James Gardiner the Younger facts for kids

James Gardiner the younger (born in 1689 – died on March 24, 1732) was an important church leader in Lincoln, England. He served as a sub-dean, which is a high-ranking official in a cathedral. James Gardiner was also known as a writer and a translator.

Early Life and Education

James Gardiner the younger was the son of James Gardiner, who was a Bishop of Lincoln from 1695 to 1705. This meant his father was also a very important church leader.

Young James started studying at Emmanuel College, Cambridge in 1695. He was a very bright student. In 1699, he earned his first degree, a Bachelor of Arts (B.A.). He was even ranked as the sixteenth "wrangler," which meant he was one of the top math students in his year at Cambridge.

In 1700, he became a fellow at Jesus College. This meant he was a senior member of the college, often involved in teaching and research. He then earned his Master of Arts (M.A.) degree in 1702.

Becoming a Church Leader

James Gardiner quickly took on important roles in the church. On April 20, 1704, his father appointed him as the master of St. John's Hospital in Peterborough. This was a charitable institution.

Just a few days later, on April 29, 1704, he became the sub-dean of Lincoln Cathedral. This was a significant position, putting him in charge of many daily operations and religious services at the cathedral. At the same time, he also became a prebendary of Asgarby, which meant he held a special position with an income from the church.

A historian named Browne Willis wrote that James Gardiner was a "great helper" to the church in Lincoln. He made many improvements to the house where he lived, which was connected to the cathedral. His father had rebuilt the house, and James made it even better, so much so that it was considered the finest house belonging to the cathedral.

His Death and Legacy

James Gardiner passed away in Lincoln on March 24, 1732. He was buried next to his father in the retrochoir, which is a part of the cathedral behind the main altar.

His only daughter, Susanna, had taken care of him very devotedly. Sadly, she died just over a month later, on April 27, and was buried in the same grave. His wife, Dinah, was also buried there later, on September 4, 1734.

His monument in the cathedral has a long message carved on it. This message describes him as a kind and generous person. It also says he was a skilled and popular preacher, and that he found some success as an author.

His Writings and Translations

James Gardiner was not only a church leader but also a talented writer and translator.

In 1706, he translated a book called Of Gardens by René Rapin. The front page of this book shows a picture of James Gardiner when he was 25 years old, painted in 1704.

In 1713, Gardiner published two of his own books. Both of these books were popular enough to be printed a second time.

• One was a sermon titled The Duty of Peace amongst Members of the same State. A Sermon on Rom. xiv. 19. A sermon is a religious speech.
• The other was called Practical Exposition of the Beatitudes. This book likely explained important Christian teachings.

He also contributed poems to a collection called Oxford and Cambridge Miscellany Poems in 1709.