Abraham Rees
Abraham Rees entered the world in 1743 within Llanbrynmair, a village nestled in Montgomeryshire. His father Lewis Rees served as an independent minister at that same location from 1734 until 1759. The elder Rees later moved his congregation to Mynyddbach in Glamorganshire where he remained active until his own death in 1800. Young Abraham followed his father into religious life but sought formal training elsewhere. He enrolled at Coward's academy located in Wellclose Square near London during 1759. David Jennings taught theology there and mentored the young Welshman for ministry work.
His first official engagement occurred at the independent congregation in Clapham. There he preached once every fortnight while serving as assistant to Philip Furneaux. By 1768 he shifted roles to assist Henry Read within the presbyterian congregation at St Thomas's in Southwark. When Read died in 1774, Rees succeeded him as pastor of that church. A move to the Old Jewry congregation happened in 1783 and defined the rest of his career. He retained this charge until his death on the 9th of June 1825. This position required him to preach both morning and afternoon services which was unusual for London presbyterians at the time. A new octagon meeting house stood in Jewin Street and opened on the 10th of December 1809 specifically for his use.
Alexander Gordon described Rees's theology as mediating and transitional in character. His doctrines carried an evangelical flavor yet remained essentially of an Arian type. They inclined toward the views held by Richard Price regarding universal restoration. Rees also held the tenet of a universal restoration according to historical records. He became known as the last of the London dissenting ministers who officiated wearing a wig. This distinctive appearance marked him among his peers during the late eighteenth century. The University of Edinburgh granted him the degree of DD on the 31st of January 1775 recognizing his scholarly standing.
Rees began work as a cyclopædist by improving Ephraim Chambers original publication from 1728. That initial version contained only two volumes before he took over editing duties. He re-edited the text in 1778 and issued it with supplements in four volumes between 1781 and 1786. A more comprehensive project emerged when he projected The Cyclopædia; or, Universal Dictionary of Arts, Sciences, and Literature. The first part appeared on the 2nd of January 1802 and required completion across forty-five volumes including six plates. August 1820 marked the final completion of this massive undertaking. Parts were issued at irregular intervals with two parts forming each volume. Sir James Edward Smith contributed botanical articles while Charles Burney handled music entries for the series.
Recognition for his labor led to Rees election as a Fellow of the Royal Society in 1786. He subsequently joined the Linnean Society following that achievement. His contributions extended beyond theology into botanical and musical scholarship through the encyclopedia entries. He served as trustee of Dr Daniel Williams's foundations starting in 1774 until his death. In 1778 he became secretary of the presbyterian board holding both offices throughout his life. An appointment as distributor of the English regium donum came in 1806. The American Academy of Arts and Sciences elected him a Foreign Honorary Member in 1813. These honors reflected his broad influence across religious and scientific communities during the era.
Abraham married Joanna Goldney on the 3rd of July 1764 establishing a family unit. Their children included Charles Goldney Rees, Nathaniel Penry Rees, Joanna Rees, and Philip Lewis Rees. Philip Lewis Rees was born on the 12th of October 1772 in Hoxton Town but died on the 25th of February 1798. Nathaniel Penry Rees died on the 8th of July 1802 while on a voyage from Bengal to St Helena. Joanna Rees born the 17th of April 1769 in Hoxton Town Shoreditch later married John Jones. Rees survived his wife and all his biological children before passing away at Artillery Place in Finsbury. He died on the 9th of June 1825 and was buried on the 18th of June in Bunhill Fields. Six ministers of the three denominations bore the pall during his funeral service.
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Common questions
When and where was Abraham Rees born?
Abraham Rees entered the world in 1743 within Llanbrynmair, a village nestled in Montgomeryshire. His father Lewis Rees served as an independent minister at that same location from 1734 until 1759.
What were the major career positions held by Abraham Rees?
Abraham Rees succeeded Henry Read as pastor of St Thomas's church in Southwark in 1774 before moving to the Old Jewry congregation in 1783. He retained this charge until his death on the 9th of June 1825 while preaching both morning and afternoon services.
How did Abraham Rees contribute to cyclopedic literature?
Abraham Rees began work as a cyclopædist by improving Ephraim Chambers original publication from 1728 and re-edited the text in 1778 with supplements between 1781 and 1786. He later projected The Cyclopædia; or, Universal Dictionary of Arts, Sciences, and Literature which required completion across forty-five volumes including six plates.
When was Abraham Rees elected a Fellow of the Royal Society?
Recognition for his labor led to Rees election as a Fellow of the Royal Society in 1786. He subsequently joined the Linnean Society following that achievement and contributed botanical and musical scholarship through encyclopedia entries.
Who were the children of Abraham Rees and when did they die?
Abraham married Joanna Goldney on the 3rd of July 1764 establishing a family unit with four children named Charles Goldney Rees, Nathaniel Penry Rees, Joanna Rees, and Philip Lewis Rees. Philip Lewis Rees died on the 25th of February 1798 while Nathaniel Penry Rees died on the 8th of July 1802 during a voyage from Bengal to St Helena.