William Stanley (priest) facts for kids
William Stanley (born 1647, died 1731) was an important English church leader. He was the head of Corpus Christi College, Cambridge, a high-ranking church official called the Archdeacon of London, and later the Dean of St Asaph.
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Early Life and Education
William Stanley was born in 1647 in Hinckley, a town in Leicestershire, England. His father was also named William Stanley. His mother, Lucy, was the sister of a famous bishop named William Beveridge.
Young William went to school in Ashley, Lancashire. In 1663, he started studying at St. John's College, Cambridge. He earned his first degree, a Bachelor of Arts (B.A.), in 1666.
Becoming a Church Leader
In 1669, William Stanley became a fellow at Corpus Christi College, Cambridge. He earned his Master of Arts (M.A.) degree in 1670. After becoming a priest in 1672, he started giving sermons at the university in 1676. He earned another degree, a Bachelor of Divinity (B.D.), in 1678.
He worked as a priest in Hadham Magna, Hertfordshire. He also became a chaplain to a nobleman, Arthur Capell, 1st Earl of Essex. The Earl helped him get a church job in Raine Parva, Essex, in 1681. Later, he moved to a church in London called St. Mary Magdalen, Old Fish Street.
Important Roles and Royal Connections
In 1684, William Stanley became a prebendary at St Paul's Cathedral. This was a special position within the cathedral. Around this time, he was involved in a project to print a new version of the English Bible with helpful notes.
In 1685, he was chosen to be a chaplain to the Princess of Orange, who later became Queen Mary II of England. Before he traveled to Holland, he received a special Doctor of Divinity (D.D.) degree from the Archbishop of Canterbury.
When Princess Mary became Queen, William Stanley was given an important role as her clerk of the closet. This meant he was a trusted advisor and assistant. He also became a canon at St. Paul's Cathedral in 1689. In 1690, he became the rector of Hadham Magna again.
Archdeacon and College Master
In 1692, William Stanley was appointed Archdeacon of London. This was a very important position in the church. He was known for his very loud voice, which could be heard above everyone else during church services! A writer named Richard Steele even wrote about him in a humorous way in his magazine, The Tatler.
In 1693, he was chosen to be the Master of Corpus Christi College, Cambridge. This meant he was the head of the college. He also served as the Vice-Chancellor of the university that same year. He received another D.D. degree from Cambridge in 1694. He left his role as Master in 1698.
Later Life and Legacy
In 1706, William Stanley became the Dean of St. Asaph. This was a high-ranking church position in Wales. He paid for a special law to help the families of Welsh clergy. This law made sure that widows and children of priests did not have to pay certain fees when a priest died.
William Stanley passed away on October 9, 1731. He was buried in St Paul's Cathedral in London.
Published Works
William Stanley wrote several books and sermons. Here are some of his notable works:
- A Discourse concerning the Devotions of the Church of Rome: This book compared the religious practices of the Church of Rome with those of the Church of England. It was first published anonymously in 1685.
- The Faith and Practice of a Church of England Man: This book explained the beliefs and practices of someone who belonged to the Church of England. It was published many times, starting in 1688.
- Catalogus Librorum Manuscriptorum in Bibliotheca Collegii Corporis Christi in Cantabrigia: This was a catalog of old handwritten books in the library of Corpus Christi College. It listed books given to the college by Archbishop Matthew Parker.
Family Life
William Stanley married Mary Pemberton, who was the daughter of Sir Francis Pemberton. They had three sons named Thomas, William, and Francis. His wife, Mary, lived until 1758 and was 85 years old when she passed away.
