Caroline Divines facts for kids
The Caroline Divines were important thinkers and writers in the Church of England. They lived during the time of King Charles I and, later, King Charles II. The name "Caroline" comes from "Carolus," which is Latin for Charles.
These thinkers came from England, Ireland, Scotland, and Wales. However, England is often seen as the main place where these Anglican scholars and writers thrived. This happened even though there was a big civil war and military rule under Oliver Cromwell. The word "divine" means a religious scholar or theologian. It doesn't just mean a saint or someone from the Anglican church.
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What Did the Caroline Divines Believe?
The Caroline Divines wrote about many different ideas. But they all shared some key beliefs. They strongly believed in the Christian faith as taught in the Bible and the Book of Common Prayer. They saw prayer and theology (the study of religious faith) in a way similar to early Christian leaders.
They believed that the Anglican Church's "via media" (meaning "middle way") was not a weak compromise. Instead, they saw it as a strong position that showed God's universal kingdom working through the Church of England. These thinkers believed the Bible was the most important guide for salvation. But they also used tradition (like the writings of early Church Fathers) and reason (logical thinking) to understand their faith. Politically, they supported the king, but they believed in a king who followed laws, not one with absolute power.
Why Were They Different from Puritans?
The Caroline Divines liked more detailed church ceremonies and beautiful art and buildings in churches. Their opponents, the Puritans, called these practices "popish" or "Romish," suggesting they were too much like Roman Catholicism.
However, these beautiful additions were important to the Caroline Divines' spiritual life. They also saw them as a way to keep people from joining the Roman Catholic Church. They offered a "middle way" where people could stay in the Church of England and still enjoy ancient forms of worship. This was different from the very plain style of the Puritans or the very elaborate Roman Catholic ceremonies.
Who Were Some Important Caroline Divines?
Many writers in the Anglican tradition have shaped its faith and worship. Some of these are remembered on special days in the Church calendar. Here are some of the most important Caroline Divines from the 1600s.
King Charles the Martyr
King Charles I (born 1600, died 1649) encouraged new church services and the printing of religious books during his rule. His own book, Eikon Basilike (meaning The Royal Image), was very popular. It was translated into many languages.
He also supported popular fun activities by re-publishing the Book of Sports in 1633. This book was first put out by his father, King James VI, in 1617. King Charles I also opposed extreme ideas about predestination in the Church of England. He did this through his Declaration on the Articles of Religion in 1628. When the Book of Common Prayer was updated in 1662, this declaration was added to the beginning of the Thirty-Nine Articles.
People believed King Charles I could heal illnesses with his touch, like kings before and after him. After his death, stories of miracles were linked to his belongings. The Church of England honored him as King Charles the Martyr. He was the first Anglican saint to be put into the 1662 Calendar of Saints. January 30, the day he died, was marked as a day for reflection and repentance.
Lancelot Andrewes
Lancelot Andrewes (born 1555, died 1626) was an English priest and a very smart scholar. He held important positions in the Church of England during the reigns of Queen Elizabeth I and King James I. He was also a spiritual guide for King Charles I.
During King James I's reign, Andrewes was the Bishop of Chichester. He also helped translate the Authorized Version (or King James Version) of the Bible. The Church of England remembers him on September 25 with a special festival. His most famous work is his Preces Privatae or Private Prayers. This book was published after his death and is still printed today. His Ninety-Six Sermons are also well-known for their excellent writing.
John Cosin
John Cosin (born 1594, died 1672) was an English priest, bishop, and theologian. He became the Master of Peterhouse, Cambridge in 1634. He decorated the chapel there following High Church ideas.
Many of his writings were published after his death. These include a history of the Catholic belief in Transubstantiation (1675) and notes on the Book of Common Prayer (1710). His most important work was his Collection of Private Devotions, published in 1627. King Charles I asked him to write it. This book used ideas from early Church Fathers and older English devotional writings. It was very popular in the 1600s.
Cosin lived in Paris during the time of Oliver Cromwell's rule. But after the king was restored in 1660, he became the Bishop of Durham. He held this position until he died.
Thomas Ken
Thomas Ken (born 1637, died 1711) was an English priest. He was one of the most important "non-juring" bishops. Non-juring means he refused to swear loyalty to the new king, William III, after King James II was removed from the throne. Ken is also known as one of the founders of modern English hymn writing.
