Geoffrey Nuttall
Encyclopedia
Geoffrey Fillingham Nuttall FBA (8 November 1911 - 24 July 2007) was a British Congregational minister and church historian.
Nuttall was born in Colwyn Bay
, North Wales
, the son of the general practitioner
. He was educated at Bootham School
, the Quaker
school in York
, and read Mods and Greats at Balliol College, Oxford
, and then Theology at Mansfield College, Oxford
. He was a student pastor at Benson, Oxfordshire
, and studied at Marburg
from 1936 to 1937 under the direction of Theodor Sippell.
He emulated his grandfathers, both of whom were Congregational ministers, when he was ordained into the Congregational ministry in 1938 at Warminster
. He was the minister at Common Close Congregational Church in Warminster from 1938 to 1943, then moved into theological training, first at the Quaker study centre at Woodbrooke College in the Selly Oak Colleges
, Birmingham. In 1945, he became only the second nonconformist
theologian to become Doctor of Divinity
at Oxford University. That year, he became a lecturer in church history at New College London
, where he remained until his retirement in 1977. He was the Chairman of the Board of Studies in Theology from 1957 to 1959, Dean of the Faculty of Theology from 1960 to 1964, and New College Librarian from 1958 to 1977. He was also a trustee of Dr Williams's Library
from 1947.
He was a founder member of the Ecclesiastical History Society, and was its President in 1972, the first person to serve in that position who was not a professor. He was also president of the historical societies of the Society of Friends, the Congregationalists and United Reformed Church
. He helped to write A Congregational Declaration of Faith in the early 1960s.
His general area of academic interest was 17th century church history, with a special interest in Richard Baxter
and Philip Doddridge
. Until his death, he was consulted for his expert opinion on matters of church history.
He was a noted lecturer and contributed articles to learned journals, the Oxford Dictionary of National Biography and the Encyclopaedia Britannica. He was the author of several books on the church and religious subjects generally. His most celebrated publications were probably The Holy Spirit in Puritan Faith and Experience (1946; reprinted by Chicago University Press, 1992, without his permission, ISBN 0 226609 41 3), based on his Oxford doctoral thesis, in which he argued that Quakerism was a logical development of Puritanism
, and Visible Saints: The Congregational Way 1640-1660 (Oxford: Blackwell, 1957, 2nd edition with additional material Weston Rhyn: Quinta Press, 2001, ISBN 1 897856 12 1). He also wrote books on Richard Baxter
, Philip Doddridge
and Howel Harris. He gave the Hibbert Lecture in 1964, on The Beginnings of Nonconformity, and the Ethel Wood Lecture in 1978, entitled The Moment of Recognition: Luke as Storyteller. He also gave the F.D. Maurice Lectures at King's College London
and the Charles Gore Lectures in Westminster Abbey
. He also studied Erasmus and Dante
, publishing The Faith of Dante Alighieri in 1969.
A festschrift
was published on his retirement in 1977, "Reformation, Conformity and Dissent, Essays in honour of Geoffrey Nuttall" edited by Buick Knox (London: Epworth Press, 1977, ISBN 0 716202 88 3). This contains a bibliography of his writings up to 1977. A further bibliography from 1977 was published in the Journal of the URC Historical Society.
Two collections of his essays and articles have been published in recent years, "Studies in English Dissent" (Weston Rhyn: Quinta Press, 2003, ISBN 1 897856 14 8) and "Early Quaker Studies and The Divine Presence" (Weston Rhyn: Quinta Press,2003, ISBN 1 897856 22 9).
After his retirement, he was a Visiting Professor at King's College London
from 1977 to 1980, and was appointed a Fellow of King's College London
in 1977. He became an honorary DD at the University of Wales
in 1969, and became a vice-president of the Honourable Society of Cymmrodorion
in 1978. He became a Fellow of the British Academy
in 1991.
