John Rogers (c.1570–1636)
Encyclopedia
John Rogers sometimes referred to as "Roaring" John Rogers, for his fiery preaching style, was a well-known English Puritan
clergyman and preacher.
in Essex, and his wife, Mary (died 1579). Richard Rogers, his uncle, provided for his education at Emmanuel College, Cambridge
, where he seems to have graduated in 1591/2. In 1592 he became vicar of Honingham
, Norfolk
, and in 1603 he succeeded Lawrence Fairclough, father of Samuel Fairclough
, as vicar of Haverhill
, Suffolk
.
In 1605 he became lecturer, not vicar as some scholars believe, of Dedham
, Essex
, where for over thirty years he had the repute of being "one of the most awakening preachers of the age." The vicars and lecturers are listed inside the church by the north door. On his lecture days his church overflowed. On market days he preached to hundreds of people from the tower by the muniment room above the north porch. This muniment room holds some early editions of his works. Cotton Mather
reports a saying of Ralph Brownrig that Rogers would "do more good with his wild notes than we with our set music." His lecture was suppressed from 1629 till 1631, on the ground of his nonconformity. His subsequent compliance was not strict. Giles Firmin
, one of his converts, never saw him wear a surplice
, and he only occasionally used the prayer-book, and then repeated portions of it from memory.
He died on 18 October 1636, and was buried in the churchyard at Dedham. There is a tombstone to his memory, and also a mural monument in the church on the north wall of the sanctuary. His funeral sermon was preached by John Knowles. His engraved portrait exhibits a worn face, and depicts him in nightcap, ruff, and full beard. Matthew Newcomen
succeeded him at Dedham. Nathaniel Rogers
was his second son.
Posthumous was A Godly and Fruitful Exposition upon ... the First Epistle of Peter, 1650. Benjamin Brook
assigns to him, without date, Sixty Memorials of a Godly Life. He prefaced Gods Treasurie displayed, 1630, by F. B. (Francis Bunny?).
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...
clergyman and preacher.
Life
His parents were John Rogers (died 1601), a shoemaker from MoulshamMoulsham
Moulsham is a suburb of Chelmsford, Essex, England. It is located to the south of the town centre and has two distinct areas: Old Moulsham and Moulsham Lodge.-History:...
in Essex, and his wife, Mary (died 1579). Richard Rogers, his uncle, provided for his education at Emmanuel College, Cambridge
Emmanuel College, Cambridge
Emmanuel College is a constituent college of the University of Cambridge.The college was founded in 1584 by Sir Walter Mildmay on the site of a Dominican friary...
, where he seems to have graduated in 1591/2. In 1592 he became vicar of Honingham
Honingham
Honingham is a village and civil parish in the English county of Norfolk, located to the west of Norwich along the A47 trunk road. It covers an area of and had a population of 342 in 145 households as of the 2001 census....
, Norfolk
Norfolk
Norfolk is a low-lying county in the East of England. It has borders with Lincolnshire to the west, Cambridgeshire to the west and southwest and Suffolk to the south. Its northern and eastern boundaries are the North Sea coast and to the north-west the county is bordered by The Wash. The county...
, and in 1603 he succeeded Lawrence Fairclough, father of Samuel Fairclough
Samuel Fairclough
Samuel Fairclough was an English nonconformist divine.-Early life:Fairclough was born 29 April 1594 at Haverhill, Suffolk, the youngest of the four sons of Lawrence Fairclough, vicar of Haverhill, by his wife Mary, daughter of John Cole of that town. After some preliminary training under a Mr...
, as vicar of Haverhill
Haverhill, Suffolk
Haverhill is an industrial market town and civil parish in the county of Suffolk, England, next to the borders of Essex and Cambridgeshire. It lies southeast of Cambridge and north of central London...
, Suffolk
Suffolk
Suffolk is a non-metropolitan county of historic origin in East Anglia, England. It has borders with Norfolk to the north, Cambridgeshire to the west and Essex to the south. The North Sea lies to the east...
.
In 1605 he became lecturer, not vicar as some scholars believe, of Dedham
Dedham, Essex
Dedham is a village within the borough of Colchester in northeast Essex, England, situated on the River Stour and on the border of Essex and Suffolk...
, Essex
Essex
Essex is a ceremonial and non-metropolitan county in the East region of England, and one of the home counties. It is located to the northeast of Greater London. It borders with Cambridgeshire and Suffolk to the north, Hertfordshire to the west, Kent to the South and London to the south west...
, where for over thirty years he had the repute of being "one of the most awakening preachers of the age." The vicars and lecturers are listed inside the church by the north door. On his lecture days his church overflowed. On market days he preached to hundreds of people from the tower by the muniment room above the north porch. This muniment room holds some early editions of his works. Cotton Mather
Cotton Mather
Cotton Mather, FRS was a socially and politically influential New England Puritan minister, prolific author and pamphleteer; he is often remembered for his role in the Salem witch trials...
reports a saying of Ralph Brownrig that Rogers would "do more good with his wild notes than we with our set music." His lecture was suppressed from 1629 till 1631, on the ground of his nonconformity. His subsequent compliance was not strict. Giles Firmin
Giles Firmin
Giles Firmin was an English minister and physician, deacon in the first church in Massachusetts of John Cotton, and ejected minister in 1662.-Life:...
, one of his converts, never saw him wear a surplice
Surplice
A surplice is a liturgical vestment of the Western Christian Church...
, and he only occasionally used the prayer-book, and then repeated portions of it from memory.
He died on 18 October 1636, and was buried in the churchyard at Dedham. There is a tombstone to his memory, and also a mural monument in the church on the north wall of the sanctuary. His funeral sermon was preached by John Knowles. His engraved portrait exhibits a worn face, and depicts him in nightcap, ruff, and full beard. Matthew Newcomen
Matthew Newcomen
Matthew Newcomen was an English nonconformist churchman.His exact date of birth is unknown. He was educated at St John's College, Cambridge . In 1636 he became lecturer at Dedham in Essex, and led the church reform party in that county. He assisted Edmund Calamy the Elder in writing Smectymnuus ,...
succeeded him at Dedham. Nathaniel Rogers
Nathaniel Rogers (minister)
Nathaniel Rogers was an English clergyman and early New England pastor. According to the Dictionary of National Biography article on Rogers , his descendants in America were at that time more numerous than those of any other early English emigrant family.-Life:He was the second son of John Rogers,...
was his second son.
Works
He published:- The Doctrine of Faith, 1627; 6th edit. 1634, 12mo.
- A Treatise of Love, 1629; 3rd edit. 1637.
Posthumous was A Godly and Fruitful Exposition upon ... the First Epistle of Peter, 1650. Benjamin Brook
Benjamin Brook
-Life:He was born at Nether Thong, near Huddersfield. When young he was admitted to membership in the independent church at Holmfield, under the Rev. Robert Gallond. In 1797 he entered Rotherham College as a student for the ministry...
assigns to him, without date, Sixty Memorials of a Godly Life. He prefaced Gods Treasurie displayed, 1630, by F. B. (Francis Bunny?).
External links
- Jason Yiannikkou, ‘Rogers, John (c.1570–1636)’, Oxford Dictionary of National Biography, Oxford University Press, 2004