The ''Theological Repository'' was a periodical founded and edited from 1769 to 1771 by the eighteenth-century British

polymath A polymath ( el, πολυμαθής, , "having learned much"; la, homo universalis, "universal human") is an individual whose knowledge spans a substantial number of subjects, known to draw on complex bodies of knowledge to solve specific pro ...

Joseph Priestley Joseph Priestley (; 24 March 1733 – 6 February 1804) was an English chemist, natural philosopher, separatist theologian, grammarian, multi-subject educator, and liberal political theorist. He published over 150 works, and conducted e ...

. Although ostensibly committed to the open and rational inquiry of theological questions, the journal became a mouthpiece for Dissenting, particularly

Unitarian Unitarian or Unitarianism may refer to: Christian and Christian-derived theologies A Unitarian is a follower of, or a member of an organisation that follows, any of several theologies referred to as Unitarianism: * Unitarianism (1565–present ...

and

Arian Arianism ( grc-x-koine, Ἀρειανισμός, ) is a Christological doctrine first attributed to Arius (), a Christian presbyter from Alexandria, Egypt. Arian theology holds that Jesus Christ is the Son of God, who was begotten by G ...

, doctrines. Priestley promised to print all viewpoints, but only like-minded authors ever submitted articles. He was therefore forced to provide much of the journal's content himself. After only a few years, due to a lack of funds, he was forced to cease publishing the journal. About a decade later, in 1784, Priestley revived the ''Theological Repository'', but he again became responsible for much of the journal's content and again the journal became insolvent after several issues (1784, 1786, 1788). Joseph Johnson, Priestley's close friend and publisher, was responsible for issuing the journal. Dedicated to the Unitarian cause, he bore much of the financial burden of the enterprise.

Contributors

Those contributing to the ''Repository'' included: * Samuel Badcock * Samuel Bourn the Younger (posthumous publication of correspondence with Philip Doddridge) * John Brekell, writing as Verus *

Joseph Bretland Joseph Bretland (1742–1819), was an English dissenting minister. Life He was the son of Joseph Bretland, an Exeter tradesman, was born at Exeter 22 May 1742. He was for several years a day scholar at the Exeter grammar school, and was placed ...

, writing as Philander and under other names in the second series. * John Cameron, writing as Philander in the first series. *

Paul Cardale Paul Cardale (1705 – 28 February 1775) was an English dissenting minister. Life He was educated at the dissenting academy of Ebenezer Latham, M.D., at Findern, Derbyshire, from 1720. Early in life he became an assistant minister for the Presb ...

James Duchal James Duchal, D.D. (1697–1761) was an Irish Presbyterian divine. Life Duchal is said to have been born in 1697 at Antrim. The year is probably correct, but the place is mistaken; his baptism is not recorded in the presbyterian register of A ...

William Hazlitt William Hazlitt (10 April 177818 September 1830) was an English essayist, drama and literary critic, painter, social commentator, and philosopher. He is now considered one of the greatest critics and essayists in the history of the English lan ...

, father of the essayist, writing as Philalethes and Rationalis *

Joseph Mottershead Joseph Mottershead (1688–1771) was an English dissenting minister. Life The son of Joseph Mottershead, yeoman, he was born near Stockport, Cheshire, on 17 August 1688. He was educated at Attercliffe Academy under Timothy Jollie, and afterwards ...

, writing as Theophilus * John Palmer, who wrote in the first series as G.H., but in the second series as Christophilos, Symmachus, and Erasmus. * Thomas Fyshe Palmer, writing as Anglo-Scotus * William Turner, writing as Vigilius * John Wiche, writing as Nazaraeus

Notes

Bibliography

*Braithwaite, Helen. ''Romanticism, Publishing and Dissent: Joseph Johnson and the Cause of Liberty''. Palgrave Macmillan, 2003. . *Holt, Anne. ''A Life of Joseph Priestley''. London: Oxford University Press, 1931. *Schofield, Robert E. ''The Enlightenment of Joseph Priestley: A Study of his Life and Work from 1733 to 1773''. University Park: Pennsylvania State University Press, 1997. . *Schofield, Robert E. ''The Enlightened Joseph Priestley: A Study of His Life and Work from 1773 to 1804''. University Park: Pennsylvania State University Press, 2004. . *Uglow, Jenny. ''The Lunar Men: Five Friends Whose Curiosity Changed the World''. New York: Farrar, Straus and Giroux, 2002. . {{Authority control Religious magazines published in the United Kingdom Defunct magazines published in the United Kingdom Magazines established in 1769 Magazines disestablished in 1788 1769 establishments in Great Britain 1788 disestablishments in Great Britain