He married Mary Powley (née Preston) in 1944, having met while he was at Woodbrooke, where she was Secretary. She was the widow of GP Powley, and died in 1982. He suffered a stroke
in 2000, and passed his final years in a nursing home near Bromsgrove
, in Worcestershire, where he died. His funeral took place at Lodge Hill Crematorium, Selly Oak
, Birmingham on 8 August 2007 and was followed by a Thanksgiving Service at Bournville United Reformed Church, where he was a member up to his death.
Nuttall was born in Colwyn Bay
Colwyn Bay
- Demography :Prior to local government reorganisation on 1 April 1974 Colwyn Bay was a municipal borough with a population of c.25,000, but in 1974 this designation disappeared leaving five separate parishes, known as communities in Wales, of which the one bearing the name Colwyn Bay encompassed...
, North Wales
North Wales
North Wales is the northernmost unofficial region of Wales. It is bordered to the south by the counties of Ceredigion and Powys in Mid Wales and to the east by the counties of Shropshire in the West Midlands and Cheshire in North West England...
, the son of the general practitioner
General practitioner
A general practitioner is a medical practitioner who treats acute and chronic illnesses and provides preventive care and health education for all ages and both sexes. They have particular skills in treating people with multiple health issues and comorbidities...
. He was educated at Bootham School
Bootham School
Bootham School is an independent Quaker boarding school in the city of York in North Yorkshire, England. It was founded by the Religious Society of Friends in 1823. It is close to York Minster. The current headmaster is Jonathan Taylor. The school's motto Membra Sumus Corporis Magni means "We...
, the Quaker
Religious Society of Friends
The Religious Society of Friends, or Friends Church, is a Christian movement which stresses the doctrine of the priesthood of all believers. Members are known as Friends, or popularly as Quakers. It is made of independent organisations, which have split from one another due to doctrinal differences...
school in York
York
York is a walled city, situated at the confluence of the Rivers Ouse and Foss in North Yorkshire, England. The city has a rich heritage and has provided the backdrop to major political events throughout much of its two millennia of existence...
, and read Mods and Greats at Balliol College, Oxford
Balliol College, Oxford
Balliol College , founded in 1263, is one of the constituent colleges of the University of Oxford in England but founded by a family with strong Scottish connections....
, and then Theology at Mansfield College, Oxford
Mansfield College, Oxford
Mansfield College is one of the constituent colleges of the University of Oxford in England. Of the colleges that accept both undergraduate and graduate students Mansfield College is one of the smallest, comprising approximately 210 undergraduates, 130 graduates, 35 visiting students and 50...
. He was a student pastor at Benson, Oxfordshire
Benson, Oxfordshire
Benson is a village and civil parish in South Oxfordshire, England. It is about north of Wallingford at the foot of the Chiltern Hills at the confluence of a chalk stream and the River Thames, next to Benson Lock...
, and studied at Marburg
Marburg
Marburg is a city in the state of Hesse, Germany, on the River Lahn. It is the main town of the Marburg-Biedenkopf district and its population, as of March 2010, was 79,911.- Founding and early history :...
from 1936 to 1937 under the direction of Theodor Sippell.
He emulated his grandfathers, both of whom were Congregational ministers, when he was ordained into the Congregational ministry in 1938 at Warminster
Warminster
Warminster is a town in western Wiltshire, England, by-passed by the A36, and near Frome and Westbury. It has a population of about 17,000. The River Were runs through the town and can be seen running through the middle of the town park. The Minster Church of St Denys sits on the River Were...
. He was the minister at Common Close Congregational Church in Warminster from 1938 to 1943, then moved into theological training, first at the Quaker study centre at Woodbrooke College in the Selly Oak Colleges
Selly Oak Colleges
Selly Oak Colleges was a Federation of educational facilities, primarily concerned with theology and social work, in Birmingham, England. The Federation was for many years associated with the University of Birmingham...
