William Dodwell facts for kids
William Dodwell (1709–1785) was an English church leader and writer. He was known for his strong religious beliefs and for writing many books and sermons. From 1763, he held an important position as the archdeacon of Berkshire.
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Early Life and Education
William Dodwell was born on June 17, 1709, in a place called Shottesbrooke, in Berkshire, England. He was the second son and fifth child of Henry Dodwell the elder. His father was a 'nonjuror', which meant he had very strong religious beliefs and did not agree with certain changes in the Church of England at that time.
William went to Trinity College, Oxford, for his education. He studied hard and earned his Master of Arts (M.A.) degree in 1732.
His Career in the Church
After finishing his studies, William Dodwell became a rector at Shottesbrooke. This meant he was the main priest in charge of the church there. He also became a vicar in two other places: White Waltham and Bucklesbury.
As he grew in his career, important church leaders recognized his talents. In 1748, Thomas Sherlock, who was the bishop of Salisbury, gave him a special role at Salisbury Cathedral. Later, another bishop of Salisbury, John Thomas, made him the archdeacon of Berkshire in 1763. This was a very important job, overseeing many churches and clergy in the area.
Why He Was Famous
On February 23, 1750, the University of Oxford gave William Dodwell a special Doctor of Divinity (D.D.) degree. They did this because he had written important responses to another writer named Conyers Middleton. This was part of a big discussion at the time about religious ideas, sometimes called the Middletonian Controversy. Dodwell was known for defending traditional Christian beliefs.
William Dodwell passed away on October 23, 1785.
His Writings and Debates
Like his father, William Dodwell was very good at discussing and debating religious topics. He often wrote to argue against the ideas of other thinkers. Some of the people he debated with included Conyers Middleton, William Romaine, and William Whiston.
Here are some of his important works:
- 'Two Sermons on the Eternity of Future Punishment' (1743): These were written to answer ideas from William Whiston.
- 'A Visitation Sermon on the desirableness of the Christian Faith' (1744): This sermon was published because Bishop Sherlock asked him to.
- 'Two Sermons on 1 Pet. iii. 15 on the Nature, Procedure, and Effects of a Rational Faith' (1745): These sermons were preached at Oxford University. They were specifically written to respond to his brother Henry Dodwell's book, Christianity not founded on Argument.
- 'Sermon on the Practical Influence of the Doctrine of the Holy Trinity' (1745).
- 'Dissertation on Jephthah's Vow' (1745): This was written after Reverend William Romaine gave a sermon on the same topic.
- 'Practical Discourses (14) on Moral Subjects' (Vol. I, 1748; Vol. II, 1749): These books were dedicated to his supporters.
- 'Free Answer to Dr. Middleton's Free Inquiry into the Miraculous Powers of the Primitive Church' (1749).
- 'Reply to Mr. Toll's Defence of Dr. Middleton's Free Inquiry' (1751).
- 'Two Sermons on Superstition' (1754).
- 'Two Sermons on the Doctrine of Divine Visitation by Earthquakes' (1756).
- 'Charge to the Clergy of the Archdeaconry of Berks' (1764): This was a speech he gave to the church leaders in his area.
- 'The Sick Man's Companion; or the Clergyman's Assistant in Visiting the Sick, with a Dissertation on Prayer' (1767): This book helped other clergy members.
- 'Three Charges on the Athanasian Creed' (1802): These were published after his death by his eldest son, Henry Dodwell.
His Family Life
On November 27, 1740, William Dodwell married Elizabeth Brown at Bray Church. They had a large family together. One of his children later married Thomas Ridding, who was related to George Ridding.
William was also the brother of Henry Dodwell jr, who was a lawyer and religious writer. Henry jr wrote a well-known book called Christianity Not Founded on Argument in 1741, which William Dodwell responded to in his own writings.
