Christopher Potter
Encyclopedia
Christopher Potter was an English academic and clergyman, Provost of The Queen's College, Oxford
, controversialist and prominent supporter of William Laud
.
. He matriculated at Queen's on 11 July 1606, aged 15, having entered the college in the previous Easter term. He was elected taberdar (pauper puer) on 29 October 1609. He graduated B.A. on 30 April 1610 and M.A. on 8 July 1613, became chaplain on 5 July 1613, and fellow on 22 March 1614-15. He was magister puerorum in 1620, and senior bursar in 1622; graduated B.D. and received a preacher's license on 9 March 1621, and proceeded D.D. on 17 February 1627.
He was in early life a follower of Henry Airay
, opponent of Laud, and held a lectureship at Abingdon
where he was a popular preacher. On his uncle's resignation of the headship of Queen's (17 June 1626), he was elected Provost. He now attached himself to Laud, and was made chaplain in ordinary to Charles I. In the first year of his provostship, with the assistance of Sir Thomas Coventry, Viscount Doncaster
, and Sir George Goring, vice-chamberlain to Queen Henrietta Maria, he obtained the advowson
of three rectories and three vicarages in Hampshire
for the college. He himself received the rectory of Strathfieldsaye
in 1627, and after the death of William Cox in 1632 was made precentor of Chichester. He received the rectory of Bletchington, Oxfordshire
, in 1631.
During Laud's chancellorship of the university, Potter was a frequent correspondent. He was a disciplinarian in his college, and instituted expositions of the creed on Sundays in chapel and English sermons on Thursdays. In 1631, on the death of John Rawlinson
, principal of St. Edmund Hall, he successfully asserted the rights of his college against the claim of the chancellor to nominate a principal, and Laud admitted and confirmed the right.
He had now attracted notice as a prominent Arminian, and was attacked in a violent sermon written under the influence probably of John Prideaux
. He also engaged in controversy the Jesuit Edward Knott
over his work Charity Mistaken, by the king's command, in a pamphlet. Potter took much the same line as Laud had taken in his reply to John Fisher. A second edition (London, 1634) was revised by Laud, whose suggested alterations later formed one of the charges brought against him at his trial. To Knott's reply, Mercy and Truth, William Chillingworth
's Religion of Protestants was an answer, and Potter was asked by Laud to revise the latter work.
He became pro-vice-chancellor on 13 July 1639, and was appointed vice-chancellor on 28 July 1640. It was to him that Laud's letter of resignation of his office was addressed. On 4 December 1640 he found it necessary, with the other university officials, to issue a notice denying that they knew or suspected "any member of the university to be a papist, or popishly inclined".
He had been promoted, by Laud's influence, as Dean of Worcester
in 1636, and he received the rectory of Great Haseley
, Oxfordshire
, 1642. On the outbreak of the First English Civil War
he contributed £400 to the king in July 1642, in addition to £800 given by the college. He left Oxford, but returned before Christmas 1642; he preached at the Treaty of Uxbridge
. In January 1646 the king nominated him to the deanery of Durham, but he died, before his installation, on 3 March.
, the next Provost of Queen's.
The Queen's College, Oxford
The Queen's College, founded 1341, is one of the constituent colleges of the University of Oxford in England. Queen's is centrally situated on the High Street, and is renowned for its 18th-century architecture...
, controversialist and prominent supporter of William Laud
William Laud
William Laud was Archbishop of Canterbury from 1633 to 1645. One of the High Church Caroline divines, he opposed radical forms of Puritanism...
.
Life
He was born in Westmoreland, the nephew of Barnaby PotterBarnaby Potter
Barnaby Potter was a Church of England priest, Bishop of Carlisle from 16 March 1628-9 to 1642. He was educated at The Queen's College, Oxford, where he graduated MA in 1602 and DD in 1615. He was elected a fellow in 1604 and served as Provost, 1616–1626. Although leaning towards Puritanism...
. He matriculated at Queen's on 11 July 1606, aged 15, having entered the college in the previous Easter term. He was elected taberdar (pauper puer) on 29 October 1609. He graduated B.A. on 30 April 1610 and M.A. on 8 July 1613, became chaplain on 5 July 1613, and fellow on 22 March 1614-15. He was magister puerorum in 1620, and senior bursar in 1622; graduated B.D. and received a preacher's license on 9 March 1621, and proceeded D.D. on 17 February 1627.
He was in early life a follower of Henry Airay
Henry Airay
Henry Airay , was an English Puritan preacher and author.-Biography:Airay was born at Kentmere, near Kendal, Westmorland. His date of birth is uncertain. His father was William Airay, a favored servant of Bernard Gilpin, "the apostle of the North"...
, opponent of Laud, and held a lectureship at Abingdon
Abingdon, Oxfordshire
Abingdon or archaically Abingdon-on-Thames is a market town and civil parish in Oxfordshire, England. It is the seat of the Vale of White Horse district. Previously the county town of Berkshire, Abingdon is one of several places that claim to be Britain's oldest continuously occupied town, with...
where he was a popular preacher. On his uncle's resignation of the headship of Queen's (17 June 1626), he was elected Provost. He now attached himself to Laud, and was made chaplain in ordinary to Charles I. In the first year of his provostship, with the assistance of Sir Thomas Coventry, Viscount Doncaster
James Hay, 1st Earl of Carlisle
James Hay, 1st Earl of Carlisle was a Scottish aristocrat.-Life:He was the son of Sir James Hay of Fingask , and of Margaret Murray, cousin of George Hay, afterwards 1st Earl of Kinnoull.He was knighted and taken into favor by James VI of Scotland, brought into England in 1603, treated as a "prime...
