Thomas Emlyn
Thomas Emlyn (born May 27, 1663 in Stamford , † July 30, 1741 in London ) was a Presbyterian preacher and writer who later turned to Unitarianism .
Live and act
Emlyn was born in Stamford in the East Midlands in England in 1663 . At the age of 19 he gave his first sermons. In 1683, at the age of twenty, he became the private chaplain of two aristocratic families in England and Ireland . In 1691 he finally became a preacher for the Presbyterian (Reformed) Church on Wood Street in Dublin , which still gathers in Dublin's St Stephen's Green Church . Here he turned increasingly to non-conformist and, above all, Unitarian-anti-Trinitarian ideas. In 1702 he published a christological treatise ( An Humble Inquiry into the Scripture Account of Jesus Chris ) in which he openly questioned the concept of the Trinity for the first time , which led to his dismissal and blasphemy charges . Emlyn was sentenced to a fine and a year in prison. He did not accept the offer to revoke his views. Since he was unable to pay the large fine, his prison term was extended until a friend managed to have the amount reduced accordingly. He was finally released on July 21, 1705. He then moved to London, where he was able to gather a circle of supporters. Here he was in contact with William Whiston , who was also negative about the Trinity.
Emlyn stands for the part of the British dissenters who turned increasingly to Unitarianism from the 18th century. He himself is said to have been the first British preacher to openly describe himself as Unitarian. In 1790, several years after his death, parts of his christological treatise were published in North America , where they influenced the development of New England Unitarianism.
Web links
| personal data | |
|---|---|
| SURNAME | Emlyn, Thomas |
| BRIEF DESCRIPTION | Presbyterian preacher and writer |
| DATE OF BIRTH | May 27, 1663 |
| PLACE OF BIRTH | Stamford |
| DATE OF DEATH | July 30, 1741 |
| Place of death | London |