James Purves (minister) facts for kids

James Purves (1734–1795) was a Scottish minister who believed in "universal salvation." This means he thought that all people would eventually be saved by God. He was an important religious thinker and teacher during his lifetime.

Early Life and Beliefs

James Purves was born in Blackadder, Scotland, on September 23, 1734. His father was a shepherd who passed away in 1754. In 1755, James joined a religious group in Chirnside. These groups were called "fellowship societies."

These societies had once been part of the Reformed Presbyterian Church of Scotland. However, they left in 1753. They believed in "universal atonement," which meant they thought Jesus died for everyone, not just a select few.

In 1756, Purves became an apprentice to his uncle, who was a carpenter in Duns. He read a book by Isaac Watts and started to believe that Jesus's human soul existed before he was born. In 1763, his societies sent him to Coleraine, Ireland. He met with another church group there that shared similar ideas.

Becoming a Preacher

By 1769, the societies in Berwickshire decided they needed their own preacher. They chose James Purves by chance. He then went to Glasgow College to study. There, he learned Latin, Greek, and Hebrew. This helped him read the Bible in its original languages.

In 1771, Purves wrote a statement of beliefs for his societies. It focused on the idea that people should freely study the Bible for themselves. They should not be biased by old religious rules. This idea caused some arguments with other church leaders.

Moving to Edinburgh

In 1776, some members of Purves's societies moved to Edinburgh. They started a new religious group there. They invited James Purves to join them. He supported himself by teaching. On November 15, 1776, he was chosen as their pastor.

His school and church were in Broughton, near Edinburgh. Later, a church called St. Paul's was built on that spot. In 1777, he moved his home to Wright's Houses in Edinburgh.

Spreading His Ideas

In 1786, Purves met Thomas Fyshe Palmer. They shared similar political views. In 1792, Purves's church services became open to the public. The group officially called themselves "universalist dissenters." They also published a statement of their beliefs.

Starting in 1793, reading from the Bible became a regular part of their services. This was not common in Scotland at the time. Members were also encouraged to speak publicly before the minister's sermon. Purves's church was small. However, he preached three times every Sunday. He also shared his ideas by writing books and pamphlets. He even printed his early writings himself. He made his own Hebrew letters for printing.

In late 1794, James Purves stopped preaching. He passed away on February 1, 1795. He was buried in the Calton cemetery in Edinburgh. Part of his grave was later moved when a new road was built. His church did not have a minister again until 1812.

What James Purves Believed

In 1790, Purves taught that human souls existed before birth. He also strongly believed in the idea of the "millennium." This is a future time when Jesus is expected to rule on Earth. He thought this time was coming soon. His last book, finished just before he died, argued against "deism." Deism is the belief that God created the world but does not interfere with it. He wrote this book to reply to Tom Paine, a famous writer of the time.

His Family Life

James Purves was married three times. His first wife was Isobel Blair. They had a daughter named Elizabeth (1766–1839). Elizabeth later married Hamilton Dunn. His second wife was Sarah Brown. They had a daughter named Margaret, who married John Crichton. His third wife was Lilias Scott. They had a daughter named Mary. Mary married William Paul in 1801 and moved to Boston, Massachusetts. Purves's widow, Lilias, ran a bookstore in Edinburgh. She later moved to America.