, and Sir George Goring, vice-chamberlain to Queen Henrietta Maria, he obtained the advowson
Advowson
Advowson is the right in English law of a patron to present or appoint a nominee to a vacant ecclesiastical benefice or church living, a process known as presentation. In effect this means the right to nominate a person to hold a church office in a parish...
of three rectories and three vicarages in Hampshire
Hampshire
Hampshire is a county on the southern coast of England in the United Kingdom. The county town of Hampshire is Winchester, a historic cathedral city that was once the capital of England. Hampshire is notable for housing the original birthplaces of the Royal Navy, British Army, and Royal Air Force...
for the college. He himself received the rectory of Strathfieldsaye
Strathfieldsaye
Strathfieldsaye is a suburb of the city of Greater Bendigo in Victoria, Australia.In the 2006 census, Strathfieldsaye had a population of 3,147. A Strathfieldsaye Post Office opened on 1 January 1864 and a Strathfieldsaye North office on 8 December 1876...
in 1627, and after the death of William Cox in 1632 was made precentor of Chichester. He received the rectory of Bletchington, Oxfordshire
Oxfordshire
Oxfordshire is a county in the South East region of England, bordering on Warwickshire and Northamptonshire , Buckinghamshire , Berkshire , Wiltshire and Gloucestershire ....
, in 1631.
During Laud's chancellorship of the university, Potter was a frequent correspondent. He was a disciplinarian in his college, and instituted expositions of the creed on Sundays in chapel and English sermons on Thursdays. In 1631, on the death of John Rawlinson
John Rawlinson (clergyman)
John Rawlinson was an English churchman and academic who was Principal of St Edmund Hall, Oxford from 1610.-Life:He was son of Robert Rawlinson, merchant tailor of London, and was admitted to Merchant Taylors' School in 1585. He was elected scholar of St John's College, Oxford, in 1591, and...
, principal of St. Edmund Hall, he successfully asserted the rights of his college against the claim of the chancellor to nominate a principal, and Laud admitted and confirmed the right.
He had now attracted notice as a prominent Arminian, and was attacked in a violent sermon written under the influence probably of John Prideaux
John Prideaux
John Prideaux D.D. was an English academic and Bishop of Worcester.-Early life:The fourth son of John and Agnes Prideaux, he was born at Stowford House in the parish of Harford, near Ivybridge, Devon, England, on 17 September 1578...
. He also engaged in controversy the Jesuit Edward Knott
Edward Knott
Edward Knott, real name Matthew Wilson was an English Jesuit controversialist, twice provincial of the Society of Jesus in England.-Life:...
over his work Charity Mistaken, by the king's command, in a pamphlet. Potter took much the same line as Laud had taken in his reply to John Fisher. A second edition (London, 1634) was revised by Laud, whose suggested alterations later formed one of the charges brought against him at his trial. To Knott's reply, Mercy and Truth, William Chillingworth
William Chillingworth
William Chillingworth was a controversial English churchman.-Early life:He was born in Oxford, where his father served as mayor; William Laud was his godfather. In June 1618 he became a scholar of Trinity College, Oxford, of which he was made a fellow in June 1628...
's Religion of Protestants was an answer, and Potter was asked by Laud to revise the latter work.
He became pro-vice-chancellor on 13 July 1639, and was appointed vice-chancellor on 28 July 1640. It was to him that Laud's letter of resignation of his office was addressed. On 4 December 1640 he found it necessary, with the other university officials, to issue a notice denying that they knew or suspected "any member of the university to be a papist, or popishly inclined".
He had been promoted, by Laud's influence, as Dean of Worcester
Dean of Worcester
The Dean of Worcester is the head of the Chapter of Worcester Cathedral in Worcester, England. The most current Dean is the Very Rev Peter Gordon Atkinson who lives at The Deanery, College Green, Worcester.-List of Deans:...
in 1636, and he received the rectory of Great Haseley
Great Haseley
Great Haseley is a village and civil parish in South Oxfordshire. The village is southwest of Thame. The parish includes the hamlets of Latchford, Little Haseley and North Weston and the house, chapel and park of Rycote...
, Oxfordshire
Oxfordshire
Oxfordshire is a county in the South East region of England, bordering on Warwickshire and Northamptonshire , Buckinghamshire , Berkshire , Wiltshire and Gloucestershire ....
, 1642. On the outbreak of the First English Civil War
First English Civil War
The First English Civil War began the series of three wars known as the English Civil War . "The English Civil War" was a series of armed conflicts and political machinations that took place between Parliamentarians and Royalists from 1642 until 1651, and includes the Second English Civil War and...
he contributed £400 to the king in July 1642, in addition to £800 given by the college. He left Oxford, but returned before Christmas 1642; he preached at the Treaty of Uxbridge
Treaty of Uxbridge
The Treaty of Uxbridge of early 1645 was a significant but abortive negotiation to try to end the First English Civil War.-Background:Parliament drew up 27 articles in November 1644 and presented them to Charles I of England at Oxford. Much input into these Propositions of Uxbridge was from...
. In January 1646 the king nominated him to the deanery of Durham, but he died, before his installation, on 3 March.
Family
Potter married Elizabeth, daughter of Dr. Charles Sonnibanke, canon of Windsor, by whom he had a son Charles Potter (1634–1663), courtier, born in the college in 1634. Charles became a Roman Catholic, and at the Restoration was made an usher to Queen Henrietta Maria. In May 1662 he was repaid £2,000 which his father had lent to Charles I. Elizabeth afterwards married Gerard LangbaineGerard Langbaine the elder
Gerard Langbaine, the elder was an English academic and clergyman, known as a scholar, royalist, and Provost of Queen's College, Oxford during the siege of the city.-Life:...
, the next Provost of Queen's.