Thomas Brett (nonjuror)
Encyclopedia
Thomas Brett was an English nonjuring
clergyman known as an author.
, 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 grammar school
, under John Paris and Samuel Pratt (later dean of Rochester). On 20 March 1684 he was admitted pensioner of Queens' College, Cambridge
. He was removed by his father for extravagance, but permitted to return. He then migrated to Corpus Christi College
on 17 January 1689. He took the LL.B. degree in 1690.
He was ordained deacon
on 21 December 1690. After holding a curacy at Folkestone
for a year he was ordained priest, and chosen lecturer at Islington
. The vicar, Mr. Gery, encouraged him to exchange his early Whiggism
for Tory
and High Church
principles. On the death of his father, his mother persuaded him to return (May 1696) to Spring Grove, where he undertook the cure of Great Chart
. Here he married Bridget, daughter of Sir Nicholas Toke. In 1697 he became LL.D., and soon afterwards exchanged Great Chart for Wye. He became rector of Betshanger on the death of his uncle, Thomas Boys; and on 12 April 1705 Archbishop Thomas Tenison
made him rector of Ruckinge
, having previously allowed him to hold the small vicarage of Chislet
'in sequestration.'
He had up to this point taken the required oaths; but the attempts of his relation Jeffray Gilbert to bring him back to the Whig side had the opposite of the intended effect; and Henry Sacheverell
's trial made him decide never to take the oath again. He published a sermon 'on the remission of sins,' in 1711, which gave offence by its view of sacerdotal absolution, and was attacked by Dr Robert Cannon
in Convocation (22 February 1712). The proposed censure was dropped apparently by the action of Francis Atterbury
as prolocutor. In a later sermon 'On the Honour of the Cnristian Priesthood' he disavowed a belief in auricular confession.
On the accession of King George I, Brett declined to take the oaths, resigned his living, and was received into communion by the nonjuring bishop George Hickes
. He afterwards officiated in his own house. He was presented at the assizes for keeping a conventicle, and in 1718 and 1729 complaints were made against him to Archbishop William Wake
for interfering with the duties of the parish clergyman. He was, however, let off with a reproof.
Brett was consecrated bishop by the nonjuring bishops Jeremy Collier
, Nathaniel Spinckes
, and Samuel Hawes, in 1716. He took part in a negotiation which they opened in 1716 with the Greek archbishop of Thebais, then in London, and which continued till 1725, when it was allowed to drop. Brett's account, with copies of a proposed concordat, and letters to the Tsar of Moscovy and his ministers, is given by Thomas Lathbury from the manuscripts of Alexander Jolly
. Before a definitive reply had been received from the Greek prelates, the nonjurors had split into two over a controversy. Brett supported Collier in proposing to reinstate the four usages that had been included in the first liturgy of Edward VI
. He defended his view in a postscript to his work on 'Tradition' and in an important collection of Liturgies. He took part in related controversies, and joined in consecrating bishops with Collier and Archibald Campbell
. In 1727 he consecrated Thomas Brett, junior.
Brett lived quietly in his own house, where he died on 5 March 1743. He had twelve children. His wife died on 7 May 1765; his son, Nicholas, chaplain to Sir Robert Cotton, on 20 August 1776. A detailed account of Brett's life and opinions is given in Henry Broxap's Later Nonjurors.
There are also sermons and tracts. There is a letter of his to Dr. Warren, of Trinity Hall, in Francis Peck
's Desiderata Curiosa (lib. vii. p. 13). Three letters of his on the difference between Anglican and Catholic tenets were published from the manuscripts of Thomas Bowdler
in 1850; and a short essay on suffragan bishop
s and rural dean
s was edited by J. Fendall from the manuscript in 1858.
He also contributed some notes to Zachary Grey's edition of Hudibras
(published 1744).
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....
clergyman known as an author.
Life
He was the son of Thomas Brett of Spring GroveSpring Grove
-United Kingdom:* Spring Grove, London* Spring Grove, County Fermanagh, a townland in County Fermanagh, Northern Ireland-United States:* Spring Grove, Illinois* Spring Grove, Indiana* Spring Grove Hospital Center near Baltimore, Maryland...
