How the Academy/General
Church Was First Launched in
England in 1874
Patrick L. Johnson
(This talk was given at the British Academy All Age School
at Purley Chase, England, in September 2014.)
W
hy are you here today? I don’t mean for what purpose; I know you have
come here for inspiration and instruction. I mean why is the British
Academy meeting at Purley Chase in the depths of the Midlands, rather than at
Colchester, Hoddesden, Swedenborg Hall or somewhere nearer your homes?
It is a long story beginning at the Camden Road Church in London where
“Academy ideas” were first launched in 1874. 1874? Assuming you are into
dates, you won’t believe me – which does not surprise me. I know it probably
isn’t what you have read or been told. Let me explain.
As many readers will know, the Academy was first organized in 1876
and the General Church was not founded until 1897. But of course these
organizations were not born fully formed. Many informal events led up to
their founding, some more and some less significant. I am suggesting that
possibly the earliest, although not very significant, of these was at an Annual
Meeting of the Camden Road New Church Society in 1874.
Camden Road was a General Conference society in North London. The
church building was a fine Victorian structure, complete with a lofty spire, fine
organ, lecture hall and library. It had just been built and had been consecrated
by its new pastor, the Rev. Dr. Rudolf Tafel, who compiled Documents
Concerning Swedenborg. He was assisted by the Rev. William Bruce, who wrote
the well-known Bible commentaries, and the Rev. Samuel Warren, who edited
the Swedenborg Compendium. Certainly a good send-off!
Sometime later in the year, the members of the church held an annual
meeting at which the costs and furnishing of the new church must have been
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