William Metcalfe | |
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 Portrait fromHistory of the Philadelphia Bible-Christian Church (1922) | |
| Born | (1788-03-11)March 11, 1788 Orton, Westmoreland, England |
| Died | October 16, 1862(1862-10-16) (aged 74) Philadelphia,Pennsylvania, U.S. |
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| Years active | 1811–1862 |
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| Spouse | |
| Children | 1 |
William Metcalfe (March 11, 1788 – October 16, 1862) was an English-AmericanBible Christian Church minister, homeopathic physician, and advocate ofvegetarianism,pacifism,temperance andabolitionism. Ordained byWilliam Cowherd in 1811, he emigrated with fellow Bible Christians in 1817 and founded the Philadelphia Bible Christian Church. In 1850 he helped establish theAmerican Vegetarian Society with figures includingWilliam Alcott,Sylvester Graham andRussell Thacher Trall; after Alcott's death in 1859 he served as the society's president. He also edited and published reform periodicals.
William Metcalfe was born inOrton, Westmoreland, on March 11, 1788, the son of Jonathan and Elizabeth Metcalfe. At the age of 19, he became a clerk inKeighly, Yorkshire. There, he encountered a congregation ofSwedenborgians led by Rev. Joseph Wright, to whom Metcalfe became attached. Wright persuaded Metcalfe to study theology, leading him to an academy inSalford, presided over byWilliam Cowherd, the founder of theBible Christian Church. Cowherd ordained Metcalfe as a minister in 1811. In 1810, Metcalfe married Susanna, a fellow vegetarian and abstainer, who was the daughter of Rev. Joseph Wright.[1]: 23 Their son, Joseph, was born in the same year.[1]: 58
In 1817, Metcalfe, and the Reverend James Clark,[note 1] along with around 40 members of the Bible Christian Church,[note 2] embarked on a journey to the United States under the guidance of Cowherd.[4] There they formed the Philadelphia Bible Christian Church; it was not only the United States' first vegetarian church but also the inaugural assembly of a substantial community embracing vegetarianism.[5] Among the group, a portion maintained their vegetarian lifestyle, becoming a foundational force in the emergence of the American vegetarian movement.[4]
After establishing themselves in the United States, Metcalfe and his wife, endeavored to impart lessons onpacifism,temperance,abolitionism, and vegetarianism to their neighbors—core principles of their faith. Although their church did not achieve widespread popularity, its smaller size was compensated by a dedicated and loyal following.[6] The community Metcalfe led were vegetarians who not only refrained from consuming meat but also held the conviction thatJesus himself was vegetarian. Despite his amiable and well-regarded nature, Metcalfe faced challenges in expanding his congregation due to his promotion of this belief. Occasionally, he encountered resistance and criticism for his stance on vegetarianism, with newspapers questioning his preaching and character, even labeling him as an "Infidel."[6]
Metcalfe consistently faced the challenge of maintaining the church's financial stability. Beyond his preaching duties, he devoted his time to instructing in the church's modest school and authored and published two newspapers addressing topics like slavery, temperance, and presumably, vegetarianism.[6] He also treated patients withhomeopathy.[7]
Metcalfe was the first outspoken advocate of vegetarianism to gain recognition throughout theNortheastern United States. He later befriended the prominent vegetarianism advocateWilliam Alcott. He also invited guest speakers to Philadelphia, withSylvester Graham being one of the notable figures.[5] In 1850 Metcalfe, Graham, Alcott andRussell Trall, established theAmerican Vegetarian Society (AVS) inNew York City, drawing inspiration from theVegetarian Society,[8] a British organization formed in 1847,[9] who he served as Foreign Corresponding Secretary.[10]
In 1854, Metcalfe's wife died. In 1859, following the death of AVS president William Alcott, he was elected as his successor.[11] Metcalfe himself died on October 16, 1862, at the age of 74, from apulmonary hemorrhage.[1]: 51 In 1872, his son published his father's discourses under the title,Out of the Clouds into the Light.[12]
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