Professional Documents
Culture Documents
A History of Manchester College From Its Foundation in Manchester To Its Establishment in Oxford Routledge Library Editions Education 1800 1926 Davis
A History of Manchester College From Its Foundation in Manchester To Its Establishment in Oxford Routledge Library Editions Education 1800 1926 Davis
https://ebookstep.com/product/the-origins-of-civic-universities-
manchester-leeds-and-liverpool-routledge-library-editions-
education-1800-1926-jones/
https://ebookstep.com/product/pestalozzi-his-thought-and-its-
relevance-today-routledge-library-editions-
education-1800-1926-heafford/
https://ebookstep.com/product/georg-kerschensteiner-his-thought-
and-its-relevance-today-routledge-library-editions-
education-1800-1926-simons/
https://ebookstep.com/product/the-higher-education-of-women-in-
england-and-america-1865-1920-routledge-library-editions-
education-1800-1926-eschbach/
The Universities in the Nineteenth Century Routledge
Library Editions Education 1800 1926 Michael Sanderson
https://ebookstep.com/product/the-universities-in-the-nineteenth-
century-routledge-library-editions-education-1800-1926-michael-
sanderson/
https://ebookstep.com/product/education-and-imperial-
unity-1901-1926-routledge-library-editions-
education-1800-1926-greenlee/
https://ebookstep.com/product/victorian-education-and-the-ideal-
of-womanhood-routledge-library-editions-
education-1800-1926-burstyn/
https://ebookstep.com/product/the-educational-world-of-edward-
thring-a-centenary-study-routledge-library-editions-
education-1800-1926-leinster-mackay/
https://ebookstep.com/product/philosophical-issues-in-education-
routledge-library-editions-philosophy-of-education-kleinig/
ROUTLEDGE LIBRARY EDITIONS:
EDUCATION 1800–1926
Volume 3
A HISTORY OF
MANCHESTER COLLEGE
A HISTORY OF
MANCHESTER COLLEGE
From its Foundation in Manchester to its
Establishment in Oxford
V. D. DAVIS
First published in 1932 by George Allen & Unwin Ltd
This edition rst published in 2017
by Routledge
2 Park Square, Milton Park, Abingdon, Oxon OX14 4RN
and by Routledge
711 Third Avenue, New York, NY 10017
Routledge is an imprint of the Taylor & Francis Group, an informa business
© 1932 V. D. Davis
All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reprinted or reproduced or utilised
in any form or by any electronic, mechanical, or other means, now known or
hereafter invented, including photocopying and recording, or in any information
storage or retrieval system, without permission in writing from the publishers.
Trademark notice: Product or corporate names may be trademarks or registered
trademarks, and are used only for identi cation and explanation without intent to
infringe.
British Library Cataloguing in Publication Data
A catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library
Publisher’s Note
The publisher has gone to great lengths to ensure the quality of this reprint but
points out that some imperfections in the original copies may be apparent.
Disclaimer
The publisher has made every e ort to trace copyright holders and would welcome
correspondence from those they have been unable to trace.
( ) &" - . # +0 * ' ' " %" 0 * / $* , ! 0
&*) &! #. , &" $( . +%$. ' - $).
A HISTORY OF
MANCHESTER COLLEGE
FROM ITS FOUNDATION IN MANCHESTER
TO ITS
ESTABLISHMENT IN OXFORD
by
V. D. DAVIS, B.A.
LONDON
GEORGE ALLEN UNWIN LTD
MUSEUM STREET
FIRST PUBLISHED IN 1932
PREFACE 7
PART 1
EARLIER ACADEMIES
I. THE FORE-RUNNERS 15
II. THE FIRST ACADEMY 2.1
PART 11
MANCHESTER COLLEGE
V. THE FIRST MANCHESTER PERIOD 53
VI. MANCHESTER COLLEGE, YORK 71
INDEX 2.11
This page intentionally left blank
ILLUSTRATIONS
PLAn:
EARLJER ACADEMIES
This page intentionally left blank
CHAPTER I
THE FORE-RUNNERS
been published in his volume, English Education under the Test Acts, by Dr.
H. McLachlan (Manchester University Press, 1931). It is full of valuable
information, to which some reference will be found in subsequent notes.
THE FORE-RUNNERS 18
THE FIRST
THE FIRST ACADEMYx
ACADEMYI
FROM RATHMEL
FROM TO WARRINGTON
RATHMEL TO WARRINGTON
CoNCERNING
CoNCERNING the men who carried
carried on Frankland's
Frankland's work work in
our succession ofof Academies only a few brief brief notes can be
added here, until
until we come to Warrington.
