John Johnson (theologian)
Encyclopedia
John Johnson, of Cranbrook (1662–1725) was an English clergyman, known as a theologian in the Laudian tradition.
in Kent
, he was son of the vicar, Thomas Johnson, by Mary, daughter of Francis Drayton, rector of Little Chart
, Kent. His father died about four years after his marriage, and Mrs. Johnson, with her two children, a son and a daughter, settled at Canterbury
, where John was sent to the King's School
. At the age of 15 he went to Magdalene College, Cambridge
, where he graduated B.A. 1681. He was afterwards nominated to a scholarship at Corpus Christi College
by the dean and chapter of Canterbury; proceeded M.A. in 1685; received holy orders, and served the curacy of Hardres, near Canterbury.
In 1687 he was collated by Archbishop William Sancroft
to the vicarage of Boughton-under-the-Blean, and he also held the neighbouring vicarage of Hernhill
, which was under sequestration. In 1697 the vicarage of St. John's, which included Margate
, became void, and Archbishop Thomas Tenison
appointed Johnson to the benefice. As the salary was small, he also collated Johnson to the vicarage of Appledore
, on the borders of Romney Marsh
, on 1 May 1697. Johnson took two or three boarders to teach with his two sons, and growing absorbed in the work of education, he resigned his clerical charge, and settled at Appledore in 1703. The air not agreeing with him, he obtained from Tenison the living of Cranbrook
, Kent, which fell vacant in 1707. There he remained until his death and wrote most of his books. He is generally known as ‘Johnson of Cranbrook.’
He was chosen in 1710 and 1713 by the clergy of the diocese of Canterbury to be one of their proctors in convocation. He was a diligent parish priest, and always held daily service in his church. His church principles were those of the nonjurors
, and he was intimate with Dr. George Hickes
. Among his correspondence are letters from Hickes and Robert Nelson
, and to Thomas Brett
.
He never recovered from the death of his eldest son in December 1723. He died 15 December 1725, and was buried in Cranbrook churchyard. In 1689 he married Margaret, daughter of Thomas Jenkin, by whom he had five children, only one of whom survived him.
, called ‘Holy David and his Old English Translation cleared’ (1706). His next work, ‘The Clergyman's Vade Mecum’ (first part in 1708 reached a fifth edition in 1723. In 1709 he published part ii. of the ‘Vade Mecum,’ containing ‘the Canonical Codes of the Primitive, Universal, Eastern, and Western Church down to the year 787,’ with explanatory notes. In 1710 appeared ‘The Propitiatory Oblation in the Holy Eucharist,’ with a postscript replying to some remarks by Charles Trimnell
, bishop of Norwich
on the second part of the ‘Vade Mecum.’ This work, which was in direct opposition to the Whig theology of the day, alienated Thomas Tenison and provoked many replies.
In 1714 Johnson gave further expression to his views in his major work, ‘The Unbloody Sacrifice and Altar Unvail'd and Supported.’ In 1717 he published part ii. of ‘The Unbloody Sacrifice.’ Both parts were reissued in the Anglo-Catholic Library in 1847. Next followed a collection of ecclesiastical laws, 1720 (new ed. 1850), and some tracts on practical subjects.
After his death his daughters published ‘The Primitive Communicant,’ in three discourses, ‘Daniel's Prophecy of the LXX Weeks explained,’ and two sermons on ‘The Nature of God and His True Worship.’ These, with a sermon preached at Canterbury school-feast, with a preface contending that there were ‘no alphabetical letters before Moses,’ are contained in one volume, with a life of the author by Thomas Brett, published in 1748. Two volumes of sermons were published in 1728. A paper by Johnson on the office of an archdeacon
was printed in ‘Illustrations of the Manners and Experiences of Antient Times in England,’ by [J. N.], 1797.
Life
Born 30 December 1662, at FrindsburyFrindsbury
Frindsbury is part of the Medway Towns conurbation in Kent, southern England. It lies on the opposite side of the River Medway to Rochester, and at various times in its history has been considered fully or partially part of the City of Rochester. Frindsbury refers to both a parish and a manor....
in Kent
Kent
Kent is a county in southeast England, and is one of the home counties. It borders East Sussex, Surrey and Greater London and has a defined boundary with Essex in the middle of the Thames Estuary. The ceremonial county boundaries of Kent include the shire county of Kent and the unitary borough of...
