Thomas Jones (clergyman)
Encyclopedia
Thomas Jones was a Welsh Anglican
clergyman. He was a firm defender of the position of the Church of England, and encountered considerable difficulties and hardship when he accused the Bishop of Winchester
, George Morley
, of disloyalty to the church. Jones wrote a number of tracts setting forward his defence of the church.
, Shropshire
; his father, John Williams, was originally from Pwllheli
, Caernarfonshire
, North Wales. He studied in Oswestry before moving to Jesus College, Oxford
in 1641. His studies were interrupted in 1642 by the English Civil War
. He returned in 1646, and the parliamentary authorities in control of the university appointed him to a fellowship at University College, Oxford
in 1649. He obtained his Bachelor of Arts
degree in 1650 and his Master of Arts degree in 1651. He was appointed rector
of Castle Caereinion in Montgomeryshire
in 1654, but lost this post at the Restoration in 1661. He later became chaplain to Richard Vaughan, 2nd Earl of Carbery
and, in 1663, domestic and naval chaplain to James, Duke of York
(later King James II).
Jones encountered difficulties when the duke's wife, Anne Hyde
, announced her intention to convert to the Catholic Church. He accused her chaplain, George Morley
(the Bishop of Winchester
), of misguiding the duchess and of disloyalty to the Church of England. Jones lost his position as chaplain to the duke, but was appointed rector of Llandyrnog
by the duke in 1665. His argument with Morley continued, however, and he was fined £300 in 1670 by the Court of King's Bench for calling Morley a "promoter of popery and a subverter of the church of England" in front of Robert Morgan
, the Bishop of Bangor
. Further trouble ensued as Morgan wished to reunite the rectory of Llandyrnog with the bishopric of Bangor, the two positions having been held together previously. Jones had the income from his parish sequestered to pay the fine, leaving him ruined.
He was a staunch defender of the Church of England, publishing various tracts setting out his strong views. Of the Heart and its Right Sovereign; and Rome No Mother-Church to England and A remembrance of the rights of Jerusalem above, in the great question, where is the true mother-church of Christians? were both written in 1678. Three years later, he wrote Some letters and papers from a late chaplain to the duke of York … touching the beginning of this plot and danger to the nation from masquerade protestants. His last work was Elymas the sorcerer, or, A memorial towards the discovery of the bottom of this Popish-Plot, publish'd upon the occasion of a passage in the late dutchess of York's declaration for changing her religion, written in 1682, and restating his accusations against Morley; Morley replied in various treatises published in the following year. Jones suffered from failing sight and mental health towards the end of his life, still afflicted by the loss of his chaplaincy, and died on 8 October 1682.
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...
clergyman. He was a firm defender of the position of the Church of England, and encountered considerable difficulties and hardship when he accused the Bishop of Winchester
Bishop of Winchester
The Bishop of Winchester is the head of the Church of England diocese of Winchester, with his cathedra at Winchester Cathedral in Hampshire.The bishop is one of five Church of England bishops to be among the Lords Spiritual regardless of their length of service. His diocese is one of the oldest and...
, George Morley
George Morley
George Morley D.D. was an English bishop.-Life:He was born in London, England, and educated at Westminster school and the University of Oxford. In 1640, he was presented to the sinecure living of Hartfield, Sussex, and in the following year he was made canon of Christ Church, Oxford and exchanged...
, of disloyalty to the church. Jones wrote a number of tracts setting forward his defence of the church.
Life
Jones was born in OswestryOswestry
Oswestry is a town and civil parish in Shropshire, England, close to the Welsh border. It is at the junction of the A5, A483, and A495 roads....
, Shropshire
Shropshire
Shropshire is a county in the West Midlands region of England. For Eurostat purposes, the county is a NUTS 3 region and is one of four counties or unitary districts that comprise the "Shropshire and Staffordshire" NUTS 2 region. It borders Wales to the west...
; his father, John Williams, was originally from Pwllheli
Pwllheli
Pwllheli is a community and the main market town of the Llŷn Peninsula in Gwynedd, north-western Wales. It has a population of 3,861, of which a large proportion, 81 per cent, are Welsh speaking. Pwllheli is the place where Plaid Cymru was founded. It is the birthplace of Albert Evans-Jones -...
, Caernarfonshire
Caernarfonshire
Caernarfonshire , historically spelled as Caernarvonshire or Carnarvonshire in English during its existence, was one of the thirteen historic counties, a vice-county and a former administrative county of Wales....
, North Wales. He studied in Oswestry before moving to Jesus College, Oxford
Jesus College, Oxford
Jesus College is one of the colleges of the University of Oxford in England. It is in the centre of the city, on a site between Turl Street, Ship Street, Cornmarket Street and Market Street...
in 1641. His studies were interrupted in 1642 by the English Civil War
English Civil War
The English Civil War was a series of armed conflicts and political machinations between Parliamentarians and Royalists...
