13 Facts About Philip Doddridge

Philip Doddridge was born in London, the last of the twenty children of Daniel Doddridge, a dealer in oils and pickles.

Philip Doddridge's father was a son of John Doddridge, rector of Shepperton, Middlesex, who was ejected from his living following the Act of Uniformity of 1662 and became a Nonconformist minister, and a great-nephew of the judge and MP Sir John Doddridge.

Philip Doddridge then had a guardian named Downes who moved him to another private school at St Albans, where he was much influenced by the Presbyterian minister Samuel Clarke of St Albans.

Later that year, at a general meeting of Nonconformist ministers, Philip Doddridge was chosen to conduct the academy being newly established a few miles away at Market Harborough.

Philip Doddridge's sermons were mostly practical in character, and his aim was to cultivate in his hearers a spiritual and devotional frame of mind.

Philip Doddridge's The Rise and Progress of Religion in the Soul was translated into seven languages.

Besides a New Testament commentary and other theological works, Philip Doddridge wrote over 400 hymns.

Philip Doddridge was known for ending his sermons with newly crafted hymns as summaries of the lessons, but his hymns were not published during his lifetime.

Philip Doddridge used this subscription-funded Youth's Scheme to attach a preparatory school to Northampton Academy, initially with six students.

Philip Doddridge now had thirty 'pupils' in his Academy, and six 'students' in his school.

Philip Doddridge worked towards a united Nonconformist body that would have wide appeal, retaining highly cultured elements without alienating those less educated.

Philip Doddridge's best known work, The Rise and Progress of Religion in the Soul, dedicated to Isaac Watts, was often reprinted and became widely influential.

Philip Doddridge's academy evolved into New College, Hampstead, later known as New College London, a centre for training Congregational and then United Reformed Church ministers.