Dictionary of National Biography, 1901 supplement/Kettlewell, Samuel
KETTLEWELL, SAMUEL (1822–1893), theological writer, born on 31 March 1822, was son of the Rev. William Kettlewell, rector of Kirkheaton, near Huddersfield, and his wife, Mary Midgeley. He was educated at Durham University, where he graduated as a licentiate of theology in 1848. He was ordained deacon in the same year, and priest in 1849 by the bishop of Ripon. He then became a curate at Leeds under Walter Farquhar Hook [q. v.], and in 1851 he was appointed vicar of St. Mark's, Leeds. This, his only incumbency, he resigned in 1870 to devote himself to literary work. He had already published a 'Catechism on Gospel History' (London, 1851, 8vo; 3rd edit. 1878), and two works suggested by the Irish disestablishment agitation, namely: 'A Short Account of the Reformation in Ireland,' and 'Rights and Liberties of the Church' (both London, 1869, 8vo). His energies were now mainly devoted to his work on Thomas à Kempis, and in 1877 he published 'The Authorship of the "De Imitatione Christi"' (London, 8vo); this was followed in 1882 by 'Thomas à Kempis and the Brothers of Common Life' (London, 2 vols. 8vo; 2nd edit. 1884). These two books were the fruit of much research in England, Holland, and Belgium. Kettlewell maintains the usually accepted authorship of the 'De Imitatione,' and collects all that is known about the life of Thomas à Kempis. In 1888 he published 'The Basis of True Christian Unity' (London, 2 vols. 8vo), and in 1892 a translation of the 'De Imitatione.' He had received the Lambeth M.A. in 1860, and in 1892, in recognition of his work, he was granted the Lambeth D.D., the queen countersigning his diploma. He died at his residence, Kesselville, Eastbourne, whither he retired in 1870, on 2 Nov. 1893; he was twice married, and his widow survives him.
[Works in Brit. Mus. Libr.; Crockford's Clerical Directory, 1891; Eastbourne Chronicle, 5 Nov. 1893; Times, 21 Nov. 1893; Guardian, 8 Nov. 1893; private information.]