Warrington.
Dr. ]ames
James Clegg, in his Diary,
Diary, tells how
how on Frankland's
Frankland's
October I,
death, October Manchester to ask
1, 1698, he was sent to Manchester
John Chorlton,
lohn Chorlton, an old student
student ofof the Academy, to come
over and preach
preach the funeral sermon. "In "In that
that journey,"
journey," he
"I was in great
says, "I danger by the rivers which were raised
great danger
by the heavy rains."
rains." Chorlton, born at Salford, 1666,
Chorlton, born r 666, was
entered a student
entered student at Natland when he was sixteen, and five
Natland when
years later became colleague to the venerable Henry New-
venerable Henry
come1I in Manchester,
come Manchester, and thus saw the building building of of Cross
Street Chapel, opened
opened in 1694. He preachedpreached Frankland's
Frankland's
funeral sermon, but but declined the further
further request, thatthat he
would
would remain at Rathmel
Rathmel and carry on the Academy. Other
Other
attempts
attempts to secure a successor to Frankland
Frankland also failed, but but
Charlton's refusal was not
Chorlton's not absolute. He would
would not come to
Rathmel, light so effectually kindled
Rathmel, but the light kindled there
there he deter-
mined should notnot be extinguished,
extinguished, and the record that
record is that
"set up teaching
he "set teaching university learning in a great
university learning great house in
Manchester." Eleven of
Manchester." Eleven Frankland's students from Rathmel
ofFrankland's Rathmel
completed their
completed their course withwith him?
him,2 ]ames
James Clegg being
being one
of
of these, who noted
noted the great advantage
great advantage to the students of
being within reach of
being within Chetham Library.3
of the Chetham
Of Newcome
I1 Of Newcome also it recorded that
it is recorded that he "uni
"united with the character
ted with character of
of the
pastor, that of the teacher
pastor, that teacher of
of academical literature."
academicalliterature."
Others went
l3 Others went to the Academy established
established by another student, Timothy
another old student, Timothy
Jollie, at Attercliffe, after Frankland
Jollie, Frankland had returned
returned to Rathmel.
like many others
3 Clegg, like others at that
that time, was only "moderately
"moderately orthodox,"
orthodox,"
and as an instance
instance of advantage to students
of the advantage students of an open
open mind
mind of such
access to books,
books, remarks
remarks in in his Diary: "The writings
Diary: "The writings of Socinus and his
little impression
followers made little impression on me; only I could never
on me; never after be entirely
entirely
28 A HISTORY OF MANCHESTER COLLEGE
reconciled to the common doctrine of the Trinity ••.• I admired the clear
and strong reasoning of Episcopius; and, after that, could never well relish
the doctrines of rigid Calvinism." Cf. Gordon, Addressu Biographicaland
Historical, p. 8 I.
1 As with Frankland and Rathmel, Nicholson and Axon give a full account
THE WARRINGTON
THE WARRINGTON ACADEMY
ACADEMY
THE story of
THE of the Warrington
Warrington Academy falls naturally naturally into
three
three parts
parts:: first the preparation
preparation and foundation,
foundation, on more
broader lines'
public, broader lines ·than
than the Academies which which preceded
preceded
it, with 1757-61, under
with the first years, 1757-61, John Taylor
under Dr. John Taylor as
Divinity tutor;
Divinity tutor; then
then the prosperous
prosperous years, under
under Dr. Aikin,
Aikin,
1761-80, and lastly three years of
1761-80, of increasing
increasing difficulties,
ending with
ending with suspension
suspension of of the work
work in 1783178 3 and the final
dissolution of the society in 1786.
