James Armstrong (Unitarian minister) facts for kids

James Armstrong (1780–1839) was an important Irish Unitarian minister. A minister is a religious leader, and Unitarians are a type of Christian group with specific beliefs. He was known for helping to start new religious groups and for his writings.

Life of James Armstrong

James Armstrong was born in 1780 in Ballynahinch, County Down, which is in Ireland. His father was John Armstrong. His mother was the daughter of Rev. John Strong, who was a Presbyterian minister in Ballynahinch for many years. James was also a descendant of John Livingstone, who helped start Irish presbyterianism.

Education and Early Career

James Armstrong first studied at the Rademon Academy. After that, he worked as a classical assistant for William Bruce at Belfast Academy. He also taught a special class about sacred history. He then went on to study at Trinity College, Dublin, and later studied philosophy at the University of Edinburgh with a famous professor named Dugald Stewart.

Becoming a Minister

In 1806, James Armstrong was approved to be a minister by the Presbytery of Antrim. This group was "non-subscribing," meaning they didn't require ministers to sign a strict statement of faith. Later that year, he was asked to lead churches in Clonmel and Dublin. He chose the church in Strand Street, Dublin. On December 25, 1806, he officially became a minister there, working alongside John Moody. After Moody passed away, William Hamilton Drummond became his colleague in 1815.

Important Contributions

James Armstrong helped create two important religious groups. In 1830, he was one of the founders of the Irish Unitarian Society. Then, in 1835, he helped start the Association of Irish Nonsubscribing Presbyterians. He even represented this group at a big celebration in Geneva in 1835, marking 300 years since the Reformation began.

In 1834, he received an important degree, Doctor of Divinity (DD), from the university of Geneva. He was also a member of the Royal Irish Academy, a respected group that promotes learning in Ireland.

Later Life and Family

James Armstrong died very suddenly on December 4, 1839, in Dublin. He had preached a sermon just a few days before and had even married a couple on the morning of his death. He was married to Mary Allman. They had two sons, John Strong Armstrong and Rev. George Allman Armstrong, and four daughters. His son George later became a minister at the same church in Strand Street.

Works by James Armstrong

James Armstrong wrote and published several important religious texts. These works often explained his beliefs and defended Unitarian Christianity.

• 'A Discourse on Presbyterian Ordination,' and an 'Appendix, containing some account of the Presbyterian Churches in Dublin,' both published in London in 1829.
• 'The Sin against the Holy Ghost,' published in London in 1836. This was a sermon he gave for the British and Foreign Unitarian Association.
• 'A Sermon vindicating the Principles of Unitarian Christianity,' published in Dublin in 1838. This sermon was written because of a local debate about Unitarian beliefs.