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

polymath A polymath or polyhistor is an individual whose knowledge spans many different subjects, known to draw on complex bodies of knowledge to solve specific problems. Polymaths often prefer a specific context in which to explain their knowledge, ...

Joseph Priestley Joseph Priestley (; 24 March 1733 – 6 February 1804) was an English chemist, Unitarian, Natural philosophy, natural philosopher, English Separatist, separatist theologian, Linguist, grammarian, multi-subject educator and Classical libera ...

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

Arian Arianism (, ) is a Christological doctrine which rejects the traditional notion of the Trinity and considers Jesus to be a creation of God, and therefore distinct from God. It is named after its major proponent, Arius (). It is considered he ...

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

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

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