John Humfrey
Encyclopedia
John Humfrey was an English clergyman, an ejected minister from 1662 and controversialist active in the Presbyterian cause.
in 1641, and M.A. in 1647. He studied in Oxford during the royalist occupation there.
He received presbyterian ordination in 1649, and became vicar of Frome Selwood, Somerset
. He defended with Thomas Blake
free admission to communion
, in a controversy that opposed him to Roger Drake
. His views of the Interregnum period were Erastian.
He was re-ordained by William Piers
, Bishop of Bath and Wells
in 1661. Humfrey defended his action, in The Question of Re-Ordination(1661). He shortly changed his mind, however, and lost his living in 1662 for nonconformism. He set up a church in Duke's Place, London, and afterwards in Petticoat Lane, Whitechapel
.
With the congregationalist Stephen Lobb
he wrote two works against Edward Stillingfleet
's Mischief of Separation. He was a staunch advocate of a national church and the unity of Protestants within it, and supported ‘comprehension’, the adjustment of positions to bring nonconformists back within the Church of England. His A Case of Conscience (1669) argued that in matter of religion the magistrate should not constrain people against the requirements of their conscience.
Life
He graduated B.A from Pembroke College, OxfordPembroke College, Oxford
Pembroke College is one of the constituent colleges of the University of Oxford in England, located in Pembroke Square. As of 2009, Pembroke had an estimated financial endowment of £44.9 million.-History:...
in 1641, and M.A. in 1647. He studied in Oxford during the royalist occupation there.
He received presbyterian ordination in 1649, and became vicar of Frome Selwood, Somerset
Somerset
The ceremonial and non-metropolitan county of Somerset in South West England borders Bristol and Gloucestershire to the north, Wiltshire to the east, Dorset to the south-east, and Devon to the south-west. It is partly bounded to the north and west by the Bristol Channel and the estuary of the...
. He defended with Thomas Blake
Thomas Blake (minister)
-Life:He was a native of Staffordshire, and entered Christ Church College, Oxford, in 1616 in his nineteenth year. He proceeded B.A. and M. A., and having obtained orders, had some minor church position. In 1648 he subscribed to the solemn league and covenant in 1648 among the ministers of...
free admission to communion
Eucharist
The Eucharist , also called Holy Communion, the Sacrament of the Altar, the Blessed Sacrament, the Lord's Supper, and other names, is a Christian sacrament or ordinance...
, in a controversy that opposed him to Roger Drake
Roger Drake (physician)
Roger Drake was an English physician, and a minister of strong Presbyterian convictions.-Life:He was the eldest son of Roger Drake, a wealthy mercer of Cheapside, who died in December 1651. He received his education at Pembroke College, Cambridge, as a member of which he graduated B.A. in 1628,...
. His views of the Interregnum period were Erastian.
He was re-ordained by William Piers
William Piers
William Piers was Vice-Chancellor of Oxford University from 1621 to 1624, Bishop of Peterborough from 1630 to 1632 and Bishop of Bath and Wells from 1632 to his death in 1670.-Life:...
, Bishop of Bath and Wells
Bishop of Bath and Wells
The Bishop of Bath and Wells heads the Church of England Diocese of Bath and Wells in the Province of Canterbury in England.The present diocese covers the vast majority of the county of Somerset and a small area of Dorset. The Episcopal seat is located in the Cathedral Church of Saint Andrew in...
in 1661. Humfrey defended his action, in The Question of Re-Ordination(1661). He shortly changed his mind, however, and lost his living in 1662 for nonconformism. He set up a church in Duke's Place, London, and afterwards in Petticoat Lane, Whitechapel
Whitechapel
Whitechapel is a built-up inner city district in the London Borough of Tower Hamlets, London, England. It is located east of Charing Cross and roughly bounded by the Bishopsgate thoroughfare on the west, Fashion Street on the north, Brady Street and Cavell Street on the east and The Highway on the...
.
With the congregationalist Stephen Lobb
Stephen Lobb
Stephen Lobb was an English nonconformist minister and controversialist. He was prominent in the 1680s as a court representative of the Independents to James II, and in the 1690s in polemics between the Presbyterian and Independent groups of nonconformists...
he wrote two works against Edward Stillingfleet
Edward Stillingfleet
Edward Stillingfleet was a British theologian and scholar. Considered an outstanding preacher as well as a strong polemical writer defending Anglicanism, Stillingfleet was known as "the beauty of holiness" for his good looks in the pulpit, and was called by John Hough "the ablest man of his...
's Mischief of Separation. He was a staunch advocate of a national church and the unity of Protestants within it, and supported ‘comprehension’, the adjustment of positions to bring nonconformists back within the Church of England. His A Case of Conscience (1669) argued that in matter of religion the magistrate should not constrain people against the requirements of their conscience.