, Birmingham. In 1945, he became only the second nonconformist
Nonconformism
Nonconformity is the refusal to "conform" to, or follow, the governance and usages of the Church of England by the Protestant Christians of England and Wales.- Origins and use:...
theologian to become Doctor of Divinity
Doctor of Divinity
Doctor of Divinity is an advanced academic degree in divinity. Historically, it identified one who had been licensed by a university to teach Christian theology or related religious subjects....
at Oxford University. That year, he became a lecturer in church history at New College London
New College London
New College London was founded as a Congregationalist college in 1850.-Predecessor institutions:...
, where he remained until his retirement in 1977. He was the Chairman of the Board of Studies in Theology from 1957 to 1959, Dean of the Faculty of Theology from 1960 to 1964, and New College Librarian from 1958 to 1977. He was also a trustee of Dr Williams's Library
Dr Williams's Library
Dr Williams's Library is a small research library located in Gordon Square in Bloomsbury, London.-History:It was founded using the estate of Dr Daniel Williams as a theological library, intended for the use of ministers of religion, students and others studying theology, religion and...
from 1947.
He was a founder member of the Ecclesiastical History Society, and was its President in 1972, the first person to serve in that position who was not a professor. He was also president of the historical societies of the Society of Friends, the Congregationalists and United Reformed Church
United Reformed Church
The United Reformed Church is a Christian church in the United Kingdom. It has approximately 68,000 members in 1,500 congregations with some 700 ministers.-Origins and history:...
. He helped to write A Congregational Declaration of Faith in the early 1960s.
His general area of academic interest was 17th century church history, with a special interest in Richard Baxter
Richard Baxter
Richard Baxter was an English Puritan church leader, poet, hymn-writer, theologian, and controversialist. Dean Stanley called him "the chief of English Protestant Schoolmen". After some false starts, he made his reputation by his ministry at Kidderminster, and at around the same time began a long...
and Philip Doddridge
Philip Doddridge
Philip Doddridge DD was an English Nonconformist leader, educator, and hymnwriter.-Early life:...
. Until his death, he was consulted for his expert opinion on matters of church history.
He was a noted lecturer and contributed articles to learned journals, the Oxford Dictionary of National Biography and the Encyclopaedia Britannica. He was the author of several books on the church and religious subjects generally. His most celebrated publications were probably The Holy Spirit in Puritan Faith and Experience (1946; reprinted by Chicago University Press, 1992, without his permission, ISBN 0 226609 41 3), based on his Oxford doctoral thesis, in which he argued that Quakerism was a logical development of Puritanism
Puritan
The Puritans were a significant grouping of English Protestants in the 16th and 17th centuries. Puritanism in this sense was founded by some Marian exiles from the clergy shortly after the accession of Elizabeth I of England in 1558, as an activist movement within the Church of England...
, and Visible Saints: The Congregational Way 1640-1660 (Oxford: Blackwell, 1957, 2nd edition with additional material Weston Rhyn: Quinta Press, 2001, ISBN 1 897856 12 1). He also wrote books on Richard Baxter
Richard Baxter
Richard Baxter was an English Puritan church leader, poet, hymn-writer, theologian, and controversialist. Dean Stanley called him "the chief of English Protestant Schoolmen". After some false starts, he made his reputation by his ministry at Kidderminster, and at around the same time began a long...
, Philip Doddridge
Philip Doddridge
Philip Doddridge DD was an English Nonconformist leader, educator, and hymnwriter.-Early life:...
and Howel Harris. He gave the Hibbert Lecture in 1964, on The Beginnings of Nonconformity, and the Ethel Wood Lecture in 1978, entitled The Moment of Recognition: Luke as Storyteller. He also gave the F.D. Maurice Lectures at King's College London
King's College London
King's College London is a public research university located in London, United Kingdom and a constituent college of the federal University of London. King's has a claim to being the third oldest university in England, having been founded by King George IV and the Duke of Wellington in 1829, and...
and the Charles Gore Lectures in Westminster Abbey
Westminster Abbey
The Collegiate Church of St Peter at Westminster, popularly known as Westminster Abbey, is a large, mainly Gothic church, in the City of Westminster, London, United Kingdom, located just to the west of the Palace of Westminster. It is the traditional place of coronation and burial site for English,...
