John Bryan (ejected minister) facts for kids

John Bryan, D.D. (died 1676), was an English clergyman. He was one of many ministers who lost their jobs in 1662. This happened because they did not agree with new laws about how the church should be run. These ministers are often called "ejected ministers."

The Life of John Bryan

John Bryan studied at Emmanuel College, Cambridge, a famous university. He first worked as a rector in a town called Barford. Later, in 1644, he moved to Coventry to become the vicar of Trinity Church. The Parliament appointed him to this role. However, the local church leaders, known as the vestry, did not fully welcome him at first.

In 1646, Bryan and another vicar, Obadiah Grew, had a public debate. They discussed infant baptism in Trinity Church with a Baptist minister named Hanserd Knollys. Even though Coventry was a strong center for Puritans, some people were not happy with how the country's government was changing. At the end of 1646, Bryan spoke about this unhappiness in a sermon that was later printed. In 1647, the church leaders agreed to pay him more money.

In 1652 and 1654, other towns, like Shrewsbury, wanted Bryan to come and work for them. The church leaders in Coventry worked hard to keep him. However, the people of Coventry were not always good at keeping their promises to support their ministers financially. Despite this, Bryan and other Puritan preachers stayed in their jobs. They remained until the Act of Uniformity 1662 forced them to leave. This act required ministers to follow certain rules, which many, including Bryan, could not agree with.

Bryan felt much like Richard Baxter, another important religious leader. Bryan had ten reasons why he could not agree to the new church rules for ministers. However, he was willing to follow the rules as a regular church member, and he did so. Bishop John Hacket tried to help Bryan change his mind. He offered Bryan an extra month to think about the new rules. But Bryan still gave up his position as vicar. Nathaniel Wanley, who wrote a book called Wonders of the Little World, took his place.

Bryan continued to preach whenever and wherever he was allowed. With Obadiah Grew, he started a new Presbyterian church group. From 1672, they met in special rooms that had permission to be used for worship. Bryan also taught students who wanted to become ministers. This was before official schools for non-conformist ministers, called "dissenting academies," became common. The first well-known one was started by Richard Frankland in 1670.

Bryan was good at debates and sometimes preached without notes. He loved the poems of George Herbert and wrote his own poetry. He gave away a tenth of his income to help others. John Bryan died on March 4, 1676, at an old age. Nathaniel Wanley, who took his place, gave a very kind speech at Bryan's funeral.

Bryan's Writings

John Bryan published several works during his life. These included sermons and discussions on religious topics. For example, he wrote:

• A sermon called ‘The Vertuous Daughter’ in 1640.
• A sermon about the country's problems called ‘A Discovery of the probable Sin causing this great Iudgement of Rain and Waters’ in 1647.
• A statement from ministers in Warwickshire about their beliefs, published in 1648.
• A book about a public debate he had with another minister, John Onley, in 1655.
• A book of sermons called ‘Dwelling with God’ in 1670, which included a letter from Richard Baxter.
• A book of sermons called ‘Harvest-Home’ in 1674.

Bryan's Family

John Bryan had three sons who also became ministers:

• John Bryan Jr. was a minister in Shrewsbury. He was also forced to leave his job in 1662. He then became the minister for a Presbyterian group in Shrewsbury. He died on August 31, 1699.
• Samuel Bryan was a fellow at Peterhouse, a college at Cambridge. He was the vicar of Allesley, Warwickshire. He was also ejected in 1662. He was even put in jail for six months for preaching in Birmingham. Later, he worked as a chaplain for a nobleman in Belfast Castle. He died after becoming mentally unwell, according to Edmund Calamy.
• Noah Bryan was also a fellow at Peterhouse. He was ejected from his job as a minister in Stafford in 1662. He died around 1667.

John Bryan's brother, Gervase (or Jarvis), took over as the Presbyterian minister in Coventry. Gervase had also been forced to leave his job in 1662. He lived in Birmingham for a while before moving back to Coventry. He died on December 27, 1689. The permission for their church group to meet in licensed rooms was taken away in 1682. But in 1687, after King James II allowed more religious freedom, Gervase Bryan and Obadiah Grew brought their church group back together. They met in St. Nicholas Hall.