The Bible Christian Church was a Christian vegetarian sect founded by William Cowherd in Salford, Greater Manchester, in 1809, as a spilt from the Swedenborgians. Members of the church were committed vegetarians and the church was foundational in the formation of the British and American vegetarian movements.
William Cowherd founded the Bible Christian Church following a split from the Swedenborgians. Their first chapel was known as Christ Church and located in King Street, Salford, Greater Manchester. The church later moved to new premises in Cross Lane. Further chapels were also established in Hulme and Every Street, Ancoats. [1]
To join the church, members had to sign a pledge that committed them to a vegetarian diet and abstention from alcohol. [2] Followers of Cowherd's ideas were commonly known as Bible Christians or "Cowherdites". Members of the church including Joseph Brotherton and James Simpson were involved in the founding of the Vegetarian Society in 1847. [3]
In 1816, Cowherd died and Joseph Brotherton was appointed his successor. Brotherton held the position for 40 years until his death in 1857. [4] He was succeeded by James Clark (1830–1905) in 1858, who served as pastor for nearly 50 years. [5]
By 1932, unable to attract enough vegetarian members, the English Bible Christians merged into the Pendleton Unitarians. [6]
The church's message was later preached in the United States, as about 40 members under the leadership of the Reverend William Metcalfe and the Reverend James Clark [note 1] crossed the Atlantic in 1817 and formed the Philadelphia Bible Christian Church. [8] These members subsequently provided a nucleus for the American vegetarian movement and, later, the American Vegetarian Society. [9]
Bible Christians put great emphasis on independence of mind and freedom of belief, stating that they did not presume "to exercise any dominion over the faith or conscience of men." They believed in free will and had a Pelagian approach. [9] They argued that religion when properly understood reveals the same truth to all men. There was no emphasis on original sin or conversion. Man was not saved by faith alone but by his actions and the value of his life as a whole. Vegetarianism formed part of this belief. [9] Cowherd is said to have stated: "..If God had meant us to eat meat, then it would have come to us in edible form 'as is the ripened fruit'" [3]
The Vegetarian Society of the United Kingdom (VSUK) is a British registered charity. It campaigns for dietary changes, licenses Vegetarian Society Approved trademarks for vegetarian and vegan products, runs a cookery school and lottery, and organises National Vegetarian Week in the UK.
Christian vegetarianism is the practice of keeping to a vegetarian lifestyle for reasons connected to or derived from the Christian faith. The three primary reasons are spiritual, nutritional, and ethical. The ethical reasons may include a concern for God's creation, a concern for animal rights and welfare, or both. Likewise, Christian veganism is not using any animal products for reasons connected to or derived from the Christian faith. Pescatarianism was widespread in the early Church, among both the clergy and laity. Among the early Judeo-Christian Gnostics the Ebionites held that John the Baptist, James the Just and Jesus were vegetarians.
William Cowherd was an English Christian minister and vegetarianism activist. He served a congregation in Salford known as the Bible Christian Church. Cowherd advocated and encouraged members of his then small group of followers, known as Bible Christians or "Cowherdites", to abstain from the eating of meat as a form of temperance. The Church was one of the philosophical forerunners of the Vegetarian Society founded in 1847.
Joseph Brotherton was an English reforming politician, Bible Christian minister, and a pioneering vegetarian activist. He was Salford's first MP and has been described as the first vegetarian member of parliament.
William Edward Armytage Axon was an English librarian, antiquary and journalist for the Manchester Guardian. He contributed to the Dictionary of National Biography under his initials W. E. A. A. He was also a notable vegetarianism activist.
Lacto-ovo vegetarianism or ovo-lacto vegetarianism is a type of vegetarianism which forbids animal flesh but allows the consumption of animal products such as dairy and eggs. Unlike pescetarianism, it does not include fish or other seafood. A typical ovo-lacto vegetarian diet may include fruits, vegetables, grains, legumes, meat substitutes, nuts, seeds, soy, cheese, milk, yogurt and eggs.
Greengate is an inner-city suburb of Salford in Greater Manchester, England. It is bounded by the River Irwell, Victoria Bridge Street and Chapel Street, Blackfriars Road and Trinity Way. Greengate is the original historic core of Salford and sits within the easternmost part of the City of Salford. Greengate is currently experiencing a period of intensive development activity and growth, benefiting from its location just across the River Irwell from the City of Manchester.
