Newcome Cappe facts for kids
Newcome Cappe (21 February 1733 – 24 December 1800) was an English religious leader. He was a Unitarian divine, which means he was a minister who believed in a specific Christian faith called Unitarianism. He served as the pastor of the York Unitarian Chapel in York, England. Cappe wrote and published several sermons during his lifetime. After he passed away, his second wife, Catharine Cappe, published many more of his writings.
Newcome Cappe's Early Life and Career
Newcome Cappe was born in Leeds, Yorkshire. He was the oldest son of Reverend Joseph Cappe, who was also a minister. His father led a nonconformist church, which was a Christian group that did not follow the official Church of England. Newcome was trained to become a minister in these nonconformist churches.
He studied with different teachers. For one year (1748–1749), he was with John Aikin in Kibworth. Then, for three years, he studied with Philip Doddridge in Northampton. After that, he spent three more years (1752–1755) studying in Glasgow with William Leechman.
In November 1755, Cappe was chosen to be a co-pastor at the chapel in St. Saviourgate, York. He worked alongside Reverend John Hotham. When Hotham died the next May, Cappe became the only pastor for the congregation. He stayed in this role until he passed away.
Cappe was a supporter of reforms in politics. He backed the Yorkshire Association, a group that wanted changes in government. In his religious beliefs, he started in a traditional Independent church. However, he later followed the ideas of Joseph Priestley and adopted Unitarian views. In 1783, he supported the Society for Promoting the Knowledge of the Scriptures.
Cappe lived in a large house in Upper Ousegate in York. He often invited writers and thinkers to his home. He even started a literary club in 1771, which lasted for almost twenty years.
Later in his life, Cappe was often sick. In 1791, he had a paralytic stroke. He had more attacks after that, and his health got worse. He died in York. Charles Wellbeloved had started helping him with his duties as an assistant minister in 1792.
What Did He Write?
Newcome Cappe did not publish many writings during his lifetime. When Theophilus Lindsey left the Church of England in 1773, Cappe wrote a reply to someone who criticized Lindsey. He also printed a pamphlet in 1783 defending Dr. Priestley from attacks.
During the American Revolutionary War, Cappe gave sermons on special days of "national humiliation." These sermons, preached in 1776, 1780, 1781, 1782, and 1784, showed support for the American side.
An earlier sermon he gave in 1757, after a big victory by Frederick the Great, was very popular. It was printed many times. In 1770, Cappe published a sermon in memory of Reverend Edward Sandercock. In 1785, he published a collection of his sermons.
Cappe also put together two other works. One was called A Selection of Psalms for Social Worship. The other was An Alphabetical Explication of some Terms and Phrases in Scripture. These were printed in York in 1786. The second book was even reissued in Boston, Massachusetts, in 1818. A more detailed work by Cappe, Discourses on the Providence and Government of God, came out in 1795. It had two more editions later.
After Cappe's death, his widow Catharine collected and edited his speeches and writings. These included:
- Critical Remarks on many important Passages of Scripture (1802, 2 volumes)
- Discourses chiefly on Devotional Subjects (1805)
- Connected History of the Life and Divine Mission of Jesus Christ (1809)
- Discourses chiefly on Practical Subjects (1815)
Catharine wrote her own memories of his life for the first two of these books. The second book also included a sermon from William Wood and a memoir from the Monthly Review.
His Family Life
In October 1759, Cappe married Sarah Turner. She was the oldest daughter of William Turner, a merchant from Hull. Sarah passed away in the spring of 1773 from an illness, leaving behind six children.
His second wife was Catharine Harrison. They married on 19 February 1788. Catharine was a strong supporter of education for girls and Unitarian beliefs. She wrote about charity schools and helped the poet Charlotte Richardson.
Cappe's oldest son, Joseph Cappe, who was a doctor, died in February 1791. His youngest son, Robert Cappe, also a doctor, died on 16 November 1802 while traveling to Livorno.