, he was son of the vicar, Thomas Johnson, by Mary, daughter of Francis Drayton, rector of Little Chart
Little Chart
Little Chart is a civil parish and small village to the north-east of Ashford in Kent, South East England. The parish has an area of , and a population of 239. Within the parish boundaries are two hamlets: Little Chart Forstal ; and Rooting Street...
, Kent. His father died about four years after his marriage, and Mrs. Johnson, with her two children, a son and a daughter, settled at Canterbury
Canterbury
Canterbury is a historic English cathedral city, which lies at the heart of the City of Canterbury, a district of Kent in South East England. It lies on the River Stour....
, where John was sent to the King's School
The King's School, Canterbury
The King's School is a British co-educational independent school for both day and boarding pupils in the historic English cathedral city of Canterbury in Kent. It is a member of the Headmasters' and Headmistresses' Conference and the Eton Group....
. At the age of 15 he went to Magdalene College, Cambridge
Magdalene College, Cambridge
Magdalene College is a constituent college of the University of Cambridge, England.The college was founded in 1428 as a Benedictine hostel, in time coming to be known as Buckingham College, before being refounded in 1542 as the College of St Mary Magdalene...
, where he graduated B.A. 1681. He was afterwards nominated to a scholarship at Corpus Christi College
Corpus Christi College, Cambridge
Corpus Christi College is a constituent college of the University of Cambridge. It is notable as the only college founded by Cambridge townspeople: it was established in 1352 by the Guilds of Corpus Christi and the Blessed Virgin Mary...
by the dean and chapter of Canterbury; proceeded M.A. in 1685; received holy orders, and served the curacy of Hardres, near Canterbury.
In 1687 he was collated by Archbishop William Sancroft
William Sancroft
William Sancroft was the 79th Archbishop of Canterbury.- Life :Sancroft was born at Ufford Hall in Fressingfield, Suffolk, son of Francis Sandcroft and Margaret Sandcroft née Butcher...
to the vicarage of Boughton-under-the-Blean, and he also held the neighbouring vicarage of Hernhill
Hernhill
Hernhill is a village and civil parish between Faversham and Canterbury in southeast England. The parish includes the hamlets of Crockham, Dargate, The Fostall, Lamberhurst, Oakwell, Staple Street, Thread, Waterham and Wey Street.-Churches:...
, which was under sequestration. In 1697 the vicarage of St. John's, which included Margate
Margate
-Demography:As of the 2001 UK census, Margate had a population of 40,386.The ethnicity of the town was 97.1% white, 1.0% mixed race, 0.5% black, 0.8% Asian, 0.6% Chinese or other ethnicity....
, became void, and Archbishop Thomas Tenison
Thomas Tenison
Thomas Tenison was an English church leader, Archbishop of Canterbury from 1694 until his death. During his primacy, he crowned two British monarchs.-Life:...
appointed Johnson to the benefice. As the salary was small, he also collated Johnson to the vicarage of Appledore
Appledore
-Places in England:* Appledore, Mid Devon, near Tiverton* Appledore, Kent* Appledore railway station* Appledore, Torridge, Devon, near Bideford-Ships and shipbuilding:* Appledore II , schooner based in Camden, Maine...
, on the borders of Romney Marsh
Romney Marsh
Romney Marsh is a sparsely populated wetland area in the counties of Kent and East Sussex in the south-east of England. It covers about 100 mi ² .-Quotations:*“As Egypt was the gift of the Nile, this level tract .....
, on 1 May 1697. Johnson took two or three boarders to teach with his two sons, and growing absorbed in the work of education, he resigned his clerical charge, and settled at Appledore in 1703. The air not agreeing with him, he obtained from Tenison the living of Cranbrook
Cranbrook
-People:* Earl of Cranbrook, title in the Peerage of the United Kingdom** Gathorne Gathorne-Hardy, 1st Earl of Cranbrook , British Conservative politician** John Stewart Gathorne-Hardy, 2nd Earl of Cranbrook , Conservative Member of Parliament...
, Kent, which fell vacant in 1707. There he remained until his death and wrote most of his books. He is generally known as ‘Johnson of Cranbrook.’
