Robert William Dale was a Congregational minister. He joined the Congregational Church in 1844 and was admitted as a theological student at Spring College, Birmingham in 1847. In 1853 he graduated with an MA at London University and was then appointed assistant minister to John Angell James at Carrs Lane Chapel, Birmingham. He become the sole pastor in 1859 and remained a minister at Carrs Lane until his death. He was involved with social movements and local politics in Birmingham, and was particularly concerned with educational reform. He was, for example, a pioneer of the Birmingham School Board. He was also involved with the Congregational Union and was its Chairman in 1869 and presided over the international council of congregational churches in 1891. He also edited The Congregationalist from 1872-1878. He wrote and published extensively, including numerous sermons, pamphlets and theological works and he also compiled a hymnal, The English Hymn Book, published in 1874.
Reference: Dictionary of National Biography (Vol XXII (Supplement), London: Smith, Elder & Co., 1909).
From the guide to the Letters of R.W. Dale, 1862-1891, (University of Birmingham Information Services, Special Collections Department)
