Lionel Gatford (priest, died 1665) facts for kids

Lionel Gatford (died 1665) was a priest in the Church of England. He strongly supported the King during a time of great conflict in England.

Early Life and Education

Lionel Gatford was born in Sussex, England. We don't know much about his parents. In 1618, he started studying at Jesus College, Cambridge, which is a famous university. He earned his first degree in 1621 or 1622. By 1625, he had earned a master's degree and became a fellow at Jesus College. This meant he was a senior member of the college.

In 1626, he became a deacon, which is a step in becoming a priest, at Peterborough Cathedral. He also became a junior university proctor in 1631. This was a role where he helped manage the university. In 1633, he earned another degree and became the vicar of St Clement's Church, Cambridge. A vicar is a type of church leader.

Gatford was concerned about some religious ideas being discussed at the time. He believed that people should always obey the King. He wrote a letter to a powerful person, Lord Goring, about these ideas. In 1638, he left his position at Jesus College. Then, in 1641, he became the rector of Dennington in Suffolk. A rector is another type of church leader.

The English Civil War and Imprisonment

Soon after the English Civil War began, Gatford moved back to Cambridge. He wanted to write a book explaining why the church believed people should obey the King. But on January 26, 1643, a famous leader named Oliver Cromwell found his book manuscript. Cromwell also arrested Gatford while he was in bed at Jesus College. Both Gatford and his manuscript were sent to London.

A few days later, the Parliament ordered him to be held in Ely House. Even though he was imprisoned, Gatford managed to publish a strong book in March. It was called An Exhortation to Peace. This book criticized groups like the anabaptists and other Puritans. Parliament then ordered this book to be reviewed. After seventeen months in prison, Gatford was finally set free in a prisoner exchange.

Exile and Continued Support for the King

After his release, Gatford was not allowed to go back to Dennington. He also couldn't work as a clergyman anywhere else. So, he went to Oxford, which was the main base for the King's supporters. While there, he wrote a book about the plague, a serious illness, that was happening in Oxford. It was called Λόγος Ἀλεξιφάρμακος or Hyperphysicall Directions in Time of Plague (1644).

Gatford then went to Cornwall and became a chaplain at Pendennis Castle. A chaplain is a priest who serves in a specific place, like a castle or military unit. Around July 1645, he wrote a message to the people of Cornwall. He urged them to support the King.

When Pendennis Castle surrendered in August 1646, Gatford was taken prisoner again. By 1647, he was living in Jersey with other supporters of the King. There, he became a favorite of Sir Edward Hyde, who made him his chaplain.

Gatford published another book called A Faithfull and Faire Warning, which was later reissued as Englands Complaint (1648). In this book, Gatford asked the people of Suffolk to help the King's soldiers. These soldiers were holding out against Parliament's army, called the New Model Army, in Colchester. He also worried that Parliament might allow Catholics to return to power.

Return to England and Later Life

Gatford stayed in exile for about seven years. After he returned to England, he supported himself by taking in people who paid to live with him. He lived in several different places in Norfolk, Middlesex, and Kent. He eventually settled in Walham Green.

Local committees tried to stop him from continuing to hold traditional Church of England services. In response, he wrote A Petition for the Vindication of the Publique use of the Book of Common Prayer (1655). This book defended the traditional prayer book. He also published Publick Good without Private Interest in 1657.

When the King was restored to power in 1660, an event known as the Restoration, Gatford was given a special degree. He became a Doctor of Divinity. He found that his old church and parsonage house in Dennington were ruined. He couldn't afford to rebuild them. So, he asked the King for a new position. On August 20, 1661, he became the vicar of St Andrew's Church, Plymouth in Devon.

In 1661, Gatford wrote his last known book. It was called A true and faithfull Narrative of the … death of Mr. William Tyrrell. In this book, he defended his old supporter, Sir John Rous, against accusations from Puritans. In 1663, Gatford also worked as a curate in Great Yarmouth.

Death and Legacy

Lionel Gatford died in 1665 from the plague, a serious disease. The town of Plymouth gave his wife, Dorcas, £100. This was to thank him for his work as a priest for two years.

His son, also named Lionel Gatford, later wrote about his parents' difficulties during the Civil War. This account was included in a book called Sufferings of the Clergy.

Works

Lionel Gatford wrote several books and pamphlets during his lifetime, mostly about religious and political topics, supporting the King and the Church of England.

• An Exhortation to Peace (1643): A sermon that criticized Puritans.
• Λόγος Ἀλεξιφάρμακος or Hyperphysicall Directions in Time of Plague (1644): A book about the plague.
• A Faithfull and Faire Warning (1648), reissued as Englands Complaint (1648): Called for support for the King's forces.
• A Petition for the Vindication of the Publique use of the Book of Common Prayer (1655): Defended the traditional prayer book.
• Publick Good Without Private Interest (1657): A general work about public welfare.
• A true and faithful narrative of the much to be lamented death of Mr. William Tyrrell (1661): Defended Sir John Rous.