,’ and ‘Democratic Press’ (Philadelphia).