Weaste Cemetery, previously known as Salford Borough Cemetery, is a public Grade II listed Victorian cemetery in Weaste, Salford. Opened in 1857, it is the oldest of Salford's four cemeteries, covering 39 acres (16 ha) and containing over 332,000 graves. It was established due to the overcrowding of churchyards, officially opening on 1 September 1857, with its first interment being Joseph Brotherton on 14 January 1857. The cemetery, which was bombed during the 1940 Manchester Blitz, now features a heritage trail and guided tours, with several Grade II listed monuments. It also holds graves of 373 Commonwealth service personnel from both World Wars, with special memorials and listings for those buried abroad and in unmarked graves.
Vegetable Cookery: With an Introduction, Recommending Abstinence from Animal Food and Intoxicating Liquors is the first vegetarian cookbook, authored anonymously by Martha Brotherton (1783–1861) of Salford.
Martha Harvey Brotherton was an English cookbook writer and an advocate for vegetarianism. In 1812, she published Vegetable Cookery, the first known vegetarian cookbook. She married Joseph Brotherton, her cousin, in 1806; he later became Salford’s first Member of Parliament. A passionate supporter of the Bible Christian Church, she championed the church’s values, which included dietary reform and ethical living.
Henry Stephen Clubb was an English-American Bible Christian minister, activist, journalist, author, Civil War veteran, and Michigan State Senator. Born in Colchester, England, Clubb advocated for various causes, including abolitionism, vegetarianism, and Chartism. He emigrated to the United States in 1852, where he worked as a journalist and was involved in efforts to establish a utopian community, known as Octagon City, Kansas. During the American Civil War, Clubb served in the Union Army as a quartermaster, including during the Siege of Vicksburg. From 1873 to 1874, he represented Michigan's 29th Senate district. Clubb also led the Bible Christian Church in Philadelphia and founded the Vegetarian Society of America, serving as its president. In 1903, he published his best-known work, Thirty-nine Reasons Why I Am a Vegetarian.
William Metcalfe was an English-American minister in the Bible Christian Church, homeopathic physician, and activist for vegetarianism, pacifism, temperance and abolitionism. He was a prominent figure in the American vegetarian movement.
James Simpson was a Bible Christian deacon and activist for a number of causes. He was active in the vegetarianism, temperance, anti-tobacco, anti-Corn Law and peace movements. Simpson co-founded and served as the first President of the Vegetarian Society.
James Scholefield, was an English religious leader, social reformer, undertaker, and medical practitioner. He is known for his contributions to the Bible Christian Church, his advocacy for vegetarianism and temperance, and his involvement in the British radical reform movement.
James Clark was an English Bible Christian Church minister and activist for temperance and vegetarianism. Clark was deeply involved in social causes, including relief efforts during the Cotton Famine and service on the Salford Board of Guardians. As Honorary Secretary of the Vegetarian Society, he represented the organisation at international congresses and helped found the International Vegetarian Union.
Peter Foxcroft was an English cotton mill manager, inventor, Bible Christian Church preacher, and vegetarianism activist. He was an early and prominent member of the Vegetarian Society and a leading figure in the Bible Christian Church. Foxcroft managed a cotton mill owned by Charles and John Tysoe, and filed several patents for improvements in cotton machinery.
Edwin Collier was an English accountant, Bible Christian deacon, and vegetarianism activist. He served as vice president and treasurer of the Vegetarian Society. Collier also founded Edwin Collier, Tongue and Co., one of the largest accountancy firms outside of London.
William Harvey was an English industrialist, cotton mill owner, deacon, and activist. He was an advocate for parliamentary reform, temperance, vegetarianism and against tobacco. Harvey helped found the Bible Christian Church and served as deacon from 1809 till his death. He helped establish the Vegetarian Society, the Manchester and Salford Temperance Union, and the United Kingdom Alliance, serving as President of each organisation. Additionally, he served as Vice President of the Anti-Tobacco Society. Harvey also assisted in founding Salford Council and served as one of Salford's first aldermen from 1844 to 1870. He was elected Mayor of Salford in 1857 and 1858.
William Harrison was an English industrialist, activist, and writer. He owned a prominent knitting firm and was known for his contributions to the knitting industry. Harrison was an advocate of vegetarianism and was treasurer to the Manchester Vegetarian Society from 1891 until his death. He was also associated with the Theistic Church in London and Bible Christian Church in Salford.
James Gaskill was an English cotton spinner, Bible Christian minister, and activist. He was an advocate for temperance and vegetarianism.
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