Alexander Mackennal

Alexander Mackennal

Alexander Mackennal (January 14, 1835 - June 23, 1904), British Nonconformist divine, was born at Truro in Cornwall, the son of Patrick Mackennal, a Scot, who had settled there.

In 1848 the family removed to London, and at sixteen he went to the University of Glasgow. In 1854 he entered Hackney College to prepare for the Congregational ministry, and in 1857 he graduated BA at the University of London. After holding pastorates at Burton upon Trent (1856-1861), Surbiton (1862-1870), Leicester (1870-1876), he finally accepted the pastorate of the Congregational Church at Bowdon, Cheshire, in 1877, in which he remained till his death.

In 1886 he was chairman of the Congregational Union, which he represented in 1889 at the triannual national council of the American Congregational churches. The first international council of Congregationalists held in London in 1891 was partly cause, partly consequence, of his visit, and Mackennal acted as secretary. In 1892 he became definitely associated in the public mind with a movement for free church federation which grew out of a series of meetings held to discuss the question of home reunion.

When the Lambeth articles put forward as a basis of union were discussed, it was evident that all the free churches were agreed in accepting the three articles dealing with the Bible, the Creed and the Sacraments as a basis of discussion, and were also agreed in rejecting the fourth article, which put the historic episcopate on the same level as the other three. Omitting the Anglicans, the representatives of the remaining churches resolved to develop Christian fellowship by united action and worship wherever possible.

Out of this grew the Free Church Federation, which secures a measure of co-operation between the Protestant Evangelical churches throughout England. Mackennal's public action brought him into association with many well-known political and religious leaders. He was a lifelong advocate of international peace, and made a remarkable declaration as to the Christian standard of national action when the Free Church Federation met at Leeds during the South African War in 1900.

Besides a volume of sermons under the title "Christ's Healing Touch", Mackennal published "The Biblical Scheme of Nature and of Man", "The Christian Testimony", the "Letters to the Seven Churches of Asia", "The Kingdom of the Lord Jesus and The Eternal God and the Human Sonship". These are contributions to exegetical study or to theological and progressive religious thought, and have elements of permanent value.

He also made some useful contributions to religious history. In 1893 he published the Story of the "English Separatists", and later the "Homes and Haunts of the Pilgrim Fathers"; he also wrote the life of Dr JA Macfadyen of Manchester. In 1901 he delivered a series of lectures at Hartford Theological Seminary, Connecticut, USA, published under the title "The Evolution of Congregationalism". He died at Highgate on the 23rd of June 1904. See D. Macfadyen, Life and Letters of Alexander Mackennal (1905).----


Wikimedia Foundation. 2010.

Игры ⚽ Поможем написать реферат

Look at other dictionaries:

  • Charles Albert Berry — (14 December 1852 – 31 January 1899), English nonconformist divine, was born at Bradshawgate, Leigh, Lancashire. At the age of seventeen he entered Airedale College, Bradford, to train for the Congregational ministry, and in 1875 became pastor of …   Wikipedia

  • Free Church Federation — is a voluntary association of British Nonconformist churches for cooperation in religious social work. It was the outcome of a unifying tendency displayed during the latter part of the 19th century. About 1890 the proposal that there should be a… …   Wikipedia

  • Memorials to William Shakespeare — Engraving of the sculpture of Shakespeare at the entrance to the Boydell Shakespeare Gallery. The sculpture is now in the former garden of Shakespeare s home New Place in Stratford. William Shakespeare has been commemorated in a number of… …   Wikipedia

  • George V — For other uses, see George V (disambiguation). George V …   Wikipedia

  • Medallic art — Art medals are a well known and highly collected form of small bronze sculpture, and are considered a form of exonumia. Art medals have been produced since the late Renaissance period, and the category was basically invented by Pisanello, who… …   Wikipedia

  • Cliveden — This article is about the British mansion. For Benjamin Chew s mansion in Germantown, Pennsylvania, see Cliveden (Benjamin Chew House). View looking north from the Ring in the Parterre showing Terrace Pavilion and Clock Tower to the left with… …   Wikipedia

  • High Commission of Australia in London — The High Commission of Australia in London is housed in Australia House, a building that also accommodates other Australian federal and state government agencies, including the Menzies Centre for Australian Studies, part of King s College… …   Wikipedia

  • Peter Nicol Russell — Sir Peter Nicol Russell (4 July 1816 – 10 July 1905) was an Australian foundry owner, philanthropist and university benefactor. Contents 1 Early life 2 Career in Australia 3 Legacy 4 References …   Wikipedia

  • Sturt Street Gardens — The Sturt Street Gardens are located in Ballarat, Victoria (Australia). The gardens area a central median of the main thoroughfare of Ballarat, Sturt Street. The gardens run for 13 blocks and contain significant statues, bandstands, memorials and …   Wikipedia

  • Casa de Gobierno (Canberra) — Saltar a navegación, búsqueda Casa de Gobierno de la atalaya sobre la Señora Denman Drive Casa de Gobierno, Canberra, comúnmente conocida como Yarralumla, es la residencia oficial del Gobernador General de Australia, localizada en el suburbio de… …   Wikipedia Español

Share the article and excerpts

Direct link
Do a right-click on the link above
and select “Copy Link”