William Atherton (minister)

William Atherton (1775–1850), was a Wesleyan minister.

William Atherton
Portrait of Rev. William Atherton
Born	1775 Lamberhead Green
Died	1850
Nationality	English
Occupation	Wesleyan minister
Notable work	Insecurity of Life

Early years

Atherton was born at Lamberhead Green, near Wigan in Lancashire, in 1775.

Career

At 21 he entered the Wesleyan ministry on the Grimsby circuit, and his fresh and original style of preaching gave him a place among the most famous preachers of England in the first half of the century. He is recorded as being a preacher from Bath, Somerset in 1835.[1]

Atherton worked under the direction of the Wesleyan Conference for more than fifty years, and was chosen in 1846 the president of that assembly.

After spending some years in London, Atherton became in 1849 superintendent of the Wakefield circuit and chairman of the Leeds district, a position which he held until his death on 26 September 1850, in his 74th year.

Author

Atherton published several works, among which were a sermon on the 'Insecurity of Life,' in 1818; an abridged 'Life of Lady Maxwell,' in 1838; and an 'Address on the Character, Agencies, and Religious Effectiveness of Wesleyan Methodism,' in 1839. [2]

Personal

His son was the Scottish politician Sir William Atherton.

Death

He died in 26 September 1850 in Wakefield.[3]

Further reading

"Atherton, William (1775-1850)" . Dictionary of National Biography. London: Smith, Elder & Co. 1885–1900.

References

1. "The Wesleyan-Methodist Magazine". 1835.
2. George Osborn (1869). "Outlines of Wesleyan Bibliography: Or, A Record of Methodist Literature From the Beginning (DOB is wrong in this source)".
3. "Atherton One Name Study - entry for William Atherton".