William Strong (priest, died 1654) facts for kids
William Strong (died 1654) was an important English clergyman and a pastor who led a church group that was independent, meaning it wasn't controlled by the main Church of England. He was also a member of the Westminster Assembly, a special group of religious leaders who met to discuss and reform the church.
A Life of Faith and Change
William Strong was born in Dorset, a county in England. He went to Cambridge University and studied at St. Catharine Hall, where he became a fellow (a kind of academic staff member) in 1631.
In 1640, William became the rector (a priest in charge of a parish) of Moore Critchell in Dorset. However, in 1643, he had to leave his home when the "royalists" (people who supported the King during the English Civil War) took control of the area.
He then moved to London, where he was welcomed and often gave sermons (religious speeches) to Parliament, the main law-making body in England.
Working with Parliament
On December 31, 1645, the House of Commons (part of Parliament) chose William Strong to join the Westminster Assembly. This was a very important group of religious scholars and leaders who were working to reorganize the Church of England.
Later, in 1647, he became a minister at St. Dunstan's-in-the-West, a church in London. By 1650, he was chosen to be the pastor for a group of "independents." This group included many members of Parliament, and William preached to them in the famous Westminster Abbey.
In 1652, he was asked to join a committee that helped choose preachers to go to Ireland. William Strong passed away in June 1654, when he was still in his middle years. He was buried in Westminster Abbey. However, after the English Restoration (when the monarchy was brought back), his remains were moved to a different churchyard.
His Writings
William Strong was also a writer and published several books and sermons (religious speeches). These works often explored deep religious ideas.
- Clavis Apocalyptica ad incudem revocata, London, 1653.
- The Saints Communion with God, and Gods Communion with them in Ordinances, edited by Hering, London, 1656.
- Heavenly Treasure, or Man's Chiefest Good, edited by Howe, London 1656.
- Thirty-one Select Sermons, London, 1656.
- A Treatise showing the Subordination of the Will of Man to the Will of God, edited by Rowe, London, 1657.
- A Discourse on the Two Covenants, published by Theophilus Gale, London, 1678.
He also wrote introductions for other religious books, like Robert Dingley's Spiritual Taste Described, which came out in 1649.
