Benjamin Hoadly facts for kids
Quick facts for kids The Right Reverend Benjamin Hoadly |
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| Bishop of Winchester | |
Benjamin Hoadly, painted by Sarah Hoadly
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| Diocese | Diocese of Winchester |
| In Office | 1734–1761 (died) |
| Predecessor | Richard Willis |
| Successor | John Thomas |
| Other posts | Bishop of Bangor (1716–1721) Bishop of Hereford (6 October 1721 {elected} –1723) Bishop of Salisbury (9 December 1723 {translation}–1734) Prelate of the Garter (c. 1734–1761) |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 14 November 1676 Westerham, Kent, England |
| Died | 17 April 1761 (aged 84) Chelsea, Middlesex, Great Britain |
| Buried | Winchester Cathedral |
| Nationality | British (formerly English) |
| Denomination | Anglican |
| Residence | Winchester House, Chelsea (official; at death) |
| Parents | Samuel Hoadly & Martha Hoadly (née Pickering) |
| Spouse | 1. Sarah Hoadly (née Curtis; 30 May 1701 {married}–11 January 1743 {she died}) 2. Mary Hoadly (née Newey; 23 July 1745 {married}–17 April 1761 (he died)) |
| Children | John Hoadly, four other sons (plus two stillborn; all with Sarah) |
| Profession | lecturer |
| Alma mater | St Catharine's College, Cambridge |
Benjamin Hoadly (born November 14, 1676 – died April 17, 1761) was an important English clergyman. He served as a bishop in several places, including Bangor, Hereford, Salisbury, and finally Winchester. He is most famous for starting a big debate called the Bangorian Controversy.
Contents
Benjamin Hoadly: A Life of Ideas
Early Life and Church Career
Benjamin Hoadly went to St Catharine's College, Cambridge for his education. He became a priest in 1700. For many years, he was a rector (a type of church leader) in London.
From early on, Benjamin Hoadly liked to discuss big ideas. He believed that the Scottish and English churches should agree on their religious practices. This would help them unite. He became a leader of the "low church" group. This group believed the Church should have less power and focus more on personal faith. He was also favored by the Whig political party.
Hoadly often debated with Francis Atterbury. Atterbury was a leader of the "high church" group. This group believed the Church should have more power and follow traditional rules strictly. The debates were about "passive obedience" and "non-resistance." This meant whether people should always obey the king without question, even if they disagreed with his religious views.
The House of Commons, which was mostly Whigs, supported Hoadly. They recommended him to Queen Anne. In 1710, he became a rector in Streatham. When George I became king, Hoadly became the King's chaplain. In 1716, he was made the Bishop of Bangor.
A Big Debate: The Bangorian Controversy
In 1717, Benjamin Hoadly gave a famous sermon called "The Nature of the Kingdom of Christ." This sermon caused a huge debate known as the Bangorian Controversy. Hoadly argued that Jesus's kingdom was not of this world. He believed that no one on Earth, not even the King or the Church, had absolute power over people's consciences. He thought that people should follow their own beliefs.
This idea was very controversial. Many people, especially those in the "high church," disagreed strongly. They believed the Church and its leaders had divine authority. The controversy was a big deal in England for several years.
After Bangor, Hoadly became a bishop in three more places. He was Bishop of Hereford, then Salisbury, and finally Winchester. He believed that the eucharist (a special Christian meal) was just a way to remember Jesus. He did not think it involved any magical or divine change.
Even though he was a bishop, Hoadly rarely visited his dioceses. He preferred to live in London. There, he was very active in politics.
Hoadly's Political Views
From 1722 to 1725, Hoadly wrote many letters about current events. He strongly supported his Whig political ideas. He defended the Glorious Revolution of 1688. This event created a "limited form of government" in Britain. Hoadly believed this government protected freedom of speech. He thought that without this freedom, people would suffer from "darkness" in their minds and "slavery" in their politics.
Hoadly also criticized the "Pretender." This was James Francis Edward Stuart, who wanted to become king. The Pretender had said he would stop all opposition if he ruled. Hoadly warned that the Pretender would take away people's civil and religious rights.
William Hogarth (1697–1764), a famous artist, painted Hoadly's portrait around 1743. Hoadly was shown as the Bishop of Winchester. Hoadly's son, also named Benjamin, helped Hogarth with one of his famous books, The Analysis of Beauty.
Selected Works
Benjamin Hoadly wrote several books and essays. Here are some of them:
- A Defence of the Reasonableness of Conformity (1707)
- A Plain Account of the Nature and End of the Sacrament of the Lord's Supper (1735)
- The Repeal of the Corporation and Test Acts (1736)