dissolution
The project
The launched in a circular, dated from Man-
project was launched
chester in July
chester July 1754, first among
among the stated
stated reasons for the
being the "total
appeal being "total deficiency of of Academies in this part part
of the country." The
ofthe The Findern
Findern Academy came to an end with with
Latham's death in that
Dr. Latham's that year, and it was two years since
Rotheram's death. To meet the need both
Rotheram's both for an adequate
adequate
supply of of ministers
ministers for Nonconformist
Nonconformist churches and for
the education
education under conditions of
under suitable conditions of men preparing
preparing
for other
other learned
learned professions
professions and for commerciallife,
commercial life, it was
proposed to form a body
now proposed body of Trustees, who should
of Trustees, should be
responsible establishment of
responsible for the establishment of a new academy and be
the ultimate
ultimate authority
authority for direction
direction and supervision
supervision of of the
work. TheThe plan was described as aiming aiming "to
"to unite
unite in the
manner the advantages
best manner advantages of of the public
public and more private
private
methods
methods of of education,"
education," providing
providing at the same time "for "for
the extensive learning
learning ofof our
our youth
youth and the security of of their
their
morals." Students preparing
morals." Students preparing for commercial
commercial life or the
learned professions
learned professions would
would not not only gain "some
"some knowledge
knowledge
of the more
of more useful branches
branches of of literature,
literature,"" they would
would be
"to an early acquaintance
led "to acquaintance with,with, and just cancern
concern for, the
true principles of
true principles of religion liberty, of
religion and liberty, of which greatgreat
interests they must in future
interests future life be the supporters";
supporters"; while
32
32 A HISTORY
HISTORY OF MANCHESTER COLLEGE
OF MANCHESTER COLLEGE
those to be employed
for those employed in the the ministerial
ministerial office
office "it
"it will
be an fovaluable
invaluable advantage
advantage to have them them educated
educated where
where
they
they may freely follow
follow the dictates of
the dictates of their
their own
own judgments
judgments
in their inquiries after
their inquiries after truth,
truth, without
without any undueundue bias im-
posed on their
posed their understanding."
understanding." So the foundation
foundation principle
principle
of the
of the Academy
Academy was laid down, down, and appeal
appeal was made to
the generosity "of
the generosity "of all friends
friends ofof Religion, Liberty and
Religion, Liberty
Learning."
Learning."
The moving
The moving spirit
spirit in the
the launching
launching of of the
the project
project was
John
John Seddon
Seddon 11 ofof Warrington,
Warrington, minister
minister of the Noncon-
the Noncon-
formist congregation of
formist congregation of thethe Sankey Street
Street (now Cairo
Street)
Street) Chapel. Born Born at Hereford, 1725, he had been
Hereford, 172.5, been a
pupil of
pupil of Rotheram's
Rotheram's at Kendal,
Kendal, and since 1747 settled settled at
Warrington. There,z
Warrington. There,2 after much debate
after much debate as to the riyal rival
claims ofof Manchester
Manchester and Ormskirk (the latter
and Ormskirk latter favoured
favoured by
Liverpool supporters),
Liverpool supporters), the Academy was ultimately
the Academy ultimately estab-
lished.3 Seddon
Seddon hadhad carried
carried on an extensive
extensive correspondence
correspondence
with
with leading Nonconformists in various
leading Nonconformists various parts
parts ofof the
the
country, and it was announced
country, announced in the the first circular
circular that
that
promises of
promises of subscriptions
subscriptions had been been received
received from Man-
chester, Liverpool,
chester, Liverpool, Birmingham,
Birmingham, Warrington,
Warrington, and by
April, 175 5, the total
April, 1755, promised was elose
total promised close upon
upon [300. Nant-
£300. Nant-
1 To
To be distinguished
distinguished from
from John Seddon, son of Peter
John Seddon, Seddon of Cockey
Peter Seddon
Moor, born
Moor, born 1719, also one of of Rotheram's
Rotheram's pupils,
pupils, and minister
minister ofof Cross
Street Chapel, Manchester,
Street Manchester, 1739-69;
1739-69; after 1761 avowed Socinian.
1761 an avowed
John of
John Warrington was also son of
of Warrington of a Feter
Peter Seddon,
Seddon, probably
probably a second
second
cousin of
cousin of the other,
other, and
and minister Ormskirk and Hereford.
minister successively at Ormskirk Hereford.
D.N.B. for both
Cf. D.N.B. both Seddons.
Seddons.
2• Warrington
Warrington at thatthat time was already a trade
trade centre
centre of
of some note. During
During
the Academy
the Academy period
period it is said to have produced half the saH
produced half sail cloth
cloth required
required
by the Navy. It
the Navy. It lay on
on the chief
chief road North-West, with
road to the North-West, with the only
bridge across the Mersey
bridge Mersey until
until far up towards
towards Manchester.
Manchester. It was because
that bridge
that bridge was broken down that
broken down that in the rebellion
rebellion of
of 1745 Pretender
1745 the Fretender
took
took the road
road through Manchester. Cf. Dr.
through Manchester. Dr. Aikin's
Aikin's Description ofthe
Description of the Country
Country
round Manchester,
round Manchester, 1805.
1805.
