Thomas Broughton (1712–1777) was an English

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Life

Broughton, the son of another Thomas Broughton, said to have been at one time

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, was born in

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. When he matriculated at

University College, Oxford University College, formally The Master and Fellows of the College of the Great Hall of the University commonly called University College in the University of Oxford and colloquially referred to as "Univ", is a Colleges of the University of Oxf ...

, on 13 December 1731, his father was described as of "Carfax in Oxford". He was elected Petreian fellow at Exeter College on 30 June 1733, and became full fellow on 14 July 1734, taking his degree of B.A. on 22 March 1737. Soon after becoming an undergraduate he joined the little band of young men known as 'Methodists', and remained a sympathiser with the Wesleys for several years, until differences of opinion on the Moravian doctrines led to their separation. Broughton's first clerical duty was at Cowley, near

Uxbridge Uxbridge () is a suburban town in west London, England, and the administrative headquarters of the London Borough of Hillingdon, northwest of Charing Cross. Uxbridge formed part of the parish of Hillingdon in the county of Middlesex. As part ...

, and he was curate at the

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in 1736. Through

George Whitefield George Whitefield (; 30 September 1770), also known as George Whitfield, was an English Anglican minister and preacher who was one of the founders of Methodism and the evangelical movement. Born in Gloucester, he matriculated at Pembroke Coll ...

's influence he obtained the lectureship at

St Helen's Bishopsgate St Helen's Bishopsgate is an Anglican church in London. It is located in Great St Helen's, off Bishopsgate. It is the largest surviving parish church in the City of London. Several notable figures are buried there, and it contains more monuments ...

, but as some of the parishioners objected to Whitefield's preaching from its pulpit he withdrew from the post. He visited the prisoners in

Newgate Prison Newgate Prison was a prison at the corner of Newgate Street and Old Bailey, just inside the City of London, England, originally at the site of Newgate, a gate in the Roman London Wall. Built in the 12th century and demolished in 1904, the pr ...

and was indefatigable in doing good. In 1741 he was appointed lecturer at Allhallows, Lombard Street, and two years later was elected secretary to the

Society for Promoting Christian Knowledge The Society for Promoting Christian Knowledge (SPCK) is a United Kingdom, UK-based Christians, Christian charity. Founded in 1698 by Thomas Bray, it has worked for over 300 years to increase awareness of the Christians, Christian faith in the Un ...

, a position which he retained until his death. His only other preferment was the living of Wotton in

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, which he held from 1752 to 1777. He died at the society's house in

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, 21 December 1777. He held his fellowship at Exeter College until July 1741. In 1742 he married Miss Capel, by whom he had fifteen children, five of whom died young. A portrait of Broughton hangs in the board-room of the Society for Promoting Christian Knowledge.

Works

Two outspoken sermons of his attained great popularity: ''The Christian Soldier, or the Duties of a Religious Life recommended to the Army'', which was preached in 1737, printed in 1738, and reached its twelfth edition in 1818, a Welsh translation having appeared in 1797; and ''A Serious and Affectionate Warning to Servants'', occasioned by the brutal

murder Murder is the unlawful killing of another human without justification (jurisprudence), justification or valid excuse (legal), excuse committed with the necessary Intention (criminal law), intention as defined by the law in a specific jurisd ...

of a mistress by her male servant aged only 19, and issued in 1746, ninth edition 1818.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Broughton, Thomas 1712 births 1777 deaths People from Oxford 18th-century English Anglican priests