, Wye, Kent. His father descended from a family settled at Wye; his mother was Letitia, daughter of John Boys of Betshanger, Sandwich
Sandwich
A sandwich is a food item, typically consisting of two or more slices of :bread with one or more fillings between them, or one slice of bread with a topping or toppings, commonly called an open sandwich. Sandwiches are a widely popular type of lunch food, typically taken to work or school, or...
, where Brett was born. He was educated at Wye grammar school
Grammar school
A grammar school is one of several different types of school in the history of education in the United Kingdom and some other English-speaking countries, originally a school teaching classical languages but more recently an academically-oriented secondary school.The original purpose of mediaeval...
, under John Paris and Samuel Pratt (later dean of Rochester). On 20 March 1684 he was admitted pensioner of Queens' College, Cambridge
Queens' College, Cambridge
Queens' College is a constituent college of the University of Cambridge, England.The college was founded in 1448 by Margaret of Anjou , and refounded in 1465 by Elizabeth Woodville...
. He was removed by his father for extravagance, but permitted to return. He then migrated to 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...
on 17 January 1689. He took the LL.B. degree in 1690.
He was ordained deacon
Deacon
Deacon is a ministry in the Christian Church that is generally associated with service of some kind, but which varies among theological and denominational traditions...
on 21 December 1690. After holding a curacy at Folkestone
Folkestone
Folkestone is the principal town in the Shepway District of Kent, England. Its original site was in a valley in the sea cliffs and it developed through fishing and its closeness to the Continent as a landing place and trading port. The coming of the railways, the building of a ferry port, and its...
for a year he was ordained priest, and chosen lecturer at Islington
Islington
Islington is a neighbourhood in Greater London, England and forms the central district of the London Borough of Islington. It is a district of Inner London, spanning from Islington High Street to Highbury Fields, encompassing the area around the busy Upper Street...
. The vicar, Mr. Gery, encouraged him to exchange his early Whiggism
Whiggism
Whiggism, sometimes spelled Whigism, is a historical political philosophy that grew out of the Parliamentarian faction in the Wars of the Three Kingdoms. The whigs' key policy positions were the supremacy of Parliament , toleration for Protestant dissenters, and opposition to a Catholic on the...
for Tory
Tory
Toryism is a traditionalist and conservative political philosophy which grew out of the Cavalier faction in the Wars of the Three Kingdoms. It is a prominent ideology in the politics of the United Kingdom, but also features in parts of The Commonwealth, particularly in Canada...
and High Church
High church
The term "High Church" refers to beliefs and practices of ecclesiology, liturgy and theology, generally with an emphasis on formality, and resistance to "modernization." Although used in connection with various Christian traditions, the term has traditionally been principally associated with the...
principles. On the death of his father, his mother persuaded him to return (May 1696) to Spring Grove, where he undertook the cure of Great Chart
Great Chart
Great Chart is a village in civil parish of Great Chart with Singleton in the Ashford District of Kent, England. The parish is split between the ancient village of Great Chart and the modern Singleton housing development, which is part of the western outskirts of Ashford...
. Here he married Bridget, daughter of Sir Nicholas Toke. In 1697 he became LL.D., and soon afterwards exchanged Great Chart for Wye. He became rector of Betshanger on the death of his uncle, Thomas Boys; and on 12 April 1705 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:...
made him rector of Ruckinge
Ruckinge
The village of Ruckinge is located in Kent. It lies seven miles southeast of Ashford on the B2067 Hamstreet to Hythe road. It is the centre of a civil parish of the same name, which also includes the scattered community of Bromley Green...
, having previously allowed him to hold the small vicarage of Chislet
Chislet
Chislet is a sprawling rural parish in the northeast of the English county of Kent between the city of Canterbury and the Isle of Thanet. It is also the name of a village within the parish....
'in sequestration.'
He had up to this point taken the required oaths; but the attempts of his relation Jeffray Gilbert to bring him back to the Whig side had the opposite of the intended effect; and Henry Sacheverell
Henry Sacheverell
Henry Sacheverell was an English High Church clergyman and politician.-Early life:The son of Joshua Sacheverell, rector of St Peter's, Marlborough,...
