Matthew Wren
The Right Reverend Matthew Wren | |
---|---|
Bishop of Ely | |
Diocese | Diocese of Ely |
In office | 1638–1667 |
Predecessor | Francis White |
Successor | Benjamin Lany |
Other posts |
Bishop of Hereford (1634–35) Bishop of Norwich (1635–38) |
Personal details | |
Born |
Parish of St Peter, Westcheap, London | 3 December 1585
Died |
24 April 1667 81) Ely House, Holborn, London | (aged
Buried | Pembroke College, Cambridge |
Nationality | British |
Denomination | Anglican |
Spouse | Elizabeth Cutler |
Education | Merchant Taylors' School |
Alma mater | Pembroke College, Cambridge |
Matthew Wren (3 December 1585 – 24 April 1667) was an influential English clergyman, bishop and scholar.
Life
He attended Merchant Taylors' School and proceeded in 1601 to Pembroke College, Cambridge, where he was a protégé of Lancelot Andrewes. He became a Fellow in 1605 and later President. He was Master of Peterhouse from 1625 to 1634.[1][2] From this point, his rise was rapid. He accompanied Charles I to Holyrood Palace for his Scottish coronation in 1633, and was appointed chaplain. He became Bishop of Hereford in 1634, Norwich in 1635, and Ely in 1638.
However, his strong support of Archbishop Laud, and his toughness on Puritans, led to his being imprisoned in the Tower of London by the Parliamentarian faction from 1641 to 1659. Unlike Laud, he survived, and was allowed the freedom to write notes on improvements to the Book of Common Prayer, on which he later had some influence.
While in the Tower, he vowed to devote a sum of money to "some holy and pious employment" should he be released. To fulfil this vow, he chose to pay for a new Chapel for Pembroke College, and had it built by his nephew Christopher Wren — one of his first buildings, consecrated in 1665. Matthew Wren also led the movement to rebuild St Paul's Cathedral after it had been damaged by the Puritans, and again his nephew accomplished the task.
He married Elizabeth, daughter of Thomas Cutler of Ipswich. Their eldest son was Matthew Wren, secretary to the Duke of York.
He died at Ely House, Holborn, on 24 April 1667, and was buried in the chapel he had built at Pembroke Hall, Cambridge.[3]
List of appointments
- President of Pembroke College
- Prebendary of Winchester
- Master of Peterhouse, 1625–1634
- Chaplain to the then Prince Charles (later Charles I)
- Vice-Chancellor of the University of Cambridge, 1628–1629
- Dean of Windsor and Wolverhampton
- Registrar of the Order of the Garter
- Clerk of the Closet
- Governor of Charterhouse, London
- Bishop of Hereford
- Prebendary of Westminster
- Bishop of Norwich
- Dean of the Chapel Royal, London
- Bishop of Ely
References
- ↑ "Wren, Matthew (WRN604M)". A Cambridge Alumni Database. University of Cambridge.
- ↑ Phillimore, Lucy (30 November 2007). Sir Christopher Wren: His family and his times, 1585-1723. Kessinger Publishing. ISBN 978-0-548-80595-4.
- ↑ Wikisource:Wren, Matthew (1585-1667) (DNB00)
External links
- "Wren, Matthew". Dictionary of National Biography. London: Smith, Elder & Co. 1885–1900.
- A Parliamentarian view of him and of his arrest
Academic offices | ||
---|---|---|
Preceded by Leonard Mawe |
Master of Peterhouse, Cambridge 1625–1635 |
Succeeded by John Cosin |
Church of England titles | ||
Preceded by Augustine Lindsell |
Bishop of Hereford 1634–1635 |
Succeeded by Theophilus Feild |
Preceded by Richard Corbet |
Bishop of Norwich 1635–1638 |
Succeeded by Richard Montagu |
Preceded by Francis White |
Bishop of Ely 1638–1667 |
Succeeded by Benjamin Lany |