John Clowes (cleric)

John Clowes (20 October 1743 - 29 May 1831) was an English cleric and fellow of Trinity College, Cambridge. Despite his position in the Anglican church, for which he served as rector of St John's Church, Manchester from 1769 until 1831, he was a noted disciple of Emanuel Swedenborg and did much to propagate his ideas in the Manchester area.

John Clowes was born in Manchester on 20 October 1743 and baptised on 17 November of that year at St Ann's Church in the town. He was the fourth son of a barrister, Joseph Clowes, and Catherine (née Edwards), who father may have been curate at Llanbedr in North Wales. Although his mother died when he was less than ten years old, it was she who encouraged an understanding of religion and that encouragement was continued by his father after her death.

Clowes was educated at an academy run by John Clayton in Salford and may also have gone to a grammar school in the same area. He was admitted to Trinity College, Cambridge, in 1761 and graduated with a B.A. degree in 1766, having been taught by Richard Watson, who later became bishop of Llandaff.

The young Clowes suffered from poor health and uncertainty about his future career. He had intended to become a lawyer like his father but changed his mind and in 1767 was ordained by Richard Terrick. He had commenced teaching as a private tutor on going down from Trinity but had to abandon that in 1769 because of his health. In that year he proceeded to the degree of M.A. and was elected to a fellowship at the college. He had turned down the offer of the living of St John's Church in Manchester which had been made to him by his relative Edward Byrom, who was also founder of the church. However, on 13 August 1769 he accepted the position and remained there until his death despite being offered a bishopric by William Pitt the Younger in 1804.

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