John Boys (priest) facts for kids
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John Boys (born 1571, died 1625) was an important church leader in England. He served as the Dean of Canterbury from 1619 until his death in 1625.
Contents
Early Life and Education
John Boys was born in 1571 in Eythorn, a village in Kent, England. His family was old and well-known in Kent. His father was Thomas Boys, and his mother was Christian Searles.
John likely went to the King's School, Canterbury. This school prepared him for university. In 1586, he went to Corpus Christi College, Cambridge. He studied there thanks to scholarships set up by Archbishop Matthew Parker. After earning his first degree, he moved to Clare Hall in 1593. He soon became a fellow there, which meant he was a senior member of the college.
Church Career and Preaching
John Boys' first job in the church was as a rector in Betteshanger, Kent. His uncle, Sir John Boys, helped him get this position. John started practicing his preaching skills there.
Archbishop John Whitgift noticed his talent. He gave John the job of master at the Eastbridge Hospital in Canterbury. Soon after, he also became the vicar of Tilmanstone. These jobs did not pay much. When he married Angela Bargrave in 1599, he likely had other ways to support himself.
At this time, there weren't enough good preachers in London. John Boys was asked to preach at St. Paul's Cross in London when he was only 27. This was a very important place for sermons. Two years later, he preached there again. It was during this sermon that Robert, Earl of Essex, tried to start a rebellion in 1601.
John Boys continued his studies. He preached at St Mary's, Cambridge, and earned his Doctor of Divinity (D.D.) degree in 1605. This was a high academic honor.
Later Career and Dean of Canterbury
After Archbishop Whitgift died, Archbishop Richard Bancroft became John Boys' supporter. John preached at Ashford in 1607 during a special church visit.
In 1609, John Boys published his first book. It was called The Minister's Invitatorie. This book explained parts of the church service. He dedicated it to Archbishop Bancroft. The next year, he published a larger book. It was called An Exposition of the Dominical Epistles and Gospels. This book explained the readings used in church services throughout the year. It became very popular and sold many copies.
Archbishop Bancroft died in 1610. George Abbot became the new Archbishop. John Boys dedicated his next book to him. This book, An Exposition of the Festival Epistles and Gospels, explained more parts of the church service.
John Boys began to receive more important positions. Archbishop Abbot gave him the rectory of Hollingbourne. Then, in 1618, he received the rectory of Monaghan. Finally, in 1619, King James I made him the Dean of Canterbury. He started this important role on May 3, 1619.
In 1620, he joined the High Commission Court. This court dealt with important church matters. In 1622, he gathered all his writings into one large book. He added five new sermons to this collection. He dedicated these new sermons to Sir Dudley Digges.
John Boys served as Dean of Canterbury for just over six years. On June 14, 1625, he preached a sermon at Canterbury Cathedral. King Charles I and his new wife, Henrietta Maria, were there. John Boys died suddenly in September 1625, while working among his books. He did not have any children.
His Writings
John Boys' books were very popular. They helped people understand the church services better. He often quoted from many different writers of his time. These included famous authors like Francis Bacon and poets like Josuah Sylvester. His works also included old sayings, details about daily life, and interesting words.
His books were so well-known that they were translated into German. They were published in Germany in the 1680s. His collected Works were also reprinted in English in 1997.
