William Greenhill facts for kids
William Greenhill (1591–1671) was an important English religious leader. He was a nonconformist clergyman, which means he didn't follow all the rules of the main Church of England at the time. He was also an independent minister and a member of a special group called the Westminster Assembly.
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William Greenhill's Early Life and Education
William Greenhill was probably born in Oxfordshire, England. When he was 13, he started studying at the University of Oxford in 1604. He became a special student, called a 'demy,' at Magdalen College, Oxford. He earned his first degree (B.A.) in 1609 and his master's degree (M.A.) in 1612.
Greenhill's Ministry and Challenges
From 1615 to 1633, William Greenhill worked as a minister in New Shoreham, Sussex. He later faced problems because he refused to read The Book of Sports during church services. This book allowed certain sports and activities on Sundays, which many strict religious people, like Greenhill, disagreed with.
After this, he moved to London. He became a preacher at a church in Stepney, where he gave sermons in the afternoons.
Role in the Westminster Assembly
In 1643, William Greenhill became a member of the Westminster Assembly. This was a very important meeting of religious leaders who wanted to change the Church of England. Greenhill was part of a group called the Independents, who believed that each church should be able to govern itself.
In the same year, he gave a sermon to the House of Commons of England, which was part of the English Parliament. This sermon was later published as a book called The Axe at the Root.
Pastor and Chaplain to the Royal Family
In 1644, Greenhill helped start the Stepney Meeting House, a church in Stepney. He became its first pastor. Later, in 1649, after King Charles I died, Parliament chose Greenhill to be a chaplain for three of the late king's children:
- James, Duke of York (who later became King James II)
- Henry, Duke of Gloucester
- Lady Henrietta Anne
In 1654, Oliver Cromwell, a powerful leader in England at the time, appointed Greenhill to a group that approved public preachers. He also became the vicar (a type of minister) of St. Dunstan and All Saints church in Stepney. He held this position for about seven years.
Later Life and Legacy
After the king returned to power in 1660, Greenhill was removed from his position at St. Dunstan's church because he was a nonconformist. However, he continued to be the pastor of the independent church in Stepney until he passed away on September 27, 1671.
William Greenhill's Writings
William Greenhill was also a writer. His most important work is his Exposition of the Prophet Ezekiel. This was a detailed commentary on a book from the Bible, published in five volumes between 1645 and 1662. It's thought that many copies of the last volume were lost in the Great Fire of London in 1666.
The first volume of this work was dedicated to Princess Elizabeth, who was King Charles I's daughter. Greenhill also published two books of sermons:
- Sermons of Christ, His Discovery of Himself (1656)
- The Sound-hearted Christian (1670 or 1671)
