Stephen Egerton (clergyman)
Encyclopedia
Stephen Egerton was an English clergyman, a leading Puritan
preacher of his time also active in organizing for reform of the Church of England
.
, where he took the M.A. degree in 1579. He had then already taken orders. He was one of the leaders in the formation of the presbytery at Wandsworth, Surrey, which has been described as the first presbyterian church in England.
In 1584 he was suspended for refusing to subscribe to John Whitgift
's articles, but shortly afterwards he was active in promoting the Book of Discipline
. During the imprisonment of the separatists Henry Barrow and John Greenwood in 1590 Egerton was sent by the Bishop of London
to confer with them, and several letters passed between him and them; but later in the same year he himself was summoned, together with several other ministers, before the Court of High Commission
, and was committed to the Fleet prison
, where he remained about three years.
In 1598 he became minister of St. Anne's, Blackfriars, London. He was one of those chosen to present the millenary petition
for the further reform of the church in 1603, and in May of the following year he introduced a petition to the lower house of Convocation
for the reformation of the prayer-book. He remained in his cure at Blackfriars till his death, which took place about 1621, being assisted in his latter years by William Googe, who succeeded him. He was described by Alexander Nowell
, in a letter, as a "man of great learning and godliness."
.
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...
preacher of his time also active in organizing for reform of the Church of England
Church of England
The Church of England is the officially established Christian church in England and the Mother Church of the worldwide Anglican Communion. The church considers itself within the tradition of Western Christianity and dates its formal establishment principally to the mission to England by St...
.
Life
He was born in London about 1555, and was educated at Peterhouse, CambridgePeterhouse, Cambridge
Peterhouse is a constituent college of the University of Cambridge, England. It is the oldest college of the University, having been founded in 1284 by Hugo de Balsham, Bishop of Ely...
, where he took the M.A. degree in 1579. He had then already taken orders. He was one of the leaders in the formation of the presbytery at Wandsworth, Surrey, which has been described as the first presbyterian church in England.
In 1584 he was suspended for refusing to subscribe to 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 articles, but shortly afterwards he was active in promoting the Book of Discipline
Book of Discipline
A Book of Discipline or Book of Order is a book detailing the beliefs, practices, doctrines, laws, organisational structure and government of many Christian denominations...
. During the imprisonment of the separatists Henry Barrow and John Greenwood in 1590 Egerton was sent by the Bishop of London
Bishop of London
The Bishop of London is the ordinary of the Church of England Diocese of London in the Province of Canterbury.The diocese covers 458 km² of 17 boroughs of Greater London north of the River Thames and a small part of the County of Surrey...
to confer with them, and several letters passed between him and them; but later in the same year he himself was summoned, together with several other ministers, before the Court of High Commission
Court of High Commission
The Court of High Commission was the supreme ecclesiastic court in England. It was instituted by the crown during the Reformation and finally dissolved by parliament in 1641...
, and was committed to the Fleet prison
Fleet Prison
Fleet Prison was a notorious London prison by the side of the Fleet River in London. The prison was built in 1197 and was in use until 1844. It was demolished in 1846.- History :...
, where he remained about three years.
In 1598 he became minister of St. Anne's, Blackfriars, London. He was one of those chosen to present the millenary petition
Millenary Petition
The Millenary Petition was a list of requests given to James I by Puritans in 1603 when he was travelling to London in order to claim the English throne. It is claimed, but not proven, that this petition had 1,000 signatures of Puritan ministers...
for the further reform of the church in 1603, and in May of the following year he introduced a petition to the lower house of Convocation
Convocation
A Convocation is a group of people formally assembled for a special purpose.- University use :....
for the reformation of the prayer-book. He remained in his cure at Blackfriars till his death, which took place about 1621, being assisted in his latter years by William Googe, who succeeded him. He was described by Alexander Nowell
Alexander Nowell
Alexander Nowell was an English Puritan theologian and clergyman, who served as dean of St Paul's during much of Elizabeth I's reign.-Biography:...
, in a letter, as a "man of great learning and godliness."
Works
Egerton published sermons, but few of them remain. Among those of his works still extant are A Brief Method of Catechising, first issued in 1594, which in 1644 reached a forty-fourth edition; and a translation from the French of Matthew Virel entitled A Learned and Excellent Treatise containing all principal Grounds of the Christian Religion, the earliest edition of which now remaining is the fourth, published in 1597, and the latest the fourteenth in 1635. In addition to his own books he wrote introductions for several publications by his fellow-puritans, including Richard Rogers, Robert Pricke, Baine, and Nicholas ByfieldNicholas Byfield
Nicholas Byfield was an English clergyman, a leading preacher of the reign of James I.-Life:He was a native of Warwickshire, son by his first wife of Richard Byfield, who became vicar of Stratford-on-Avon in January 1597...
.