Thomas Hall (minister, born 1610) facts for kids
Thomas Hall (born in 1610, died in 1665) was an English clergyman. He was also known as an ejected minister, which means he lost his job as a minister because he didn't agree with new laws about how the church should be run.
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Thomas Hall's Life Story
Thomas Hall was born in Worcester around July 22, 1610. His father, Richard Hall, was a clothier (someone who made or sold cloth). Thomas went to the King's School in Worcester, which was a famous school at the time.
In 1624, he went to Balliol College, Oxford, and later moved to Pembroke College, Oxford. He earned his first degree in 1629. After college, he became a teacher at a private school in Worcestershire. He also started preaching in small towns near Kings Norton.
Even though he followed the main church rules at first, he soon became a presbyterian. Presbyterians believed in a different way of organizing the church, with more power given to local leaders. Thomas became a minister at Kings Norton. He also became the headmaster of the Grammar School there, which was founded by Edward VI.
Challenges During the Civil War
During the English Civil War, Thomas Hall faced many difficulties. He was robbed several times and put in prison five times! Even when his side (the Parliamentarians) was in power, he refused special jobs or promotions.
In 1652, he was allowed to earn a higher degree from the university. He had to give two sermons, one in Latin and one in English. Because of his Presbyterian beliefs, he didn't join some agreements made by other church leaders. However, he did sign a petition to keep tithes (money paid to the church) and a regular ministry.
A Lover of Books and Learning
Thomas Hall was known as a "plain but fervent" preacher, meaning he spoke simply but with strong feelings. He loved books and learning very much. When the first public library in Birmingham was started, he gave many of his own books and collected more from his friends.
Later, he started a similar library in Kings Norton. The people of the town built a special building for it, and Thomas gave all his books for everyone to use. After 1662, a new law called the Uniformity Act (1662) made him lose his job as a minister. This made him very poor, but his friends helped him out. He passed away on April 13, 1665, and was buried in Kings Norton.
Thomas Hall's Beliefs
Thomas Hall was a strong Presbyterian. He believed that England should have a national church that followed Presbyterian rules.
He also spoke out against astrology, which is the belief that the positions of stars and planets affect people's lives. He thought astrology was connected to other ideas he disagreed with.
Thomas Hall's Family
John Hall (1633–1710), who later became the Bishop of Bristol, was Thomas Hall's nephew.
What Thomas Hall Wrote
Thomas Hall wrote many books and papers, often sharing his religious views or discussing important topics of his time. Here are a few examples:
- Wisdoms Conquest (1651): This was his translation of a story from an ancient Roman poem.
- The Pulpit Guarded (1651): This book argued against people preaching without proper training or permission.
- The Font Guarded (1651, published 1652): This book discussed who should be baptized.
- The Loathsomnesse of Long Haire (1654): This book was about why he thought long hair was not good.
- Histrio-mastix. A Whip for Webster (1654): This book was a criticism of some ideas about education.
- Funebria Florae. The Downfall of May-games (1660): This book was against traditional May Day celebrations.