3 Cf. A Historical Sketch
A Historical Sketch ofof Warrington Academy, by Henry
Warrington Academy, Henry Arthur
Arthur Bright,
Bright,
M.A., Liverpool,
M.A., from the Transactions
Reprinted from
Liverpool, 1859. Reprinted Transactions ofof the
the Historical
Historical
Society of
Society Lancashire and
of Lancashire and Cheshire,
Cheshire, Vol. XI. Read November
November II, 11, 1858.
McLachlan also gives a fuil
McLachlan full account
account ofof the Academy,
Academy, and reproduces
reproduces old
pictures
pictures of the buildings.
buildings.
THE WARRINGTON ACADEMY 24
wich, Bristol, Exeter were ready to help; only from Leeds
came the adverse suggestion that all they required in the
way of education could be secured at Glasgow University.
On June 30, 1757, the first general meeting of subscribers
was held at Warrington, and the rule was adopted, as it
was afterwards for the Manchester Academy, that annual
subscribers of two guineas and donors of twenty should
constitute the body of Trustees. Lord Willoughby of
Parham was appointed president, John Lees of Manchester,
vice-president, Arthur Heywood of Liverpool, treasurer,
and John Seddon, secretary. The promises of annual sub-
scriptions amounted then to £469 5s., and benefactions
£148 11s. Houses were to be secured for the tutors, who
would receive students as boarders. The terms for this
were fixed at £15 for those who had two months' vacation,
or for those who had no vacation £18, with further payment
for "tea, washing, fire and candles." The tutors were to
receive £100 a year for salary. The Academy paid their "leys
and taxes." In December, 1758, salaries were raised to £120
and ultimately to £ 135 ; but Priestley in his Memoirs said
he had only £100, and his house.
The Academy was opened in October, 1757, in the house
which is still standing at "Bridge Foot" close to the river.
It is now preserved as a public institution, the home, since
1899, of the Warrington Society. The old house, happily
renovated, with its collection of books, manuscripts and
other treasures, is full of historical interest; but situated
as it is in an unquiet corner of the modern town, it requires
an effort of imagination to picture it as it was in Academy
days and as Mrs. Barbauld (Anna Laetitia Aikin) celebrated
it, in the lines of her "Invitation" :-
"Mark where its simple front yon mansion rears,
The nursery of men for future years I
Here callow chiefs and embryo statesmen lie,
And unfledg' d poets short excursions try:
C
34 A HISTORY OF MANCHESTER COLLEGE
While Mersey's gentle current, which too long
By fame neglected, and unknown to song,
Between his rushy banks, (no poet's theme)
Had crept inglorious, like a vulgar stream,
Reflects th' ascending steps with conscious pride,
And dares to emulate a classic tide.
The poetess was a girl of fifteen when she came with her
father to Warrington and she grew up in the Academy
circle of which she furnishes so charming an ideal picture. 1
There she found among the students
"Friendship, ardent as a summer's noon;
And generous scorn of vice's venial tribe;
And proud disdain of interest's sordid bribe;
And conscious honour's quick instinctive sense;
And smiles unforc' d ; and easy confidence;
And vivid fancy and clear simple truth;
And all the mental bloom of vernal youth."
Updated editions will replace the previous one—the old editions will
be renamed.
1.D. The copyright laws of the place where you are located also
govern what you can do with this work. Copyright laws in most
countries are in a constant state of change. If you are outside the
United States, check the laws of your country in addition to the terms
of this agreement before downloading, copying, displaying,
performing, distributing or creating derivative works based on this
work or any other Project Gutenberg™ work. The Foundation makes
no representations concerning the copyright status of any work in
any country other than the United States.
• You pay a royalty fee of 20% of the gross profits you derive from
the use of Project Gutenberg™ works calculated using the
method you already use to calculate your applicable taxes. The
fee is owed to the owner of the Project Gutenberg™ trademark,
but he has agreed to donate royalties under this paragraph to
the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation. Royalty
payments must be paid within 60 days following each date on
which you prepare (or are legally required to prepare) your
periodic tax returns. Royalty payments should be clearly marked
as such and sent to the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive
Foundation at the address specified in Section 4, “Information
about donations to the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive
Foundation.”
• You comply with all other terms of this agreement for free
distribution of Project Gutenberg™ works.
1.F.
1.F.4. Except for the limited right of replacement or refund set forth in
paragraph 1.F.3, this work is provided to you ‘AS-IS’, WITH NO
OTHER WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED,
INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO WARRANTIES OF
MERCHANTABILITY OR FITNESS FOR ANY PURPOSE.