Anthony Horneck facts for kids
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Anthony Horneck (born in 1641, died in 1697) was a German religious leader and smart scholar. He moved to England and became a very important figure in the church in London, especially from the late 1670s. He worked closely with Richard Smithies, another church leader.
Anthony Horneck's Journey
Anthony Horneck was born in 1641 in a town called Bacharach in Germany. His father was an important official there. Anthony was raised as a Protestant. He went to Heidelberg University to study religion.
Around 1661, he came to England. He joined The Queen's College, Oxford in 1663. There, he became a chaplain, which is a minister who serves a specific institution. He earned his Master of Arts degree in 1664.
Later, he became the vicar (a type of priest) at All Saints church in Oxford. In 1665, he became a tutor for Christopher Monck, who was the son of a famous general. This general helped him get a church position in Dolton, Devon and a special role at Exeter Cathedral in 1670. In 1669, he visited Germany again and was welcomed by the local ruler. In 1671, he became a preacher at the Savoy Hospital in London and soon got married.
He became a very popular preacher. So many people came to hear him that it was said his "parish" stretched across London! People like John Evelyn described him as a powerful speaker and a very religious person. He gave a lot of money to charity. Some people said he didn't get higher church positions because he was too direct when speaking to important people.
Anthony Horneck also helped start groups called the Societies for the Reformation of Manners. These groups worked to improve public behavior and morals. He became a member of the Fellow of the Royal Society in 1669, which is a group for important scientists and thinkers. He also received a special Doctor of Divinity degree in 1681.
In 1689, he became one of the chaplains to King William III. He was later given a special position at Westminster Abbey in 1693, which is a very famous church in London. He also got a position at Wells Cathedral in 1694.
His Writings
Anthony Horneck was very knowledgeable about the Bible and religious books. He knew languages like Arabic and Hebrew. He mostly wrote books about faith and how to live a religious life. He also wrote against some ideas of the Catholic Church during the time of King James II. His books were very popular and were printed many times.
Some of his well-known books include:
- The Great Law of Consideration: This book talked about how important it is to think deeply about living a religious life.
- The happy Ascetick: This book was about living a good and disciplined life.
- The Fire of the Altar: This book gave directions on how to feel more spiritual during the Lord's Supper (a Christian ceremony).
- The Crucified Jesus: This book explained the meaning of the Lord's Supper.
He also published separate sermons (religious speeches). He translated a French book and helped with a translation of a history of the Old and New Testaments. He added stories about witchcraft in Sweden to later editions of a book called Sadducismus Triumphatus. He also wrote a preface for another book by Joseph Glanvill.
In 1682, he helped two men, Borosky and Stern, who were convicted of a murder. He and Gilbert Burnet published a report about what these men said and how they behaved. In 1689, he also wrote about Edward Sclater, a vicar who had changed his religion but then publicly returned to the Church of England at the Savoy.
His Family
Anthony Horneck had four children, and three of them lived longer than he did:
- Philip
- William, who became an army officer.
- A daughter, who married twice.
His Death
Anthony Horneck passed away on January 31, 1697. He had been sick for a while. He was buried in Westminster Abbey, a very honored place.
