Edward Welchman (1665–1739) was an English churchman, known as a theological writer. He was Archdeacon of Cardigan from 1727.

Life

The son of John Welchman, of

Banbury Banbury is an historic market town and civil parish on the River Cherwell in Oxfordshire, South East England. The parish had a population of 54,335 at the 2021 Census. Banbury is a significant commercial and retail centre for the surrounding ...

Oxfordshire Oxfordshire ( ; abbreviated ''Oxon'') is a ceremonial county in South East England. The county is bordered by Northamptonshire and Warwickshire to the north, Buckinghamshire to the east, Berkshire to the south, and Wiltshire and Glouceste ...

, he was born in 1665. He matriculated as a commoner of

Magdalen Hall, Oxford Hertford College ( ), previously known as Magdalen Hall, is a constituent college of the University of Oxford in England. It is located on Catte Street in the centre of Oxford, directly opposite the main gate to the Bodleian Library. The colle ...

, on 7 July 1679. He was one of the choristers of Magdalen College in that university from 1679 till 1682. He proceeded B.A. on 24 April 1683, was admitted a probationer fellow of

Merton College Merton College (in full: The House or College of Scholars of Merton in the University of Oxford) is a constituent college of the University of Oxford in England. Its foundation can be traced back to the 1260s when Walter de Merton, chancellor ...

in 1684, and commenced M.A. on 19 June 1688. His college presented Welchman in 1690 to the rectory of Lapworth, Warwickshire, and he was also rector of Berkeswell in the same county. He became archdeacon of Cardigan and a prebendary of St. David's Cathedral on 7 August 1727. Later he became chaplain to the bishop of Lichfield, who collated him to the prebend of Wolvey in Lichfield Cathedral on 28 September 1732. Welchman obtained the rectory of

Solihull Solihull ( ) is a market town and the administrative centre of the Metropolitan Borough of Solihull, in the West Midlands (county), West Midlands, England. Solihull is situated on the River Blythe in the Arden, Warwickshire, Forest of Arden ar ...

Warwickshire Warwickshire (; abbreviated Warks) is a Ceremonial counties of England, ceremonial county in the West Midlands (region), West Midlands of England. It is bordered by Staffordshire and Leicestershire to the north, Northamptonshire to the east, Ox ...

, in 1736, and held it until his death on 19 May 1739. He was a friend of Deane Swift.

Works

Welchman is counted as a Reformed theologian. His major work was a Latin explanation of the 39 Articles. An English translation from the sixth edition appeared 1776. It continued to be used at Oxford into a period towards the end of the 18th century when its Calvinist interpretations, for example of

predestination Predestination, in theology, is the doctrine that all events have been willed by God, usually with reference to the eventual fate of the individual soul. Explanations of predestination often seek to address the paradox of free will, whereby Go ...

, were falling out of fashion there. Welchman's other publications included: * ''A Defence of the Church of England from the Charge of Schism and Heresie, as laid against it by the Vindicator of the deprived Bishops'' (anon.), London, 1693. Against Henry Dodwell. * ''The Husbandman's Manual: directing him how to improve the several actions of his calling, and the most usual occurrences of his life, to the glory of God, and the benefit of his soul'', London, 1695; 25th edit. London, 1818; new edit. London, 1821. In the genre of the time of spiritual metaphors drawn from agriculture. * ''A Practical Discourse on the Parable of Dives and Lazarus'' (1704) * ''Dr. Clarke's Scripture Doctrine of the Trinity examined; to which are added some remarks on his sentiments, and a brief examination of his Doctrine'', Oxford, 1714. * An edition with notes of ''D. Aurelii Augustini Hipponensis Episcopi Liber de Hæresibus ad quod-vult-Deum, una cum Gennadii Massiliensis Appendice'', Oxford, 1721. * ''A Conference with an Arian; occasion'd by Mr. Whiston's Reply to the Earl of Nottingham'' (anon.), Oxford, 1721. * ''A Dialogue betwixt a Protestant Minister and a Romish Priest'', 3rd edit. London, 1723; 4th edit. 1735. * ''Novatiani Presbyteri Romani Opera, quæ extant, omnia, correctius longe quam unquam antehac edita, notisque illustrata'', Oxford, 1724.

Family

Welchman's son John graduated M.A. at Oxford, and became vicar of Tamworth, Warwickshire.

Notes

;Attribution {{DEFAULTSORT:Welchman, Edward 1665 births 1739 deaths 17th-century English clergy 18th-century English Anglican priests Archdeacons of Cardigan English theologians Fellows of Merton College, Oxford Alumni of Magdalen Hall, Oxford 17th-century Anglican theologians 18th-century Anglican theologians