Anthony Sparrow
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Anthony Sparrow (May 1612-19 May 1685) was prominent as both a theologian and academic at the
University of Cambridge The University of Cambridge is a Public university, public collegiate university, collegiate research university in Cambridge, England. Founded in 1209, the University of Cambridge is the List of oldest universities in continuous operation, wo ...
and as a cleric in the Church of England. He was President of
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,
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of the
University of Cambridge The University of Cambridge is a Public university, public collegiate university, collegiate research university in Cambridge, England. Founded in 1209, the University of Cambridge is the List of oldest universities in continuous operation, wo ...
and Bishop of both
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and
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. He is known for his resistance to the imposition of
Presbyterianism Presbyterianism is a historically Reformed Protestant tradition named for its form of church government by representative assemblies of elders, known as "presbyters". Though other Reformed churches are structurally similar, the word ''Pr ...
by
Oliver Cromwell Oliver Cromwell (25 April 15993 September 1658) was an English statesman, politician and soldier, widely regarded as one of the most important figures in British history. He came to prominence during the Wars of the Three Kingdoms, initially ...
, his involvement in the conflict between Dr Simon Patrick and King Charles II regarding
academic freedom Academic freedom is the right of a teacher to instruct and the right of a student to learn in an academic setting unhampered by outside interference. It may also include the right of academics to engage in social and political criticism. Academic ...
and the right of colleges to elect their presidents, and for his theological treatises, in particular 'A Rationale upon the
Book of Common Prayer The ''Book of Common Prayer'' (BCP) is the title given to a number of related prayer books used in the Anglican Communion and by other Christianity, Christian churches historically related to Anglicanism. The Book of Common Prayer (1549), fi ...
'.


Early life

Born at Depden Hall, Depden,
Suffolk Suffolk ( ) is a ceremonial county in the East of England and East Anglia. It is bordered by Norfolk to the north, the North Sea to the east, Essex to the south, and Cambridgeshire to the west. Ipswich is the largest settlement and the county ...
in 1612, he was the son of Samuel Sparrow, a wealthy farmer.


Academic Career

He graduated with a BA degree (1628/9), followed by an MA(1632), a BD (1639) and DD (1661), all from Queen's College, Cambridge. In 1633 he was appointed a fellow of the College and over the next decade served as both
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and
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and taught Hebrew and Greek. On 18 April 1644 he and around 60 other fellows were ejected from their colleges by
Edward Montagu, 2nd Earl of Manchester Edward Montagu, 2nd Earl of Manchester, KG, KB, FRS (16025 May 1671) was an important commander of Parliamentary forces in the First English Civil War, and for a time Oliver Cromwell's superior. Early life He was the eldest son of Henry M ...
after Parliament passed a law reforming the University. Among other things, it required fellows to be resident at their colleges, which Anthony Sparrow was not. The reforms were contentious given the political climate of the
English Civil War The English Civil War or Great Rebellion was a series of civil wars and political machinations between Cavaliers, Royalists and Roundhead, Parliamentarians in the Kingdom of England from 1642 to 1651. Part of the wider 1639 to 1653 Wars of th ...
and the
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loyalties of the University. The issue of residency appears to have been an excuse to rid the University of those who refused to adopt the Covenant which was part of the Parliamentarians' efforts to enforce
Presbyterianism Presbyterianism is a historically Reformed Protestant tradition named for its form of church government by representative assemblies of elders, known as "presbyters". Though other Reformed churches are structurally similar, the word ''Pr ...
in England. Sparrow suffered substantial economic hardship as a result of the removal of his right to work as an academic. Following
The Restoration Restoration is the act of restoring something to its original state. This may refer to: *Conservation and restoration of cultural property **Audio restoration **Conservation and restoration of immovable cultural property **Film restoration ** Image ...
, in 1662 he was proposed for the position of President of Queen's College, but the process of appointment became embroiled in controversy around the
academic freedom Academic freedom is the right of a teacher to instruct and the right of a student to learn in an academic setting unhampered by outside interference. It may also include the right of academics to engage in social and political criticism. Academic ...
of the College to elect its President. The election of the President was arranged for 6 May 1662, Anthony Sparrow being one of two candidates. He was supported by the senior
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, while his opponent, Dr Simon Patrick, his junior in the College, was nominated by junior fellows. The College Statutes stated that the fellows should elect the President, but midway through the election procedure a
mandamus A writ of (; ) is a judicial remedy in the English and American common law system consisting of a court order that commands a government official or entity to perform an act it is legally required to perform as part of its official duties, o ...
from the
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was read out advising that Sparrow was appointed. He accepted, but Dr Patrick objected leading to a controversy that endured for two years. The King appointed a Commission to investigate the matter, but Patrick alleged that his supporters were not given proper opportunity to present arguments in his favour. He challenged the process in court, but after two years of litigation the court remained evenly divided on the matter and Patrick dropped the case. Anthony Sparrow served as President of the College until 1667 and was Vice-Chancellor of the University in 1664-5.