's trial made him decide never to take the oath again. He published a sermon 'on the remission of sins,' in 1711, which gave offence by its view of sacerdotal absolution, and was attacked by Dr Robert Cannon
Robert Cannon
Robert Cannon is an American sculptor. He holds a BA with distinction from Yale University. While attending Yale, Cannon studied under the American Sculptor Alice Aycock.- Work :...
in Convocation (22 February 1712). The proposed censure was dropped apparently by the action of Francis Atterbury
Francis Atterbury
Francis Atterbury was an English man of letters, politician and bishop.-Early life:He was born at Milton Keynes in Buckinghamshire, where his father was rector. He was educated at Westminster School and Christ Church, Oxford, where he became a tutor...
as prolocutor. In a later sermon 'On the Honour of the Cnristian Priesthood' he disavowed a belief in auricular confession.
On the accession of King George I, Brett declined to take the oaths, resigned his living, and was received into communion by the nonjuring bishop George Hickes
George Hickes
George Hickes was an English divine and scholar.-Biography:Hickes was born at Newsham, near Thirsk, Yorkshire, in 1642...
. He afterwards officiated in his own house. He was presented at the assizes for keeping a conventicle, and in 1718 and 1729 complaints were made against him to Archbishop William Wake
William Wake
William Wake was a priest in the Church of England and Archbishop of Canterbury from 1716 until his death in 1737.-Life:...
for interfering with the duties of the parish clergyman. He was, however, let off with a reproof.
Brett was consecrated bishop by the nonjuring bishops Jeremy Collier
Jeremy Collier
Jeremy Collier was an English theatre critic, non-juror bishop and theologian.-Life:Born in Stow cum Quy, Cambridgeshire, Collier was educated at Caius College, University of Cambridge, receiving the BA and MA . A supporter of James II, he refused to take the oath of allegiance to William and...
, Nathaniel Spinckes
Nathaniel Spinckes
Nathaniel Spinckes was an English nonjuring clergyman, the leader in the dispute about the 'usages' which split the nonjurors of the 'non-usagers,' , against returning to the first prayer-book of Edward VI, as the 'usagers,' led by Jeremy Collier, advocated.-Life:He was born at Castor,...
, and Samuel Hawes, in 1716. He took part in a negotiation which they opened in 1716 with the Greek archbishop of Thebais, then in London, and which continued till 1725, when it was allowed to drop. Brett's account, with copies of a proposed concordat, and letters to the Tsar of Moscovy and his ministers, is given by Thomas Lathbury from the manuscripts of Alexander Jolly
Alexander Jolly
Alexander Jolly was bishop of Moray, Ross and Caithness in the Scottish Episcopal Church.-Life:Born on 3 April 1756 at Stonehaven, Kincardineshire, he was educated at Marischal College, Aberdeen, was ordained deacon in the Scottish episcopal church on 1 July 1776, and admitted priest on 19 March...
. Before a definitive reply had been received from the Greek prelates, the nonjurors had split into two over a controversy. Brett supported Collier in proposing to reinstate the four usages that had been included in the first liturgy of Edward VI
Edward VI of England
Edward VI was the King of England and Ireland from 28 January 1547 until his death. He was crowned on 20 February at the age of nine. The son of Henry VIII and Jane Seymour, Edward was the third monarch of the Tudor dynasty and England's first monarch who was raised as a Protestant...
. He defended his view in a postscript to his work on 'Tradition' and in an important collection of Liturgies. He took part in related controversies, and joined in consecrating bishops with Collier and Archibald Campbell
Archibald Campbell (bishop)
Archibald Campbell was a clergyman of the Scottish Episcopal Church who served as Bishop of Aberdeen. He was the son of Lord Neill Campbell by his wife Lady Vere Ker; his grandfathers were Archibald Campbell, 1st Marquess of Argyll, and William Kerr, 1st Earl of Lothian.He was a student of the...
. In 1727 he consecrated Thomas Brett, junior.
Brett lived quietly in his own house, where he died on 5 March 1743. He had twelve children. His wife died on 7 May 1765; his son, Nicholas, chaplain to Sir Robert Cotton, on 20 August 1776. A detailed account of Brett's life and opinions is given in Henry Broxap's Later Nonjurors.