He was chosen in 1710 and 1713 by the clergy of the diocese of Canterbury to be one of their proctors in convocation. He was a diligent parish priest, and always held daily service in his church. His church principles were those of the nonjurors
Nonjuring schism
The nonjuring schism was a split in the Church of England in the aftermath of the Glorious Revolution of 1688, over whether William of Orange and his wife Mary could legally be recognised as King and Queen of England....
, and he was intimate with Dr. George Hickes
George Hickes
George Hickes was an English divine and scholar.-Biography:Hickes was born at Newsham, near Thirsk, Yorkshire, in 1642...
. Among his correspondence are letters from Hickes and Robert Nelson
Robert Nelson (nonjuror)
Robert Nelson was an English lay religious writer and nonjuror.-Life:He was born in London on 22 June 1656, the only surviving son of John Nelson, a merchant in the Turkey trade, by Delicia, daughter of Lewis and sister of Sir Gabriel Roberts, who, like John Nelson, was a member of the Levant...
, and to Thomas Brett
Thomas Brett (nonjuror)
Thomas Brett was an English nonjuring clergyman known as an author.-Life:He was the son of Thomas Brett of Spring Grove, Wye, Kent. His father descended from a family settled at Wye; his mother was Letitia, daughter of John Boys of Betshanger, Sandwich, where Brett was born. He was educated at Wye...
.
He never recovered from the death of his eldest son in December 1723. He died 15 December 1725, and was buried in Cranbrook churchyard. In 1689 he married Margaret, daughter of Thomas Jenkin, by whom he had five children, only one of whom survived him.
Works
Most of his books were anonymous. His first was a paraphrase, with notes, of the Book of Psalms, according to the translation in the Book of Common PrayerBook of Common Prayer
The Book of Common Prayer is the short title of a number of related prayer books used in the Anglican Communion, as well as by the Continuing Anglican, "Anglican realignment" and other Anglican churches. The original book, published in 1549 , in the reign of Edward VI, was a product of the English...
, called ‘Holy David and his Old English Translation cleared’ (1706). His next work, ‘The Clergyman's Vade Mecum’ (first part in 1708 reached a fifth edition in 1723. In 1709 he published part ii. of the ‘Vade Mecum,’ containing ‘the Canonical Codes of the Primitive, Universal, Eastern, and Western Church down to the year 787,’ with explanatory notes. In 1710 appeared ‘The Propitiatory Oblation in the Holy Eucharist,’ with a postscript replying to some remarks by Charles Trimnell
Charles Trimnell
Charles Trimnell was an English bishop. He was a Whig in politics, and known for his attacks on High Church views, writing on the subordination of the Church of England to the state...
, bishop of Norwich
Bishop of Norwich
The Bishop of Norwich is the Ordinary of the Church of England Diocese of Norwich in the Province of Canterbury.The diocese covers most of the County of Norfolk and part of Suffolk. The see is in the City of Norwich where the seat is located at the Cathedral Church of the Holy and Undivided...
on the second part of the ‘Vade Mecum.’ This work, which was in direct opposition to the Whig theology of the day, alienated Thomas Tenison and provoked many replies.
In 1714 Johnson gave further expression to his views in his major work, ‘The Unbloody Sacrifice and Altar Unvail'd and Supported.’ In 1717 he published part ii. of ‘The Unbloody Sacrifice.’ Both parts were reissued in the Anglo-Catholic Library in 1847. Next followed a collection of ecclesiastical laws, 1720 (new ed. 1850), and some tracts on practical subjects.
After his death his daughters published ‘The Primitive Communicant,’ in three discourses, ‘Daniel's Prophecy of the LXX Weeks explained,’ and two sermons on ‘The Nature of God and His True Worship.’ These, with a sermon preached at Canterbury school-feast, with a preface contending that there were ‘no alphabetical letters before Moses,’ are contained in one volume, with a life of the author by Thomas Brett, published in 1748. Two volumes of sermons were published in 1728. A paper by Johnson on the office of an archdeacon
Archdeacon
An archdeacon is a senior clergy position in Anglicanism, Syrian Malabar Nasrani, Chaldean Catholic, and some other Christian denominations, above that of most clergy and below a bishop. In the High Middle Ages it was the most senior diocesan position below a bishop in the Roman Catholic Church...
was printed in ‘Illustrations of the Manners and Experiences of Antient Times in England,’ by [J. N.], 1797.