William Thomas (bishop of Worcester) facts for kids

William Thomas (born February 2, 1613 – died June 25, 1689) was an important Welsh Anglican bishop. He lived during a very difficult time in England, the English Civil War. During this war, he was forced to leave his church job in Laugharne. But after the war, in 1660, he got his job back. He later became the Bishop of St David's and then the Bishop of Worcester.

Early Life and Education

William Thomas grew up in Wales. He went to school at Carmarthen Grammar School. After that, he studied at the University of Oxford, which is a very famous university in England. He started at St John's College, Oxford in 1629. Later, he moved to Jesus College, Oxford, where he earned two degrees: a Bachelor of Arts (BA) in 1632 and a Master of Arts (MA) in 1635. He even became a fellow at Jesus College, which means he was a senior member of the college.

Becoming a Priest

After finishing his studies, William Thomas decided to become a priest. He was ordained as a deacon in 1637 and then as a priest in 1638. His first church jobs were as a vicar in Penbryn in Ceredigion and as a chaplain to a powerful person, Algernon Percy, 10th Earl of Northumberland. With help from his patron, he also became the vicar of Laugharne and Llansadwrn in Carmarthenshire from 1639 to 1644.

Challenges During the English Civil War

The English Civil War was a time of great conflict in England. In 1644, William Thomas faced a big challenge. Soldiers from Oliver Cromwell's army, called the Cromwellian cavalry, forced him out of his church at pistol point. He lost his church jobs because of the war.

Teaching During Difficult Times

Even though he lost his church positions, William Thomas didn't give up. During the time when England was a republic (called the Commonwealth period), he opened a private school in Laugharne. He taught children there until 1670. This showed his dedication to education and his community.

Return to Service and Bishop Roles

When King Charles II returned to the throne in 1660 (an event called the Restoration), William Thomas was rewarded for his loyalty. He got his vicar job back in Laugharne. He was also quickly appointed as the precentor of St David's Cathedral and received a special Doctor of Divinity degree from Oxford.

Promotions and New Roles

In 1661, a powerful person named Edward Hyde, 1st Earl of Clarendon helped him get another church job in Llanbedr Felffre, Pembrokeshire. He was also noticed by James, Duke of York, who later became King James II. James appointed William Thomas as one of his personal chaplains. In 1665, he became the dean of Worcester. A dean is a very important leader in a cathedral.

Becoming a Bishop

William Thomas continued to rise in the church.

• In 1677, he was chosen to be the Bishop of St David's. He officially became bishop in January 1678. He was allowed to keep his job as Dean of Worcester at the same time.
• People thought he was a very active bishop. He spoke Welsh fluently and had strong connections to west Wales.
• In 1683, he became the Bishop of Worcester. In this role, he became known for being very generous and helping poor people.

Final Years and Loyalty

William Thomas died in Worcester in 1689 and was buried in the cloisters of Worcester Cathedral. His tomb was designed by a sculptor named Thomas White.

He was known for his strong beliefs and loyalty. When King William III came to power in 1688, William Thomas refused to take a new oath of allegiance to the new king. He felt it went against his conscience and his loyalty to the previous king. He was ready to face consequences for his beliefs, even saying he would "suffer at the stake" rather than take the oath. Luckily, he passed away before he could be removed from his position.