William Metcalfe
William Metcalfe was an English-American Bible [Christian Church (vegetarian)|Bible Christian Church] minister, homeopathic physician, and advocate of vegetarianism, pacifism, temperance and abolitionism. Ordained by William Cowherd in 1811, he emigrated with fellow Bible Christians in 1817 and founded the Philadelphia Bible Christian Church. In 1850 he helped establish the American Vegetarian Society with figures including William Alcott, Sylvester Graham and Russell Thacher Trall; after Alcott's death in 1859 he served as the society's president. He also edited and published reform periodicals.
Biography
Early life
William Metcalfe was born in Orton, Westmoreland, on March 11, 1788, the son of Jonathan and Elizabeth Metcalfe. At the age of 19, he became a clerk in Keighly, Yorkshire. There, he encountered a congregation of Swedenborgians led by Rev. Joseph Wright, to whom Metcalfe became attached. Wright persuaded Metcalfe to study theology, leading him to an academy in Salford, presided over by William Cowherd, the founder of the Bible Christian Church. Cowherd ordained Metcalfe as a minister in 1811. In 1810, Metcalfe married Susanna, a fellow vegetarian and abstainer, who was the daughter of Rev. Joseph Wright. Their son, Joseph, was born in the same year.Philadelphia Bible Christian Church
In 1817, Metcalfe, and the Reverend James Clark, along with around 40 members of the Bible Christian Church, embarked on a journey to the United States under the guidance of Cowherd. There they formed the Philadelphia Bible Christian Church; it was not only the United States' first vegetarian church but also the inaugural assembly of a substantial community embracing vegetarianism. Among the group, a portion maintained their vegetarian lifestyle, becoming a foundational force in the emergence of the American vegetarian movement.After establishing themselves in the United States, Metcalfe and his wife, endeavored to impart lessons on pacifism, temperance, abolitionism, and vegetarianism to their neighbors—core principles of their faith. Although their church did not achieve widespread popularity, its smaller size was compensated by a dedicated and loyal following. The community Metcalfe led were vegetarians who not only refrained from consuming meat but also held the conviction that Jesus himself was vegetarian. Despite his amiable and well-regarded nature, Metcalfe faced challenges in expanding his congregation due to his promotion of this belief. Occasionally, he encountered resistance and criticism for his stance on vegetarianism, with newspapers questioning his preaching and character, even labeling him as an "Infidel."
Metcalfe consistently faced the challenge of maintaining the church's financial stability. Beyond his preaching duties, he devoted his time to instructing in the church's modest school and authored and published two newspapers addressing topics like slavery, temperance, and presumably, vegetarianism. He also treated patients with homeopathy.