James Hutton (minister)
James Hutton | |
|---|---|
| Born | Template:Birth date London, England |
| Died | May 3, 1795 (aged 79) |
| Occupation(s) | Minister, bookseller |
| Known for | Founder of the Moravian Church in England |
James Hutton (3 September 1715 – 3 May 1795) was an English minister affiliated with the Moravian denomination and a bookseller by profession.
Biography
Born in London on 3 September 1715, Hutton was the son of Reverend John Hutton and Elizabeth Ayscough. His father, a nonjuring clergyman residing in Westminster, managed a boarding school. James received his education at Westminster before becoming an apprentice to Mr. Innys, a bookseller located in St. Paul's Churchyard. Circa 1736, he established his own bookshop called the Bible and Sun near Temple Bar, although he demonstrated only modest dedication to the enterprise. Prior to completing his apprenticeship, he encountered the Wesleys at Oxford and traveled with them to Gravesend in 1735. Between 1738 and 1739, he published Whitefield's 'Journal.' In London, Hutton initiated a small prayer group and maintained correspondence with Methodist leaders, despite his mother’s firm adherence to the established church.
In 1737, through an introduction by John Wesley, Hutton met Moravian brethren including Peter Bohler who were journeying to Georgia; this marked the beginning of his gradual association with Moravianism. He visited German Moravian congregations in 1739 and started exchanging letters with Nicolaus Zinzendorf. Although Wesley distanced himself from the Moravians that same year and attempted to influence Hutton away from them, these efforts were unsuccessful. By 1740, after several members departed from Hutton's Fetter Lane Chapel society to join Wesley's Foundry Society, their separation became definitive, though reconciliation occurred later.
Hutton remained a prominent leader within the Moravian community until his passing. He often traveled to Germany and in 1741 co-established the Society for the Furtherance of the Gospel upon advice from August Gottlieb Spangenberg, acting as its 'referendary' for many years. Despite occasional friction with Methodists—Hutton once commented that they "kick us whenever they can"—he maintained connections with influential individuals such as George III, the queen, and Benjamin Franklin. After nearly two years residing with the Misses Biscoe and Shelley at Oxted Cottage near Godstone, Surrey, he died on 3 May 1795 and was interred close to Chelsea chapel.
On 3 July 1740 at Marrenborn, Hutton married Louise Brandt, a Swiss Moravian; the ceremony was conducted by Zinzendorf. The couple did not have children. Although devoted to Moravian principles, his wife occasionally deviated from congregational expectations. Hutton is recognized as the founder of the Moravian church in England despite earlier visitors such as Cominius.
Portraits of Hutton include one by Richard Cosway, engraved by John Raphael Smith in 1786, along with another by W. Wickes featured in Benham's 'Memoir.' He authored An Essay towards giving some just ideas of the Personal Character of Count Zinzendorf, published in London in 1755.