James Stillingfleet (priest, born 1741) facts for kids

James Stillingfleet (born 1741, died 1826) was an English church leader. He was a vicar, which is a type of priest, in a town called Hotham in Yorkshire. He served there from 1771 until he passed away. He was known for being an "evangelical" cleric. This means he focused on a strong personal faith and believed in sharing the Christian message with others.

Early Life

Growing Up and Education

James Stillingfleet came from a family of church leaders. His father, Edward Stillingfleet, was also a vicar. James went to Queen's College, Oxford in 1759 to study. His older cousin, also named James Stillingfleet, was already at Oxford and was a well-known evangelical leader there.

The older James Stillingfleet was part of a group that held prayer meetings. He was connected to important religious figures like John Newton. The younger James Stillingfleet finished his studies in 1762 and earned a master's degree in 1765. He became an evangelical by reading the works of William Law. He was ordained as a deacon in 1764 and then as a priest in 1766. This was done by Bishop James Johnson of Worcester.

In Yorkshire

Starting His Ministry

In 1766, Stillingfleet became a chaplain for Richard Richardson at Bierley Hall. A chapel called Bierley Chapel was built around this time. Richard Richardson, his patron, had this chapel added to his estate. Stillingfleet preached in a place near Bowling, which is now part of Bradford. Many people from Bradford came to hear him speak.

In 1767, the Elland Clerical Society was started. This group helped connect evangelical church leaders in Yorkshire.

Becoming a Parish Priest

In 1771, Stillingfleet became a parish priest in Hotham. Hotham is south of the town of Market Weighton. Later, he started the Hotham Society. This group was similar to the Elland Society. The Elland Society, founded by Henry Venn, helped pay for young men to study at Oxford or Cambridge so they could become priests.

Stillingfleet became very good friends with Joseph Milner. Milner taught at Hull Grammar School and was a curate (another type of priest) in North Ferriby. Their third close friend was William Richardson of York. Milner's book, The History of the Church of Christ, became a very important religious work. Much of this book was written at Stillingfleet's home.

Training New Priests

The evangelical clerical societies of that time worked to train new priests who had graduated from university. Robert Wasney was one such person. He studied with Milner at Hull Grammar School and then went to Clare College, Cambridge. He became a priest in 1796 and soon worked with Stillingfleet in Hotham. He was very impressed by Stillingfleet and his friends.

Life in Hotham

In 1775, Stillingfleet built a house called Hotham Villa. It was near the old rectory, which was a small cottage. From 1870 to the 1950s, Hotham Villa was used as the rectory. In 1797, Stillingfleet won a Gold Medal from the Society of Arts for growing rhubarb. He passed away on December 19, 1826, at 85 years old. He was buried in the local church on December 27.

Works

Important Books

Thomas Adam, a priest from Wintringham, had a "Parson's Club" and was friends with Stillingfleet. Adam's book, Posthumous Works (published in 1786), was edited by Stillingfleet, Joseph Milner, and William Richardson. Stillingfleet wrote the introduction for the book.

A small part of this book, called Private Thoughts on Religion, became a very popular religious book. Many people wanted to read it, and it was reprinted many times in the UK and USA throughout the 1800s. John Henry Overton, writing in 1881, called Private Thoughts a "once popular devotional book" and praised Stillingfleet for helping to make it known.

Books by Stillingfleet

James Stillingfleet also published some of his own works:

• A Sermon Preached at the Opening of the General Infirmary at Hull, on Wednesday the First of September, 1784.
• A Short and Familiar Explanation of the Church-Catechism (1787).

He also edited a book of sermons:

• Sermons on important subjects : selected from the papers of the Rev. John King, B. A. Late Vicar of Middleton, near Pickering, and Minister of St. Mary's, Hull (1782). This book also included a sermon given at a funeral.

Family

In 1774, James Stillingfleet married Elizabeth Taylor. She was the daughter of William Taylor. Elizabeth's brother, William Taylor How, was a friend of the famous poet Thomas Gray.

James's son, Edward William Stillingfleet, also became a priest. He served as a curate in Hotham from 1814 to 1844.