John Greenwood (divine) facts for kids
John Greenwood (born 1556 – died April 6, 1593) was an English minister who believed in a different way of practicing Christianity. He was part of a group called the Separatist Puritans, also known as Brownists. These groups wanted to separate from the official Church of England. John Greenwood led an "underground church" in London from 1587 to 1593. He also wrote many books explaining his beliefs, often working with his friend Henry Barrow. He was eventually put to death because of his faith.
Contents
John Greenwood: A Leader for Change
Early Life and New Ideas
John Greenwood was born in 1556 in a place called Heptonstall, in England. He went to Corpus Christi College, Cambridge, starting in 1577. He earned his first degree in 1581.
It's not clear if he was directly taught by Robert Browne, who also went to the same college. However, John Greenwood held strong Puritan beliefs. These beliefs eventually led him to become a Separatist, meaning he wanted to completely separate from the official Church of England.
In 1581, he worked as a chaplain for Lord Rich in Essex. He had been made a deacon and then a priest by bishops of the Church of England. He was even appointed as a vicar in a church in Norfolk. But around 1585, Greenwood decided to follow the Brownist ideas. He believed his ordination was wrong and left his church job. He then traveled to London to join an "underground church." This was a secret church that met in private homes because their way of worship was not allowed by the government.
Leading the Underground Church
We don't know much about the next few years of his life. But by 1586, John Greenwood was a well-known leader of the Separatists in London. Many people in this group had been put in prison over the years.
On October 8, 1586, Greenwood was arrested along with 20 other people. This happened when their church service was raided in a house in London. He was then held in a prison called Clink prison.
Imprisonment and Writings
Greenwood was questioned under a law from 1581 that targeted people who did not attend the official church. He was fined a large amount of money and moved to the Fleet prison. While he was in prison, he wrote several important books. He worked with his fellow prisoner, Henry Barrow. Greenwood's wife would secretly take the pages out of the prison, and their maid would sneak the finished books back in.
It was once thought that Greenwood was free for a short time in 1588, but he was likely just given more freedom within the prison walls. However, he was truly released in July 1592 after spending four years in the Fleet prison. After his release, he was chosen as the "teacher" for the underground church.
In 1590, while still in prison, Greenwood wrote a book called "An Answer to George Gifford's pretended Defence of Read Prayers." In this book, and many others, he argued that prayers should be spoken freely and from the heart. He even believed that the Lord's Prayer should not be used in church services.
His Final Years
On December 5, 1592, John Greenwood was arrested again. In March 1593, he and Henry Barrow were put on trial. They were accused of creating and sharing "seditious books." This meant books that were seen as encouraging rebellion against the government or the church.
They were both sentenced to death. After being given a delay twice, once even at the very place where he was to be executed, John Greenwood was hanged on May 23, 1593, in Tyburn, England. He died because of his strong religious beliefs and his efforts to practice his faith in a way that was not allowed at the time.