. He also studied Erasmus and Dante
DANTE
Delivery of Advanced Network Technology to Europe is a not-for-profit organisation that plans, builds and operates the international networks that interconnect the various national research and education networks in Europe and surrounding regions...
, publishing The Faith of Dante Alighieri in 1969.
A festschrift
Festschrift
In academia, a Festschrift , is a book honoring a respected person, especially an academic, and presented during his or her lifetime. The term, borrowed from German, could be translated as celebration publication or celebratory writing...
was published on his retirement in 1977, "Reformation, Conformity and Dissent, Essays in honour of Geoffrey Nuttall" edited by Buick Knox (London: Epworth Press, 1977, ISBN 0 716202 88 3). This contains a bibliography of his writings up to 1977. A further bibliography from 1977 was published in the Journal of the URC Historical Society.
Two collections of his essays and articles have been published in recent years, "Studies in English Dissent" (Weston Rhyn: Quinta Press, 2003, ISBN 1 897856 14 8) and "Early Quaker Studies and The Divine Presence" (Weston Rhyn: Quinta Press,2003, ISBN 1 897856 22 9).
After his retirement, he was a Visiting Professor at King's College London
King's College London
King's College London is a public research university located in London, United Kingdom and a constituent college of the federal University of London. King's has a claim to being the third oldest university in England, having been founded by King George IV and the Duke of Wellington in 1829, and...
from 1977 to 1980, and was appointed a Fellow of King's College London
King's College London
King's College London is a public research university located in London, United Kingdom and a constituent college of the federal University of London. King's has a claim to being the third oldest university in England, having been founded by King George IV and the Duke of Wellington in 1829, and...
in 1977. He became an honorary DD at the University of Wales
University of Wales
The University of Wales was a confederal university founded in 1893. It had accredited institutions throughout Wales, and formerly accredited courses in Britain and abroad, with over 100,000 students, but in October 2011, after a number of scandals, it withdrew all accreditation, and it was...
in 1969, and became a vice-president of the Honourable Society of Cymmrodorion
Honourable Society of Cymmrodorion
The Honourable Society of Cymmrodorion was founded in 1751 as a literary society devoted to the preservation of the Welsh language. It was founded by two brothers, Lewis Morris and Richard Morris, natives of Anglesey...
in 1978. He became a Fellow of the British Academy
British Academy
The British Academy is the United Kingdom's national body for the humanities and the social sciences. Its purpose is to inspire, recognise and support excellence in the humanities and social sciences, throughout the UK and internationally, and to champion their role and value.It receives an annual...
in 1991.
He married Mary Powley (née Preston) in 1944, having met while he was at Woodbrooke, where she was Secretary. She was the widow of GP Powley, and died in 1982. He suffered a stroke
Stroke
A stroke, previously known medically as a cerebrovascular accident , is the rapidly developing loss of brain function due to disturbance in the blood supply to the brain. This can be due to ischemia caused by blockage , or a hemorrhage...
in 2000, and passed his final years in a nursing home near Bromsgrove
Bromsgrove
Bromsgrove is a town in Worcestershire, England. The town is about north east of Worcester and south west of Birmingham city centre. It had a population of 29,237 in 2001 with a small ethnic minority and is in Bromsgrove District.- History :Bromsgrove is first documented in the early 9th century...
, in Worcestershire, where he died. His funeral took place at Lodge Hill Crematorium, Selly Oak
Selly Oak
Selly Oak is a residential suburban district in south-west Birmingham, England. The suburb is bordered by Bournbrook and Selly Park to the north-east, Edgbaston and Harborne to the north, Weoley Castle and Weoley Hill to the west, and Bournville to the south...
, Birmingham on 8 August 2007 and was followed by a Thanksgiving Service at Bournville United Reformed Church, where he was a member up to his death.