John Tillinghast
Encyclopedia
John Tillinghast was an English clergyman and Fifth-monarchy man. He is known for his confrontation with Oliver Cromwell
, and millenarian writings.
, Sussex
, and was born there in 1604 (baptised 25 Sept.) The regicide Robert Tichborne
was his uncle. From the grammar school of Newport, Essex
, he went to Cambridge, and on 24 March 1620-1, his age being sixteen, was admitted pensioner of Gonville and Caius College; he graduated B.A. 1624-5.
His first known preferment was the rectory of Tarring Neville
, Sussex, to which he was inducted on 30 July 1636. On 29 September 1637 he was inducted, in succession to his father, as rector of Streat; he held the living till 1643, when he was known as a preacher in London. He became an independent before the end of 1650, and was admitted member of the newly formed church at Syleham
, Suffolk
. On 22 January 1651 the independents of Great Yarmouth
called him there as assistant to William Bridge
on 15 April he and his wife Mary were transferred from the Syleham fellowship to that of Yarmouth. On 24 June 1651 he was re-baptised.
On 13 January 1652 the independent churches of Cookley
, Suffolk, Fressingfield
, Suffolk, and Trunch
, Norfolk, presented simultaneous calls to Tillinghast. The Yarmouth flock released him on 27 January, and he elected to go to Trunch, where he held the rectory.
His millenarian opinions, which he shared with (perhaps adopted from) Richard Breviter, or Brabiter, of North Walsham
, were of a purely spiritual type, and his general theology was in strict accordance with the Thirty-nine Articles
. In the spring of 1655 he came up to London to remonstrate with Cromwell and console the imprisoned 'saints' of his party. He visited Christopher Feake
in Windsor Castle
. Nathaniel Brewster, rector of Alby, Norfolk, introduced him to Cromwell, whom he addressed in frank terms; Brewster felt he went too far. Shortly after this he died in London, early in June 1655. His son John was baptised at Yarmouth on 24 June 1651.
Posthumous were :
, Sussex, matriculated from Magdalen Hall, Oxford, on 14 July 1642, aged 17. Another Pardon Tillinghast
, born at Sevencliffe, near Beachey Head, about 1622, became Baptist minister at Providence, Rhode Island
.
Oliver Cromwell
Oliver Cromwell was an English military and political leader who overthrew the English monarchy and temporarily turned England into a republican Commonwealth, and served as Lord Protector of England, Scotland, and Ireland....
, and millenarian writings.
Life
He was son of John Tillinghast, rector of StreatStreat
Streat is a village and civil parish in the Lewes District of East Sussex, England. The village is located five miles south east of Burgess Hill and eight miles west of Lewes, on the northern slopes of the South Downs....
, Sussex
Sussex
Sussex , from the Old English Sūþsēaxe , is an historic county in South East England corresponding roughly in area to the ancient Kingdom of Sussex. It is bounded on the north by Surrey, east by Kent, south by the English Channel, and west by Hampshire, and is divided for local government into West...
, and was born there in 1604 (baptised 25 Sept.) The regicide Robert Tichborne
Robert Tichborne
Sir Robert Tichborne , was an English soldier who fought in the English Civil War and a regicide of Charles I.Before the war he was a linen-draper by trade. In 1643 he was a captain in the London trained bands. He was lieutenant of the Tower of London in 1647. He was an extreme republican and...
was his uncle. From the grammar school of Newport, Essex
Newport, Essex
Newport is a large village in Essex near Saffron Walden, in which Newport Free Grammar School is located. The village has a population of just over 2,000....
, he went to Cambridge, and on 24 March 1620-1, his age being sixteen, was admitted pensioner of Gonville and Caius College; he graduated B.A. 1624-5.
His first known preferment was the rectory of Tarring Neville
Tarring Neville
Tarring Neville is a village and civil parish in the Lewes District of East Sussex, England. The village is located five miles south of Lewes, on the A26 road to Newhaven. The south west border of the parish runs along the River Ouse, the parish extending into the South Downs.-Landmarks:The parish...
, Sussex, to which he was inducted on 30 July 1636. On 29 September 1637 he was inducted, in succession to his father, as rector of Streat; he held the living till 1643, when he was known as a preacher in London. He became an independent before the end of 1650, and was admitted member of the newly formed church at Syleham
Syleham
Syleham is a small parish, next to the River Waveney in Suffolk, England, about six miles east of Diss.Its church, St Margaret, is one one of 38 existing round-tower churches in Suffolk. The windmill was one of the casualties of the Great Storm of 1987....
, 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...
