Eleazar Duncon facts for kids

Eleazar Duncon (died 1660) was an English clergyman who supported the King during the English Civil War. He was known for his strong beliefs about how the Anglican Church should be run.

Life Story

Eleazar Duncon likely started his studies at Queens' College, Cambridge. He later earned his first degree from Caius College, Cambridge and became a Fellow at Pembroke Hall in 1618.

He became a deacon (a type of church leader) in 1625 and a priest in 1626. A powerful church leader named Richard Neile became his mentor and gave him several important jobs in the church.

In 1628, Duncon became a leader in the church at Durham. He also got a similar position at Winchester in 1629. By 1633, he had earned his doctor's degree and became the rector (head priest) of St Andrew's Church, Haughton-le-Skerne in Durham. He also served as a chaplain to the King.

Duncon was a very smart and strong supporter of William Laud's church policies. These policies aimed to make the Anglican Church more formal and traditional. Because he supported the King and Laud, the Parliament took away all his church jobs during the English Civil War.

After losing his positions, Duncon moved to other countries. In 1651, he was with the English royal family in France and led church services in Paris. He also traveled to Italy. In 1655, he was in Saumur, France, working on plans to appoint new bishops. He later preached to English merchants in Livorno and Florence. Eleazar Duncon passed away in Livorno in 1660.

His Writings

Eleazar Duncon's most famous work was a book called De Adoratione Dei versus Altare. This book was about the practice of bowing towards the altar in church. It was published around 1633 and caused some debate at the time. After he died, the book was printed again, and an English version came out in 1661. Other writers also published their thoughts on his ideas.

His Family

Eleazar had two brothers, John and Edmund, who were also involved in church life.

• John Duncon: He was a clergyman in Essex during the civil war. After losing his job, he lived with Lady Falkland. John wrote a popular religious book called The Returnes of Spiritual Comfort and Grief in a devout Soul. It was published several times.
• Edmund Duncon: He was a Puritan (a type of Protestant). Edmund visited the famous poet and clergyman George Herbert when Herbert was very ill. Herbert gave Edmund the manuscript for his book, A Priest to the Temple, to deliver to a friend. Edmund later helped get this book published. He also helped another writer, Izaak Walton, with his book about George Herbert's life. Edmund became a rector in Middlesex in 1663 and died in 1673.