Irving, Edward (1792–1834)

Scottish cleric. In 1823 he published For the Oracles of God and For Judgment to Come, in which he declared his belief in the second personal advent of Jesus Christ. His popularity waned as his views developed. His belief in Christ's oneness with men in the attributes of humanity was misinterpreted, and he was accused of imputing sinfulness to Christ. In 1830 he was tried before the London Presbytery and two years later was deposed from the ministry.

Irving was born in Annan, Dumfriesshire, Scotland. He was educated at Edinburgh University. In 1822 he became the minister of Cross Street Chapel in Hatton Garden, London, England; his sermons here became extraordinarily popular. He was a conspicuous forerunner of what became known as the Catholic Apostolic Church, but never held more than a subordinate office in it, and died before its full establishment. His complete works were published in five volumes by Gavin Carlyle (1864–65).