. On 22 January 1651 the independents of Great Yarmouth
Great Yarmouth
Great Yarmouth, often known to locals as Yarmouth, is a coastal town in Norfolk, England. It is at the mouth of the River Yare, east of Norwich.It has been a seaside resort since 1760, and is the gateway from the Norfolk Broads to the sea...
called him there as assistant to William Bridge
William Bridge
William Bridge was a leading English Independent minister, preacher, and religious and political writer.-Life:A native of Cambridgeshire, the Rev. William Bridge was probably born in or around the year 1600. He studied at Emmanuel College, Cambridge, receiving an M.A...
on 15 April he and his wife Mary were transferred from the Syleham fellowship to that of Yarmouth. On 24 June 1651 he was re-baptised.
On 13 January 1652 the independent churches of Cookley
Cookley, Suffolk
Cookley is a village and a civil parish in the Suffolk Coastal district, in the county of Suffolk, England. Nearby settlements include the town of Halesworth and the village of Walpole. It has a church called Church of St Michael.- External links :*...
, Suffolk, Fressingfield
Fressingfield
Fressingfield is a small village in Suffolk, England, east of Diss, Norfolk. It has a population of over 900, with two shops a medical centre and three churches, with Anglican, Baptist and Methodist congregations. Fressingfield once had five public houses...
, Suffolk, and Trunch
Trunch
Trunch is a village and parish in Norfolk, England, situated three miles north of North Walsham and two miles from the coast at Mundesley. At the Census 2001 the village had a population of 805, and 388 households. The parish covers an area of ....
, Norfolk, presented simultaneous calls to Tillinghast. The Yarmouth flock released him on 27 January, and he elected to go to Trunch, where he held the rectory.
His millenarian opinions, which he shared with (perhaps adopted from) Richard Breviter, or Brabiter, of North Walsham
North Walsham
North Walsham is a market town and civil parish in Norfolk, England in the North Norfolk district.-Demographics:The civil parish has an area of and in the 2001 census had a population of 11,998. For the purposes of local government, the parish falls within the district of North...
, were of a purely spiritual type, and his general theology was in strict accordance with the Thirty-nine Articles
Thirty-Nine Articles
The Thirty-Nine Articles of Religion are the historically defining statements of doctrines of the Anglican church with respect to the controversies of the English Reformation. First established in 1563, the articles served to define the doctrine of the nascent Church of England as it related to...
. In the spring of 1655 he came up to London to remonstrate with Cromwell and console the imprisoned 'saints' of his party. He visited Christopher Feake
Christopher Feake
Christopher Feake was an English Independent minister and Fifth-monarchy man. He was imprisoned for maligning Oliver Cromwell in his preaching. He is a leading example of someone sharing both Leveller views and the millenarian approach of the Fifth Monarchists...
in Windsor Castle
Windsor Castle
Windsor Castle is a medieval castle and royal residence in Windsor in the English county of Berkshire, notable for its long association with the British royal family and its architecture. The original castle was built after the Norman invasion by William the Conqueror. Since the time of Henry I it...
. Nathaniel Brewster, rector of Alby, Norfolk, introduced him to Cromwell, whom he addressed in frank terms; Brewster felt he went too far. Shortly after this he died in London, early in June 1655. His son John was baptised at Yarmouth on 24 June 1651.
Works
He published:- Demetrivs his Opposition to Reformation, 1642, dedicated to Isabel, wife of Henry Rich, 1st Earl of HollandHenry Rich, 1st Earl of HollandHenry Rich, 1st Earl of Holland was an English aristocrat, courtier and soldier.-Life:He was the son of Robert Rich, 1st Earl of Warwick and of Penelope Devereux, Lady Rich, and the younger brother of Robert Rich, 2nd Earl of Warwick...
and others. - Generation Work, 1653, 8vo; part ii. 1654, 8vo; part iii. 1654, (title is explained, 'work for the present generation').
- Knovvledge of the Times, 1654.
- A Motive to Generation Work, 1655.
Posthumous were :
- Mr. Tillinghast's Eight Last Sermons, 1656, (edited, with preface, by Christopher Feake).
- Six Several Treatises, 1656; edited, from Tillinghast's notes, by Samuel Petto and John Manning; reprinted 1663,.
- Elijah's Mantle: or the Remains of ... Tillinghast, 1658; nine sermons, edited by Petto, Manning, and Samuel Habergham.
Others of the name
Another John Tillinghast, son of Pardon Tillinghast of AlfristonAlfriston
Alfriston is a village and civil parish in the East Sussex district of Wealden, England. The village lies in the valley of the River Cuckmere, about four miles north-east of Seaford and south of the main A27 trunk road and part of the large area of Polegate...
, Sussex, matriculated from Magdalen Hall, Oxford, on 14 July 1642, aged 17. Another Pardon Tillinghast
Pardon Tillinghast
Pardon Tillinghast was an early pastor of the First Baptist Church in America and a public official in Providence, Rhode Island.-Biography:...
, born at Sevencliffe, near Beachey Head, about 1622, became Baptist minister at Providence, Rhode Island
Providence, Rhode Island
Providence is the capital and most populous city of Rhode Island and was one of the first cities established in the United States. Located in Providence County, it is the third largest city in the New England region...
.