Thomas William Baxter Aveling (11 May 1815 – 3 July 1884) was a British independent

congregational Congregational churches (also Congregationalist churches or Congregationalism) are Protestant churches in the Calvinist tradition practising congregationalist church governance, in which each congregation independently and autonomously runs its ...

minister, author and memorialist. Born at Castletown in the

Isle of Man ) , anthem = "O Land of Our Birth" , image = Isle of Man by Sentinel-2.jpg , image_map = Europe-Isle_of_Man.svg , mapsize = , map_alt = Location of the Isle of Man in Europe , map_caption = Location of the Isle of Man (green) in Europe ...

, Aveling was the son of a soldier and an Irish mother. He received his theological training at

Highbury College, London Highbury College was a dissenting academy, that is, a school or college set up by English Dissenters. Its most famous student was Christopher Newman Hall. It had a high reputation, and in time it was amalgamated into New College London. History ...

. In 1838, Aveling was appointed to the

pastorate A pastor (abbreviated as "Pr" or "Ptr" , or "Ps" ) is the leader of a Christian congregation who also gives advice and counsel to people from the community or congregation. In Lutheranism, Catholicism, Eastern Orthodoxy, Oriental Orthodoxy and ...

of the Kingsland Congregational Church in Hackney. Reportedly an eloquent and popular pastor, he served at Kingsland for the rest of his life. From 1848 to 1853 he edited the ''Jewish Herald'', the monthly journal of the

British Society for the Propagation of the Gospel Among the Jews The British Society for Propagating the Gospel Among the Jews founded London 1842, was the Presbyterian and dissenting churches' counterpart to the Anglican London Society for Promoting Christianity Among the Jews (founded 1809, today CMJ). The two ...

(BSPG) He went on a Sabbatical as the guest of Frederick David Mocatta on a nine-month journey through France and Italy to Egypt, Syria and the Holy Land. On his return he published a book: ''Voices from Many Waters, Travels in the Lands of the Tiber, the Jordan and the Nile: with Notices of Asia Minor, Constantinople, Athens, etc.''(London: John Snow, 1856 2nd ed.) In 1876, Aveling was appointed chairman of the

Congregational Union Congregational churches (also Congregationalist churches or Congregationalism) are Protestant churches in the Calvinist tradition practising congregationalist church governance, in which each congregation independently and autonomously runs it ...

. He also held the post of the honorary secretary of the Asylum for Fatherless Children at Purley. Aveling published a large number of sermons and other pieces. His most important work was the ''Memorials of the Clayton Family'' (8 volumes, 1867). This book contained correspondence between

Selina Hastings, Countess of Huntingdon Selina Hastings, Countess of Huntingdon (24 August 1707 – 17 June 1791) was an English religious leader who played a prominent part in the religious revival of the 18th century and the Methodist movement in England and Wales. She founded an ...

, and prominent British religious authorities of the 18th century. The '' Dictionary of National Biography'' (1885) incorrectly states that "some years before his death he received from the

Washington University Washington University in St. Louis (WashU or WUSTL) is a private research university with its main campus in St. Louis County, and Clayton, Missouri. Founded in 1853, the university is named after George Washington. Washington University is r ...

the degree of D.D." Aveling actually received his honorary D.D. degree in 1874 from

Howard University Howard University (Howard) is a Private university, private, University charter#Federal, federally chartered historically black research university in Washington, D.C. It is Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Education, classifie ...

Washington, D.C. ) , image_skyline = , image_caption = Clockwise from top left: the Washington Monument and Lincoln Memorial on the National Mall, United States Capitol, Logan Circle, Jefferson Memorial, White House, Adams Morgan, ...

Aveling died at Reedham, near

Caterham Caterham () is a town in the Tandridge District of Surrey, England. The town is administratively divided into two: Caterham on the Hill, and Caterham Valley, which includes the main town centre in the middle of a dry valley but rises to equal ...

, on 3 July 1884, and was buried in Abney Park Cemetery, London.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Aveling, Thomas William Baxter 1884 deaths British Congregationalist ministers 1815 births Manx Christians