| Albert Belden | |
| Birth Name: | Albert David Belden |
| Birth Date: | 17 February 1883 |
| Birth Place: | London |
| Death Date: | 14 December 1964 (aged 81) |
| Death Place: | Putney |
| Occupation: | Congregational minister |
Albert David Belden (17 February 1883 – 14 December 1964) was an English Congregational minister and anti-vivisectionist.
Belden was born at Great Dover Street, London to William Belden and Hester Evans.[1] He was educated at Wilson's School and trained for the Congregational ministry at New College London. He obtained his BD at London University.[1] [2] He was pastorate at South Bar Congregational Church in Banbury from 1908 until 1912. He became first minister of Crowstone Congregational Church, Westcliff-on-Sea in 1912 and 1927 became superintendent minister of Whitefield’s Central Mission at Tottenham Court Road.[1]
Belden was an evangelical preacher who was inspired by George Whitefield.[1] He authored George Whitefield: The Awakener in 1930. He preached throughout the United States and was awarded an honorary DD by Ursinus College, Pennsylvania.[1] In 1934, he established a psychological clinic at the London University for patients and hosted weekly lectures for ministers.[3]
He resigned from Whitefield’s Central Mission in 1939 to devote his time to activism and writing. In April 1939, Belden was the official delegate of the National Peace Council, bearing a petition with 1,062,000 names requesting American support of world-wide peace.[4] He founded the Pax Christi League and was a member of the Fellowship of Reconciliation.[1] In 1948, he became honorary superintendent the Pilgrim Fathers’ Memorial Church in London. He authored articles for Manchester Evening News, the Philosophical Society and was chairman of the Congregational Quarterly.[1] He died at his home in Putney, aged 81.[5]
Belden was an anti-vivisectionist and was a vice-president of the National Anti-Vivisection Society.[1] He was president of the British Union for the Abolition of Vivisection.[6] [7] On vivisection, he commented that "our church pulpits must end their silence on this dark and evil tragedy of animal torture".[8] He preached a sermon at the World Day for Animals held at Coventry Cathedral on 4 October 1964.[9] He made a plea for a Christian Magna Carta for animals. Forty animal welfare organizations and 1500 people attended.[10]
In 1953, Belden commented that "I cannot see how people can ill-treat animals for no use whatsoever... No cure for cancer has come out of experiments on thousands of animals".[11] Belden described vivisection as "atrocious torture" and incompatible with Christianity.[10] [12]
Belden was a pacifist and socialist.[1] He was a vegetarian.[13] He married Doris Hunter Richman in 1909; they had one son. In 1962 after Richman's death, he married Cecily Maud Glenister.[1]