Thomas Playfere facts for kids
Thomas Playfere (born around 1561, died 1609) was an important English churchman and a smart thinker. He was a professor at Cambridge University, teaching about religion. He was known for his excellent speeches and sermons.
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Life of Thomas Playfere
Thomas Playfere was born in London around 1561. His father was William Playfere, and his mother was Alice Wood. When he was about 15 years old, in 1576, he started studying at St John's College, Cambridge.
Education and College Roles
Thomas Playfere was a very dedicated student. He earned several degrees from Cambridge University:
- Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) in 1580
- Master of Arts (M.A.) in 1583
- Bachelor of Divinity (B.D.) in 1590
- Doctor of Divinity (D.D.) in 1596
In 1584, he became a Fellow at St John's College. This meant he was a senior member and teacher there. He held many important jobs at the college, such as teaching rhetoric (the art of speaking and writing well) and Hebrew.
Professor and Royal Chaplain
After a respected professor named William Whitaker passed away, Thomas Playfere became the Lady Margaret Professor of Divinity in 1596. This was a very important job, teaching about religious studies at the university.
He also became a chaplain to King James. This meant he gave advice and preached to the King and his court. He often gave sermons in front of the King and other important people, like Henry Frederick, Prince of Wales. He even preached when the kings of England and Denmark were together at Theobalds.
Later Years and Legacy
From 1605 to 1609, Playfere was the rector (a type of priest) of a church in Cheam, Surrey. He also became rector of churches in Shipdham and Thorpe St Andrew in Norfolk in 1608.
Around 1606, Thomas Playfere faced some health challenges. However, he continued to hold his professorship until he passed away on February 2, 1609. His funeral sermon was given by Thomas Jegon, who was a high-ranking official at the university. He was buried in St Botolph's Church, Cambridge. A monument with his statue was placed there by his wife, Alicia, to remember him.
Thomas Playfere's Writings
Thomas Playfere was well-known for being a very good preacher, especially when speaking in Latin. During his lifetime, he published some of his individual sermons.
After he died, more of his sermons were published:
- Ten Sermons (1610)
- A volume in 1611 that included four sermons, like "The Pathway to Perfection."
- Nine Sermons (1612)
All of his sermons were later collected and published together in one volume in 1623 and 1638.
