Thomas Wagstaffe facts for kids

Thomas Wagstaffe the Elder (born February 13, 1645 – died October 17, 1712) was a church leader in the Church of England. Later, he became a bishop in a special group called the "nonjurors" who separated from the main church.

Early Life and Education

Thomas Wagstaffe was born on February 13, 1645, in a place called Binley in Warwickshire, England. He was named after his father. He went to school at Charterhouse School.

After a short time at Pembroke College, Cambridge, he moved to New Inn Hall, Oxford, in 1660. He earned his first degree in 1664 and a master's degree in 1667. Two years later, he became a deacon and then a priest. He worked as a chaplain for Sir Richard Temple, 3rd Baronet and became a curate in Stowe.

Becoming a Nonjuror

In 1684, Wagstaffe was given important roles at Lichfield Cathedral and a church in London by King James II. However, after the Glorious Revolution, King James II was replaced. Thomas Wagstaffe refused to swear loyalty to the new King and Queen. Because of this, he lost both of his church positions.

For a while, he worked as a doctor to earn a living, even though he still dressed like a clergyman. He treated important people like William Sancroft, who was the Archbishop of Canterbury, and Francis Turner, the Bishop of Ely.

A Secret Bishop

In 1693, the nonjurors wanted to keep their church going. They used an old law from the time of King Henry VIII to choose new bishops. George Hickes went to France to meet with King James II, who was in exile. King James chose Hickes and Wagstaffe to become bishops.

Thomas Wagstaffe was named the Bishop of Ipswich, and Hickes became the Bishop of Thetford. Both of these places are in the diocese of Norwich. Their special ceremony, called a consecration, happened secretly on February 24, 1694. It took place in a house near London. Another bishop, Francis Turner, also took part.

The ceremony was very private. Many leading nonjurors didn't even know about it for a long time. There is no record that Wagstaffe ever performed any duties as a bishop, like leading services or ordaining new priests.

Later Years and Legacy

Thomas Wagstaffe spent much of his later life in Warwickshire. In 1695, he was present when John Kettlewell, another important nonjuror, received holy communion on his deathbed.

In 1696, Wagstaffe and other nonjuring bishops were called before the privy council. They had supported a charity for nonjuring clergy and their families. He was released on May 23.

The Post Boy newspaper reported his death on October 17, 1712. They described him as a person with "extraordinary judgment, exemplary piety, and unusual learning." They also said that if he had not refused to take the new oaths, he would have held very high positions in the church.

He had a large library of books, which was sold in London in 1713.

Published Works

Thomas Wagstaffe wrote many religious and political pamphlets. One of his most famous works was Vindication of King Charles the Martyr (1693). This book defended King Charles I.

Other Writings

He also wrote A Letter out of Suffolk (1694), which described the illness and death of Archbishop Sancroft. His work Present State of Jacobitism in England (1701?) was a response to Gilbert Burnet. Burnet had suggested that the nonjurors should end their troubles by taking the oaths of loyalty. Wagstaffe argued that the nonjurors were treated more harshly than Catholics had been in earlier times.

Some other pamphlets he wrote include:

• A Letter to the Author of a late Letter out of the Country (around 1690)
• An Answer to a late Pamphlet entitled “Obedience and Submission to the present Government” (1692)
• An Answer to Dr. Sherlock's "Vindication of the Case of Allegiance" (1692)
• An Answer to a Letter of Dr. Sherlock (1691)
• Remarks on some late Sermons (1695)
• A Letter to a Gentleman elected a Knight of the Shire (1694)
• An Account of the Proceedings in Parliament in relation to the Recoining of Clipped Money (1696)

Some writings published under the name of Samuel Grascome have also been thought to be by Wagstaffe.

Family Life

Thomas Wagstaffe married Martha Broughton. They had four sons and five daughters. Their first son died when he was a baby. Their second son, also named Thomas Wagstaffe (1692–1770), also became a well-known nonjuror.

One of his daughters married Dr. William Wagstaffe. Thomas Wagstaffe encouraged William to move to London. William later became a physician at St. Bartholomew's Hospital. Sadly, Thomas's daughter died not long after they married. William then married again, to a daughter of Charles Bernard.