Henry Walter facts for kids
Henry Walter (born 1611, died around 1678) was a Welsh Anglican priest. He later became a Puritan, which meant he had different religious beliefs from the main Church of England at the time.
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Early Life and Education
Henry Walter was born in 1611 in a place called St. Arvans in Monmouthshire, south Wales. He went to the University of Oxford and started his studies at Jesus College, Oxford in 1633. In the same year, he earned a degree in law.
Becoming a Priest
Walter became a priest in the Church of England. In 1639, he started working as an assistant priest (called a curate) in Mounton, which was near his hometown. His brother helped him get this job.
However, Henry Walter's religious ideas began to change. He started to agree more with William Wroth, another religious leader in Monmouthshire who didn't follow all the rules of the Church of England. William Wroth even made Henry Walter the main person in charge of his will when he died.
During the English Civil War
During the English Civil War, a big conflict in England, Henry Walter seems to have moved from Monmouthshire to London. In 1646, he was one of three Puritan priests chosen by the House of Commons (part of the English Parliament) to preach in Welsh in Wales.
Later, in 1650, he was the first person named on a list of church leaders. These leaders were responsible for approving new priests in Wales under a law called the Act for the Propagation of the Gospel. This law aimed to spread the Christian message.
After the King Returned
In 1653, Walter became the main priest (called a vicar) at St Woolos in Newport. But in 1662, after the king returned to power (this was called the Stuart Restoration), Henry Walter was removed from his job because of his Puritan beliefs. Many Puritan priests were removed at this time.
Even after being removed, Henry Walter continued his religious work. In 1672, he received permission to lead services in Llantarnam. He also inspired a group of Christians in Mynyddislwyn who ran their own church, separate from the main Church of England. He left some money to this group in his will. Henry Walter passed away sometime before August 8, 1678.
