Thomas Braddock (priest) facts for kids
Thomas Braddock (born around 1556, died 1607) was an important church leader in England during the late 1500s and early 1600s. He was also the headmaster of Reading School for a short time and translated books into Latin.
Early Life and Education
Thomas Braddock was born in 1556 in a place called Southwark, which is now part of London. His father was also named Thomas Bradoke. When he was about 14, in 1570, Thomas went to Westminster School. Later, he also attended Greyfriars School.
In June 1573, at age 17, he started studying at Corpus Christi College, Cambridge. He paid for his own education there. A year later, in May 1574, he moved to Caius College. He finally earned his first university degree from Christ's College, Cambridge in 1576 or 1577, when he was about 20 or 21. He continued his studies, earning a Master of Arts degree in 1580 and another degree in Divinity (religious studies) in 1593.
Church Career and Teaching
From 1579 to 1587, Braddock was a senior member, called a Fellow, at Christ's College. He taught and did research there. He had some sympathy for the Puritans, a group who wanted to make the Church of England simpler.
In 1579, Braddock and other Fellows at Christ's College signed a protest. They were supporting Hugh Broughton, who had lost his job as a Fellow. Braddock also signed a letter to Lord Burghley. They thanked Lord Burghley for helping to settle an argument. This argument was between a university leader and Sampson Sheffield, who had preached a sermon that some people thought was wrong.
Braddock became a church official, called a Deacon, in London in March 1580. He became a Priest in April 1580. In 1584, he was a Proctor, a university official who helped keep order. The University of Oxford also recognized his degrees in 1584.
In March 1588, Braddock was chosen to be the Headmaster of Reading School. He left this job in April 1589. During his time at Reading, one of his students was William Laud, who later became a very important church leader.
Braddock held several other church jobs. He was a vicar in Stanstead Abbots from 1590 to 1593. There, he married Elizabeth Graves in August 1593. He then became a rector in Navenby from 1593 to 1599. Finally, he was a rector in Wittersham until he died in 1607.
Important Translation Work
Today, Thomas Braddock is best known for his important translation work. He translated a book called Apologia pro Ecclesia Anglicana into Latin. This book was written by John Jewel, who was a Bishop. Jewel's book was an argument against the ideas of Thomas Harding, a person who disagreed with the main church teachings.
Braddock's Latin translation was published in Geneva in 1600. He did this work so that scholars and religious leaders from other countries could understand the debate that Jewel's book had started back in 1562. Braddock dedicated his translation to John Whitgift, who was the Archbishop of Canterbury. He praised Whitgift for making sure there were many educated people working in his church area.
Braddock is also remembered for giving books from his own collection to the library at Christ's College, where he had studied. One book from his library, with his signature and notes written by him, was once part of a special collection.
