Anthony Ellys facts for kids
Anthony Ellys (1690–1761) was an English church leader who became a bishop in 1752. Bishops are important leaders in the Christian church.
Contents
Life of Anthony Ellys
Anthony Ellys was born in Yarmouth, a town in Norfolk, England. He was baptized on June 8, 1690. His father and grandfather were successful merchants in Yarmouth and even served as mayors of the town.
Education and Early Career
Anthony Ellys studied at Clare Hall, Cambridge University. He earned his first degree in 1712 and a master's degree in 1716. Later, in 1728, he received a doctorate degree (D.D.) when the King visited the university. He became a fellow at his college, which meant he was a senior member of the academic staff. He also became a priest.
In 1719, when his father was mayor, the town of Yarmouth chose him to be the minister of St George's Chapel there.
Moving Up in the Church
Anthony Ellys continued to advance in his career. In 1721, he became a chaplain to a very important judge, Lord-chancellor Thomas Parker, 1st Earl of Macclesfield. A chaplain is like a personal priest or minister.
Later, in 1724, he became the vicar of St Olave, Jewry, a church in London. He also became a prebendary of Gloucester, which meant he held a special position at Gloucester Cathedral. In 1729, he also became the vicar of Great Marlow. He kept his earlier church jobs even as he took on new ones.
In 1723, he was chosen to be a Fellow of the Royal Society. This is a very old and respected group for scientists and thinkers.
Becoming a Bishop
In October 1752, Anthony Ellys was chosen to be the bishop of St. David's. He officially became a bishop on January 28, 1753. Even as a bishop, he continued to hold his position at Gloucester Cathedral and his church job in London. He would travel from his home in London to preach to his church members every Sunday in winter.
Anthony Ellys passed away in Gloucester on January 16, 1761. He was buried in the south part of Gloucester Cathedral.
Anthony Ellys's Beliefs and Ideas
Anthony Ellys was known for his moderate political views, supporting the Whig party. He was also a strong supporter of the Church of England. Some people were concerned about his appointment as bishop because of his views on the Test Act, a law that affected who could hold public office. However, Archbishop Thomas Herring supported Ellys, seeing him as a reliable and stable leader for the church.
Ellys was not very supportive of a plan by John Jones to create a special school for training priests in his diocese. Instead, the books offered by Jones for this school were given to a different educational institution.
Anthony Ellys's Writings
Anthony Ellys wrote several important books and essays.
Early Publications
In 1736, he published a book called 'A Plea for the Sacramental Test'. This book argued that the Test Act was important for protecting the established church and helping the country.
In 1752, he anonymously published 'Remarks on Mr. Hume's Essay concerning Miracles'. This book discussed ideas about miracles. Even though it was well-written, it didn't get as much attention as it perhaps should have.
Later Works
Some people believed that Ellys became a bishop because he was working on a major book defending the Protestant Reformation. However, this big work, called 'Defence of the Reformation', was never fully published during his lifetime.
He did publish a few sermons, which are speeches given in church. These sermons were given on special occasions to important groups like members of Parliament and the Society for the Propagation of the Gospel, a group that spreads Christian teachings.
After he died, his friends published his Tracts on the Liberty spiritual and temporal of the Protestants of England. This book was either a part of or the whole of the major work people had been expecting. The first part, published in 1763, focused on defending Protestant beliefs. The second part, published in 1765, discussed ideas about freedom and government based on the Glorious Revolution, a key event in English history.
Anthony Ellys's Family
Anthony Ellys married Anne, who was the oldest daughter of Sir Stephen Anderson. They had one daughter.