. He returned in 1646, and the parliamentary authorities in control of the university appointed him to a fellowship at University College, Oxford
University College, Oxford
.University College , is a constituent college of the University of Oxford in England. As of 2009 the college had an estimated financial endowment of £110m...
in 1649. He obtained his Bachelor of Arts
Bachelor of Arts
A Bachelor of Arts , from the Latin artium baccalaureus, is a bachelor's degree awarded for an undergraduate course or program in either the liberal arts, the sciences, or both...
degree in 1650 and his Master of Arts degree in 1651. He was appointed rector
Rector
The word rector has a number of different meanings; it is widely used to refer to an academic, religious or political administrator...
of Castle Caereinion in Montgomeryshire
Montgomeryshire
Montgomeryshire, also known as Maldwyn is one of thirteen historic counties and a former administrative county of Wales. Montgomeryshire is still used as a vice-county for wildlife recording...
in 1654, but lost this post at the Restoration in 1661. He later became chaplain to Richard Vaughan, 2nd Earl of Carbery
Richard Vaughan, 2nd Earl of Carbery
Richard Vaughan, 2nd Earl of Carbery KB, PC , styled The Honourable from 1621 until 1628 and then Lord Vaughan until 1634, was a Welsh soldier, peer and politician...
and, in 1663, domestic and naval chaplain to James, Duke of York
James II of England
James II & VII was King of England and King of Ireland as James II and King of Scotland as James VII, from 6 February 1685. He was the last Catholic monarch to reign over the Kingdoms of England, Scotland, and Ireland...
(later King James II).
Jones encountered difficulties when the duke's wife, Anne Hyde
Anne Hyde
Anne Hyde was the first wife of James, Duke of York , and the mother of two monarchs, Mary II of England and Scotland and Anne of Great Britain....
, announced her intention to convert to the Catholic Church. He accused her chaplain, George Morley
George Morley
George Morley D.D. was an English bishop.-Life:He was born in London, England, and educated at Westminster school and the University of Oxford. In 1640, he was presented to the sinecure living of Hartfield, Sussex, and in the following year he was made canon of Christ Church, Oxford and exchanged...
(the Bishop of Winchester
Bishop of Winchester
The Bishop of Winchester is the head of the Church of England diocese of Winchester, with his cathedra at Winchester Cathedral in Hampshire.The bishop is one of five Church of England bishops to be among the Lords Spiritual regardless of their length of service. His diocese is one of the oldest and...
), of misguiding the duchess and of disloyalty to the Church of England. Jones lost his position as chaplain to the duke, but was appointed rector of Llandyrnog
Llandyrnog
Llandyrnog is a large village in Denbighshire, Wales lying in the valley of the River Clwyd, about from Denbigh and from Ruthin.- Amenities :...
by the duke in 1665. His argument with Morley continued, however, and he was fined £300 in 1670 by the Court of King's Bench for calling Morley a "promoter of popery and a subverter of the church of England" in front of Robert Morgan
Robert Morgan (bishop)
-Life:He was born at Bronfraith in the parish of Llandyssilio in Montgomeryshire, the third son of Richard Morgan, gent., M.P. for Montgomery in 1592-3, and of his wife, Margaret, daughter of Thomas Lloyd of Gwernbuarth...
, the Bishop of Bangor
Bishop of Bangor
The Bishop of Bangor is the Ordinary of the Church in Wales Diocese of Bangor.The diocese covers the counties of Anglesey, most of Caernarfonshire and Merionethshire and a small part of Montgomeryshire...
. Further trouble ensued as Morgan wished to reunite the rectory of Llandyrnog with the bishopric of Bangor, the two positions having been held together previously. Jones had the income from his parish sequestered to pay the fine, leaving him ruined.
He was a staunch defender of the Church of England, publishing various tracts setting out his strong views. Of the Heart and its Right Sovereign; and Rome No Mother-Church to England and A remembrance of the rights of Jerusalem above, in the great question, where is the true mother-church of Christians? were both written in 1678. Three years later, he wrote Some letters and papers from a late chaplain to the duke of York … touching the beginning of this plot and danger to the nation from masquerade protestants. His last work was Elymas the sorcerer, or, A memorial towards the discovery of the bottom of this Popish-Plot, publish'd upon the occasion of a passage in the late dutchess of York's declaration for changing her religion, written in 1682, and restating his accusations against Morley; Morley replied in various treatises published in the following year. Jones suffered from failing sight and mental health towards the end of his life, still afflicted by the loss of his chaplaincy, and died on 8 October 1682.