Clerical Career

He was ordained as a priest at Ely on 22 February 1634 or 1635, but did not take up a parish as he was already a fellow of Queen's College. In 1647, following his expulsion from Cambridge, Joseph Hall, the Bishop of Norwich, appointed him as Rector of
Hawkedon Hawkedon is a village and civil parish in the West Suffolk (district), West Suffolk district of Suffolk in eastern England. Located around south-south-west of Bury St Edmunds, the parish also contains the hamlet of Thurston End, and in 2005 h ...
,
Suffolk Suffolk ( ) is a ceremonial county in the East of England and East Anglia. It is bordered by Norfolk to the north, the North Sea to the east, Essex to the south, and Cambridgeshire to the west. Ipswich is the largest settlement and the county ...
. However, after only five weeks he was driven out for using the
Book of Common Prayer The ''Book of Common Prayer'' (BCP) is the title given to a number of related prayer books used in the Anglican Communion and by other Christianity, Christian churches historically related to Anglicanism. The Book of Common Prayer (1549), fi ...
, a practice which had been abolished following the reforms resulting from the
English Civil War The English Civil War or Great Rebellion was a series of civil wars and political machinations between Cavaliers, Royalists and Roundhead, Parliamentarians in the Kingdom of England from 1642 to 1651. Part of the wider 1639 to 1653 Wars of th ...
. From 1644 to 1660 he was effectively prevented from working as either a
priest A priest is a religious leader authorized to perform the sacred rituals of a religion, especially as a mediatory agent between humans and one or more deity, deities. They also have the authority or power to administer religious rites; in parti ...
or academic. According to J. H. Grey, author of a history of Queen's College, 'during this period...he skulk'd from one place to another.' However, Augustus Jessop, in his history of the Diocese of Norwich, claims that that he lived on his family estate at Depden. During this time, in 1655, he published a collection of his own articles on the subject of
Anglican Anglicanism, also known as Episcopalianism in some countries, is a Western Christianity, Western Christian tradition which developed from the practices, liturgy, and identity of the Church of England following the English Reformation, in the ...
doctrine Doctrine (from , meaning 'teaching, instruction') is a codification (law), codification of beliefs or a body of teacher, teachings or instructions, taught principles or positions, as the essence of teachings in a given branch of knowledge or in a ...
and orders of service under the title 'A Rationale upon the Book of Common Prayer' which remained banned throughout the period of Oliver Cromwell's rule in England. It subsequently became an influential work that is still in print to this day. (See Amazon.com) Following The Restoration he began his rise through the ranks of the
clergy Clergy are formal leaders within established religions. Their roles and functions vary in different religious traditions, but usually involve presiding over specific rituals and teaching their religion's doctrines and practices. Some of the ter ...
commencing in 1660 with his reinstatement as Rector of Hawkendon, a position he retained until 1667. On 7 August of the same year he was appointed Archdeacon of
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in
Suffolk Suffolk ( ) is a ceremonial county in the East of England and East Anglia. It is bordered by Norfolk to the north, the North Sea to the east, Essex to the south, and Cambridgeshire to the west. Ipswich is the largest settlement and the county ...
and a year later, on 15 April 1663,
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and 2nd
Prebend A prebendary is a member of the Catholic or Anglican clergy, a form of canon with a role in the administration of a cathedral or collegiate church. When attending services, prebendaries sit in particular seats, usually at the back of the choir ...
of Ely in
Cambridgeshire Cambridgeshire (abbreviated Cambs.) is a Ceremonial counties of England, ceremonial county in the East of England and East Anglia. It is bordered by Lincolnshire to the north, Norfolk to the north-east, Suffolk to the east, Essex and Hertfor ...
, serving there until he was raised to Bishop in 1667. In the 1660's he also served as
Chaplain A chaplain is, traditionally, a cleric (such as a minister, priest, pastor, rabbi, purohit, or imam), or a lay representative of a religious tradition, attached to a secular institution (such as a hospital, prison, military unit, intellige ...
to King Charles II and held a preachership at
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. On 3 November 1667 he was consecrated
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in
Devon Devon ( ; historically also known as Devonshire , ) is a ceremonial county in South West England. It is bordered by the Bristol Channel to the north, Somerset and Dorset to the east, the English Channel to the south, and Cornwall to the west ...
where he served until 1676 when he was translated to
Bishop of Norwich The Bishop of Norwich is the Ordinary (Catholic Church), ordinary of the Church of England Anglican Diocese of Norwich, Diocese of Norwich in the Province of Canterbury. The diocese covers most of the county of Norfolk and part of Suffolk. Th ...
in
Norfolk Norfolk ( ) is a Ceremonial counties of England, ceremonial county in England, located in East Anglia and officially part of the East of England region. It borders Lincolnshire and The Wash to the north-west, the North Sea to the north and eas ...
. He retained that position until his death in
Norwich Norwich () is a cathedral city and district of the county of Norfolk, England, of which it is the county town. It lies by the River Wensum, about north-east of London, north of Ipswich and east of Peterborough. The population of the Norwich ...
on 19 May 1685.


