John More (Puritan)
Encyclopedia
John More was an English clergyman, known as the 'Apostle of Norwich.' Tending to nonconformity, he was treated leniently by the church authorities.
, he was elected a scholar of Christ's College, Cambridge
, graduated B.A. in 1562, and was shortly afterwards chosen fellow of his college. During his Cambridge career he appears to have been influenced by Thomas Cartwright, and he was one of those who signed a testimonial to Cartwright addressed to William Cecil
in 1570.
On leaving the university he was appointed minister of St. Andrew's Church, Norwich, where he remained until his death, in spite of offers of preferment.. He preached three and sometimes four times every Sunday, and made numerous converts. In 1573 he refused to wear the surplice
, on the ground that it gave offence to others, and he was convened before John Parkhurst
, bishop of Norwich
, who told him that it was better to offend a few private persons than to offend God and disobey the prince. No severe measures were taken against him, and Parkhurst defended More to Archbishop Matthew Parker
. In the same year More confuted a sermon preached by Andrew Perne
in Norwich Cathedral
, and a controversy grew up. Dr. Gardiner, one of the prebendaries of the cathedral, asked the bishop to interpose, and More was prevented from carrying out further attacks on Perne.
On 25 September 1576 More and other Puritan
clergy round Norwich presented to the council a petition against the imposition of ceremonies, and he was shortly afterwards suspended by Bishop Edmund Freke
. Two years afterwards (21 August1578) More and his friends signed a submission to their diocesan bishop, asking to preach again, and softening their position on ceremonies. In 1584, after the publication of John Whitgift
's three articles, More and upwards of sixty other ministers of Norfolk presented to the archbishop their reasons for refusing to subscribe.
More died at Norwich, and was buried in the churchyard of St. Andrew's on 16 January 1592. He left a wife, afterwards married to Nicholas Bownde
, and two daughters. He is said to have worn the longest and largest beard of his time, for which he gave as a reason 'that no act of his life might be unworthy of the gravity of his appearance.' Robert Greene is generally supposed to mean More's preaching in his account of the manner in which he was influenced by a sermon he heard in St. Andrew's Church, Norwich.
Life
Born in YorkshireYorkshire
Yorkshire is a historic county of northern England and the largest in the United Kingdom. Because of its great size in comparison to other English counties, functions have been increasingly undertaken over time by its subdivisions, which have also been subject to periodic reform...
, he was elected a scholar of Christ's College, Cambridge
Christ's College, Cambridge
Christ's College is a constituent college of the University of Cambridge.With a reputation for high academic standards, Christ's College averaged top place in the Tompkins Table from 1980-2000 . In 2011, Christ's was placed sixth.-College history:...
, graduated B.A. in 1562, and was shortly afterwards chosen fellow of his college. During his Cambridge career he appears to have been influenced by Thomas Cartwright, and he was one of those who signed a testimonial to Cartwright addressed to William Cecil
William Cecil, 1st Baron Burghley
William Cecil, 1st Baron Burghley , KG was an English statesman, the chief advisor of Queen Elizabeth I for most of her reign, twice Secretary of State and Lord High Treasurer from 1572...
in 1570.
On leaving the university he was appointed minister of St. Andrew's Church, Norwich, where he remained until his death, in spite of offers of preferment.. He preached three and sometimes four times every Sunday, and made numerous converts. In 1573 he refused to wear the surplice
Surplice
A surplice is a liturgical vestment of the Western Christian Church...
, on the ground that it gave offence to others, and he was convened before John Parkhurst
John Parkhurst
John Parkhurst was an English Marian exile and from 1560 the Bishop of Norwich.-Early life:Born about 1512, he was son of George Parkhurst of Guildford, Surrey. He initially attended the Royal Grammar School, Guildford, before at an early age moving to Magdalen College School at Oxford...
, 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...
, who told him that it was better to offend a few private persons than to offend God and disobey the prince. No severe measures were taken against him, and Parkhurst defended More to Archbishop Matthew Parker
Matthew Parker
Matthew Parker was Archbishop of Canterbury from 1559 until his death in 1575. He was also an influential theologian and arguably the co-founder of Anglican theological thought....
. In the same year More confuted a sermon preached by Andrew Perne
Andrew Perne
Andrew Perne , Vice-Chancellor of Cambridge University and dean of Ely, was the son of John Perne of East Bilney, Norfolk.-Biography:...
in Norwich Cathedral
Norwich Cathedral
Norwich Cathedral is a cathedral located in Norwich, Norfolk, dedicated to the Holy and Undivided Trinity. Formerly a Catholic church, it has belonged to the Church of England since the English Reformation....
, and a controversy grew up. Dr. Gardiner, one of the prebendaries of the cathedral, asked the bishop to interpose, and More was prevented from carrying out further attacks on Perne.
On 25 September 1576 More and other Puritan
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...
clergy round Norwich presented to the council a petition against the imposition of ceremonies, and he was shortly afterwards suspended by Bishop Edmund Freke
Edmund Freke
-Life:He was born in Essex, and educated at Cambridge, gaining his M.A. there c. 1550.He was Dean of Salisbury from 1571 to 1572 when he became Bishop of Rochester and was simultaneously Archdeacon of Canterbury in commendam. In 1575, he became Bishop of Norwich...
. Two years afterwards (21 August1578) More and his friends signed a submission to their diocesan bishop, asking to preach again, and softening their position on ceremonies. In 1584, after the publication of John Whitgift
John Whitgift
John Whitgift was the Archbishop of Canterbury from 1583 to his death. Noted for his hospitality, he was somewhat ostentatious in his habits, sometimes visiting Canterbury and other towns attended by a retinue of 800 horsemen...
's three articles, More and upwards of sixty other ministers of Norfolk presented to the archbishop their reasons for refusing to subscribe.
More died at Norwich, and was buried in the churchyard of St. Andrew's on 16 January 1592. He left a wife, afterwards married to Nicholas Bownde
Nicholas Bownde
Nicholas Bownde, Bownd or Bound was an English clergyman, known for his sabbatarian writings.-Life:He was son of Robert Bownde , M.D., physician to the Duke of Norfolk. He was educated at Peterhouse, Cambridge, where he graduated B.A. in 1572, was elected a fellow later that year, and graduated...
, and two daughters. He is said to have worn the longest and largest beard of his time, for which he gave as a reason 'that no act of his life might be unworthy of the gravity of his appearance.' Robert Greene is generally supposed to mean More's preaching in his account of the manner in which he was influenced by a sermon he heard in St. Andrew's Church, Norwich.
Works
More's works were all published after his death.- A Table from the beginning of the World to this day. Wherein is declared in what yeere of the World everything was done, both in the Scriptures mentioned and also in prophane matters, Cambridge, 1593. Edited by Nicholas Bownde.
- John More his three Sermons . . . Also a Treatise of a contented Minde, by Nich. Bownde, Cambridge, 1594.
- A Lively Anatomy of Death, wherein you may see from whence it came, what it is by Nature, and what by Christ, &c. With a prefatory Epistle by William Barforde, London, 1596.
- Catechismus Parvus.hell