James Nalton facts for kids
James Nalton (born around 1600, died 1662) was an important English Presbyterian minister. People often called him "the weeping prophet."
Contents
Early Life and Education
James Nalton was born around the year 1600. He might have been born in Walkington, a town in Yorkshire, England. His father, Francis Nalton, was a church leader there.
James had three younger brothers named Nathaniel, Robert, and George. He went to Trinity College, Cambridge, a famous university. He earned his first degree (B.A.) in 1619 and a higher degree (M.A.) in 1623.
Starting His Ministry
After college, James Nalton worked as an assistant to another minister, Richard Conder, near London. In 1632, he became the minister in Rugby, Warwickshire.
In 1642, he signed a request about choosing a new headmaster for Rugby grammar school. This request was not accepted, and it seems to have made him leave Rugby.
Life in London
After leaving Rugby, James Nalton worked as a chaplain for a military group. Around 1644, he became the minister at St Leonard, Foster Lane, a church in London. He stayed there for most of the rest of his life.
On April 29, 1646, he gave a sermon to the English Parliament. He spoke about "The Delay of Reformation." His serious way of speaking, often with tears, earned him the nickname "the weeping prophet."
Challenges and Later Life
In 1651, James Nalton faced some trouble and had to leave England for a short time. He went to Holland and worked as a minister in the English Church at Rotterdam. After about six months, he was allowed to return to England.
He went back to his church at St Leonard's. However, in 1662, he was forced to leave his position during an event called the Great Ejection. This was when many ministers were removed from their churches.
James Nalton died in December 1662 and was buried on January 1, 1663. Another minister, Thomas Horton, gave a special sermon at his funeral.
His Published Works
James Nalton helped write the introduction for a book called Saint's Treasury in 1654. He also published some of his own sermons.
In 1677, twenty of his sermons were collected and published together. This collection included a special introduction and a picture of him.