Works
Brett published many books. They were:- 'An Account of Church Government,' 1707, answered by William Nokes in the 'Beautiful Pattern;' and enlarged edition 1710, answered by John Lewis, 1711, in 'Presbyters not always an authoritative part of Provincial Synods;' to which Brett replied.
- 'Two Letters on the Times wherein Marriage is said to be prohibited,' 1708.
- 'Letter to the Author of "Lay Baptism Invited,"' &c. (condemning lay baptism). This led to a controversy with Joseph BinghamJoseph BinghamJoseph Bingham , English scholar and divine, was born at Wakefield in Yorkshire.He was educated at University College, Oxford, of which he was made fellow in 1689 and tutor in 1691...
, who replied in 'Scholastical History of Lay Baptism,' 1712. - Sermons on 'Remission of Sins,' 1711, reprinted with five others in 1715.
- 'Review of Lutheran Principles,' 1714, answered by John LewisJohn Lewis (antiquarian)-Life:Born in the parish of St. Nicholas, Bristol, on 29 August 1675, was the eldest son of John Lewis, wine cooper in the city. Francis Lewis, vicar of Worth Matravers, Dorset, was his paternal grandfather. His mother was Mary, eldest daughter of John Eyre, merchant, of Poole...
. - 'Vindication of Himself from Calumnies' (charging him with popery), 1715.
- 'Independency of the Church upon the State,' 1717.
- 'The Divine Right of Episcopacy,' 1718.
- 'Tradition necessary, &c.,' 1718, with answer to John TolandJohn TolandJohn Toland was a rationalist philosopher and freethinker, and occasional satirist, who wrote numerous books and pamphlets on political philosophy and philosophy of religion, which are early expressions of the philosophy of the Age of Enlightenment...
's 'Nazarenus.' - 'The Necessity of discerning Christ's Body in the Holy Communion,' 1720.
- 'Collection of the Principal Liturgies used by the Christian Church, &c.,' 1720; this was in reference to the schism of the nonjuring body.
- 'Discourses concerning the ever blessed Trinity,' 1720.
- Contributions to the 'Bibliotheca Literaria,' Nos. 1, 2, 4, and 8, upon 'University Degrees,' 'English Translations of the Bible,' and 'Arithmetical Figures.'
- 'Instruction to a Person newly Confirmed,' 1725.
- 'Chronological Essay on the Sacred History,' 1729.
- 'General History of the World,' 1732.
- 'Answer to (Hoadly's) "Plain Account of the Sacrament,"' 1735.
- 'Remarks on Dr. Waterland's "Review of the Doctrine of the Eucharist,"' 1741.
- 'Four Letters on Necessity of Episcopal Communion,' 1743.
- 'Life of John Johnson,' prefixed to his posthumous tracts in 1748.
There are also sermons and tracts. There is a letter of his to Dr. Warren, of Trinity Hall, in Francis Peck
Francis Peck
-Life:He was born in Stamford, Lincolnshire, England, and educated at Stamford School. Peck was educated at Charterhouse School, before continuing on to St John's College, Cambridge...
's Desiderata Curiosa (lib. vii. p. 13). Three letters of his on the difference between Anglican and Catholic tenets were published from the manuscripts of Thomas Bowdler
Thomas Bowdler
Thomas Bowdler was an English physician who published an expurgated edition of William Shakespeare's work, edited by his sister Harriet, intended to be more appropriate for 19th century women and children than the original....
in 1850; and a short essay on suffragan bishop
Suffragan bishop
A suffragan bishop is a bishop subordinate to a metropolitan bishop or diocesan bishop. He or she may be assigned to an area which does not have a cathedral of its own.-Anglican Communion:...
s and rural dean
Rural Dean
In the Anglican Communion and the Roman Catholic Church, a Rural Dean presides over a Rural Deanery .-Origins and usage:...
s was edited by J. Fendall from the manuscript in 1858.
He also contributed some notes to Zachary Grey's edition of Hudibras
Hudibras
Hudibras is an English mock heroic narrative poem from the 17th century written by Samuel Butler.-Purpose:The work is a satirical polemic upon Roundheads, Puritans, Presbyterians and many of the other factions involved in the English Civil War...
(published 1744).