Personal life

In 1645 Anthony Sparrow married Susanna Orell. They had nine children. He died at Norwich on 19 May 1685 leaving several daughters as his co-heiresses, one of whom was Joan Sparrow (d. 1703), wife of Edward Drew (d. 1714) of
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, Devon, a Canon of
Exeter Cathedral Exeter Cathedral, properly known as the Cathedral Church of Saint Peter in Exeter, is an Anglican cathedral, and the seat of the Bishop of Exeter, in the city status in the United Kingdom, city of Exeter, Devon, in South West England. The presen ...
. He died in Norwich on 29 May 1685 and is buried in the
Norwich Cathedral Norwich Cathedral, formally the Cathedral Church of the Holy and Undivided Trinity, is a Church of England cathedral in the city of Norwich, Norfolk, England. The cathedral is the seat of the bishop of Norwich and the mother church of the dioc ...
.Archive.org: Britten, John, 1836, Cathedral Antiquities: Wells, Exeter, and Worcester, London: M. A. Nattali, p74 https://archive.org/details/cathedralantiqu04britgoog/mode/2up


Publications

* ''A Sermon Concerning Confession of Sins, and the Power of Absolution'' (1637) * ''A Rationale on the Book of Common Prayer of the Church of England'' (1655) * "A Collection of Articles, Injunctions, Canons, Orders, Ordinances, and Constitutions Ecclesiastical, with other Publik Records of The Church of England, Chiefly in the Times of K. Edward. VIth. Q. Elizabeth. and K. James." ...Published to Vindicate The Church of England and to promote Uniformity and peace in the same. (1661; London, Printed by R. Norton for Timothy Garthwait at the Little North-doore of St. Paul's Church 1661)


References


External links


Anthony Sparrow's major works
at Project Canterbury {{DEFAULTSORT:Sparrow, Anthony 1612 births 1685 deaths Archdeacons of Sudbury Bishops of Exeter Bishops of Norwich 17th-century Church of England bishops Presidents of Queens' College, Cambridge Vice-chancellors of the University of Cambridge Fellows of Queens' College, Cambridge 17th-century Anglican theologians Anglican liturgists