| William Cowherd | |
|---|---|
| Other names | 'Cowherdite'[1] |
| Spouse | none |
| Church | Salford Bible Christian Church |
| Congregations served | parts of Salford |
| Offices held | priest |
| Title | Reverend |
Reverend William Cowherd (1763–1816)[1] was a priest serving the town of Salford, immediately west of Manchester, and one of the philosophical forerunners of The Vegetarian Society, founded in 1847.[2][3] Cowherd advocated and encouraged members of his then small group of followers, known as 'Cowherdites' to abstain from the eating of meat.[1] The denomination he founded was formally known as The Bible Christian Church (not to be confused with Methodist sect of the same name based in the South-west of England. His early ideas and insight into the abstinence from eating meat, provided the basis for early ideas about vegetarianism. This message was later preached in the U.S. as some 41 members of the Bible Christian Church crossed the Atlantic in 1817.[3]
Cowherd is credited with being the main figure advocating the theory of vegetarianism.[3][4] It is noted that he asked his congregation in a sermon preached on January 18, 1809,[5] to refrain from eating meat which culminated in the founding of the Vegetarian Society in 1847.[6] His church - Christ Church - was located in King Street, Salford, just across the River Irwell from Manchester.