Isaac Maddox facts for kids

Isaac Maddox (born July 27, 1697 – died September 27, 1759) was an important leader in the Church of England. He served as a bishop, first in St Asaph and later in Worcester.

Isaac Maddox's Life Story

Isaac Maddox had a tough start to life. He was the son of Edward Maddox, a stationer in London. His family were English Dissenters, meaning they were Protestants who didn't follow the official Church of England. Isaac became an orphan when he was very young. An aunt raised him and sent him to a charity school. After that, he started training to be a pastry cook.

However, with help from an uncle, Isaac left his pastry cook training. He was then tutored by a vicar named Rev Hay. Because he was a Dissenter, Isaac received money from the Presbyterian Fund. This helped him study to become a Dissenting minister at the University of Edinburgh in Scotland. He made a friend there, John Horsley. Isaac earned his Master of Arts degree in January 1723.

In early 1723, Isaac returned to London. He and John Horsley decided to join the Church of England. Even so, Isaac remained good friends with Dissenters, like Philip Doddridge. He also strongly supported Moravian Christians who lived in the North American colonies. In 1740, a law allowed foreign Protestants to become British citizens after seven years. This was if they swore an oath of loyalty. Quakers did not have to swear this oath. In 1747, with Isaac's help, Moravians also got this special permission.

Isaac Maddox's Church Career

Isaac Maddox became a Deacon on March 10, 1723. This was done by Thomas Green, the Bishop of Norwich. Isaac then worked at St Bride's Church in London. Soon after, on June 9, he became a priest. Bishop Edmund Gibson sent him to Queens' College, Cambridge, where he earned another degree.

In 1724, Isaac became the vicar of Whiteparish in Wiltshire. In 1729, he became the rector of St Vedast Foster Lane in London. That same year, he also became a personal chaplain to Edward Waddington, the Bishop of Chichester. Bishop Waddington gave him a special position at Chichester Cathedral. Isaac earned his Doctor of Divinity degree in 1730.

In 1731, Isaac Maddox married Elizabeth Price. She was the niece of Bishop Waddington. They had a son, Isaac Price Maddox, and two daughters. One daughter, Mary, married James Yorke, who later became a bishop.

In late 1733, Isaac was appointed the Dean of Wells. This was an important leadership role in the church.

Becoming a Bishop

In 1736, Isaac Maddox became the Bishop of St Asaph in Wales. However, he continued to live in London and at his country home, Westhorpe House, in Buckinghamshire. He only visited his diocese in Wales during some summers. In 1743, he became the Bishop of Worcester.

Isaac was a founding member of the Society for the Encouragement of Arts, Manufactures and Commerce in 1754. This group helped new ideas and businesses grow. Isaac Maddox is buried in the south part of Worcester Cathedral.

Isaac Maddox's Charitable Work

Isaac Maddox was a big supporter of many charities. He was the president of the Small-pox Hospital in London. He also played a main role in starting the Worcester Infirmary. He even talked with Philip Doddridge about it, as Doddridge had helped start a similar hospital in Northampton.

Isaac also helped British businesses. He invested a lot of money to support British fisheries. His wide interest in helping others is clear from the many sermons he published about charity.

Isaac Maddox's Published Works

Isaac Maddox published many sermons, especially ones about charity. Here are a few examples:

• 1733; A sermon for the Incorporated Society for the Propagation of the Gospel in Foreign Parts.
• 1737; The love of our country recommended: for the Societies for Reformation of Manners.
• 1741; A sermon for charity-schools, in and about the cities of London and Westminster.
• 1743; The duty and advantages of encouraging public infirmaries for the London Infirmary.
• 1752; A sermon preached for the Hospital for the Small-pox, and for Inoculation.