David Bradberry facts for kids
David Bradberry, also known as Bradbury (born 1736, died 1803), was an English minister who belonged to a group called nonconformists. Nonconformists were Protestants in England who did not follow the rules of the official Church of England.
About David Bradberry's Life
David Bradberry lived in London around 1768. For a while, he was a minister at a church called Glovers' Hall in London. This church was for Baptists, a type of Christian group.
Later, Bradberry moved from Ramsgate to Manchester. In 1785, he became the minister of a Congregational church on Cannon Street. He took over from Reverend Timothy Priestley, who was the brother of the famous scientist Joseph Priestley.
Bradberry's time as a minister in Manchester was a bit difficult. There were some disagreements, especially with members from Scotland. These members wanted to bring in a new way of organizing the church with "ruling elders." Because of these disagreements, some members left and built a new church in Mosley Street. This new church became the biggest non-Church of England chapel in Lancashire at the time.
In 1794, Bradberry decided to leave his position as minister and moved away from Manchester. He is buried in a place called Bunhill Fields. His gravestone says he passed away on January 13, 1803, at 67 years old. It also mentions that he had been a preacher for 42 years.
David Bradberry's Writings
David Bradberry wrote several books and sermons during his life. Here are some of them:
- A Challenge sent by the Lord of Hosts to the Chief of Sinners (1766): This was a sermon, which is a speech about religious topics. It was based on a verse from the Bible.
- Letter Relative to the Test Act (1789): This was a letter about the Test Act, which was a law in England that affected non-Church of England Protestants.
- Tetelestai, the Final Close (1704): This was a long poem divided into six parts. It described the Day of Judgment, which is a religious idea about the end of the world. The poem was written in a very unusual style. What makes this book especially interesting is its dedication. Bradberry dedicated the poem to God, using many grand and unique titles for Him, like "Governor-general of the World" and "Chief Shepherd or Archbishop of Souls."