His Three Hymns (1700) includes the original version of the famous hymn 'Praise God from whom all blessings flow'. This hymn is still sung today in churches around the world, especially in Anglican ones. Even though Ken left the official Church of England, he remained deeply connected to Anglican traditions. The Nonjurors did not abandon Anglicanism. Instead, they stayed loyal to the exiled King James II of England. This movement ended in the 1700s. The writings of the Nonjurors had a big impact on the Anglican tradition, especially through the Oxford Movement in the 1800s.
William Laud
Archbishop William Laud (born 1573, died 1645) was the Archbishop of Canterbury and a strong supporter of King Charles I. Laud was a true Anglican and loyal Englishman. He was likely frustrated by the accusations of being "Popish" (too Catholic) that Puritans made against him.
Laud's strong "High Church" policies were seen by many as a dangerous change. He was blamed for bringing the 1637 Book of Common Prayer to Scotland. However, a similar plan had started with King James I. Laud's book, Conference with Fisher the Jesuite, is a classic Anglican defense of its beliefs. It has been called "one of the last great works of scholastic divinity." Like Andrewes, Laud's Private Devotions were printed after his death, but they were not as popular.
His strong views also affected Scotland, leading to the Covenanter movement and the Bishops' Wars. The Long Parliament of 1640 accused him of serious wrongdoing, and he was put in the Tower of London. In 1644, he was put on trial, but no decision was reached. Parliament then took action, and he was executed on January 10, 1645, on Tower Hill, even though the king had pardoned him.
Thomas Sprat
Thomas Sprat (born 1635, died 1713) was an English priest. He became a church official at Lincoln Cathedral in 1660. Before that, he became known for his poem about Oliver Cromwell in 1659. He was also known as a witty speaker, preacher, and writer.
His main prose works include Observations upon Monsieur de Sorbier's Voyage into England (1665). This was a funny response to criticisms of Englishmen in a book by Samuel de Sorbière. He also wrote a History of the Royal Society of London (1667), which he helped to create. This history explains the scientific goals of the Royal Society. It also describes rules for scientific writing that helped set modern standards for clear and concise language. The book also included religious defenses of scientific study.
Jeremy Taylor
Jeremy Taylor (born 1613, died 1667) was a priest in the Church of England. He became famous as a writer during the Protectorate under Oliver Cromwell. People sometimes called him the "Shakespeare of Divines" because of his poetic writing style.
Taylor studied at Cambridge University. He was supported by William Laud, the Archbishop of Canterbury. Because of Laud's help, he became a chaplain to King Charles I. This made him seem suspicious when Laud was put on trial and executed in 1645 by the Puritans during the English Civil War. After Parliament won the war, Taylor was briefly put in prison several times.
Eventually, he was allowed to live in Wales. There, he became the private chaplain to the Earl of Carbery. When the king was restored in 1660, Taylor's career improved. He was made Bishop of Down and Connor in Ireland. He also became the vice-chancellor of the University of Dublin.
Herbert Thorndike
Herbert Thorndike (born 1598, died 1672) was a Canon at Westminster Abbey. He was also an important theologian and writer in the Anglican Church. He was well-respected during the reigns of King Charles I and King Charles II. His work did not have much impact at first. But in the 1800s, during the Oxford Movement, his writings became widely read again.
George Herbert
George Herbert (born 1593, died 1633) was a Welsh-born priest. He served in a small church near Salisbury. But he is mostly known as a talented speaker and poet. He went to Trinity College, Cambridge in 1609, planning to become a priest. Instead, he became the university's Public Orator and caught the attention of King James I. He served in the Parliament of England in 1624 and briefly in 1625.
After King James I died, Herbert became interested in becoming a priest again. In his mid-thirties, he gave up his worldly ambitions and became a priest in the Church of England. He spent the rest of his life as a rector (head priest) at Fugglestone St Peter. He died at age 39 from consumption in 1633, during the reign of Charles I.
Even though he is mostly seen as a poet, he was a very dedicated priest. His ideas fit well with those of the Caroline Divines. His poetry was highly praised by the later Oxford Movement. It greatly influenced the religious feelings of the movement through people like John Keble.
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Charles II was restored as King of England in 1660.
