Henry Scudder (clergyman)
Encyclopedia
Henry Scudder was an English clergyman of presbyterian views, known as a devotional writer, and member of the Westminster Assembly
.
, with an M.A. from 1606. He was minister at Drayton
in Oxfordshire 1607-19, and in 1633 was presented by the king to the living of Collingbourne-Ducis, near Marlborough, Wiltshire. In June 1643 he was summoned to the Westminster Assembly of divines. When in June 1645 an order came from the House of Commons to pray for the forces, Scudder was one of the four preachers assigned to Aldgate
. He was minister at the London church of St Mildred Poultry in 1645-6. On 6 April 1647 he reported on the some of the proofs of the Westminster Confession of Faith
, and on 9 February 1648 his name was added to the Assembly's committee for the scriptures.
Scudder preached before the House of Commons in October 1644, on a fast day
, at St. Margaret's, Westminster
, and his sermon was printed by request of the house. He died before the Restoration
, and his successor at Collingbourne-Ducis was instituted in 1660. He was buried in the church there, in a tomb that has been removed. He married Elizabeth, daughter of George Hunt, for fifty years rector of Collingbourne-Ducis. She died when little over twenty. Her sister married William Whately, Scudder's fellow-student at Christ's College, and subsequently vicar of Banbury, whose life Scudder wrote in 1639-40. A daughter married John Grayle
in 1645.
appeared at Frankfurt in 1636. The book as frequently reissued, The editions of 1690 and 1761 have commendations by John Owen
and Richard Baxter
. A fifteenth edition was issued in 1813. The edition of 1820, containing Davenport's epistle and Owen and Baxter's recommendations, has an introductory essay by Thomas Chalmers
.
Scudder also published:
Westminster Assembly
The Westminster Assembly of Divines was appointed by the Long Parliament to restructure the Church of England. It also included representatives of religious leaders from Scotland...
.
Life
He was a graduate of Christ's College, CambridgeChrist's College, Cambridge
Christ's College is a constituent college of the University of Cambridge.With a reputation for high academic standards, Christ's College averaged top place in the Tompkins Table from 1980-2000 . In 2011, Christ's was placed sixth.-College history:...
, with an M.A. from 1606. He was minister at Drayton
Drayton, Cherwell
Drayton is a village and civil parish in the valley of the Sor Brook in Oxfordshire, about northwest of Banbury.-Early history:Tesselated tiles and Roman coins found near the parish church indicate that there was a Roman villa in the area of what later became Drayton village.Drayton village is...
in Oxfordshire 1607-19, and in 1633 was presented by the king to the living of Collingbourne-Ducis, near Marlborough, Wiltshire. In June 1643 he was summoned to the Westminster Assembly of divines. When in June 1645 an order came from the House of Commons to pray for the forces, Scudder was one of the four preachers assigned to Aldgate
Aldgate
Aldgate was the eastern most gateway through London Wall leading from the City of London to Whitechapel and the east end of London. Aldgate gives its name to a ward of the City...
. He was minister at the London church of St Mildred Poultry in 1645-6. On 6 April 1647 he reported on the some of the proofs of the Westminster Confession of Faith
Westminster Confession of Faith
The Westminster Confession of Faith is a Reformed confession of faith, in the Calvinist theological tradition. Although drawn up by the 1646 Westminster Assembly, largely of the Church of England, it became and remains the 'subordinate standard' of doctrine in the Church of Scotland, and has been...
, and on 9 February 1648 his name was added to the Assembly's committee for the scriptures.
Scudder preached before the House of Commons in October 1644, on a fast day
Fast Day
Fast Day was a holiday observed in some parts of the United States between 1670 and 1991."A day of public fasting and prayer", it was traditionally observed in the New England states. It had its origin in days of prayer and repentance proclaimed in the early days of the American colonies by Royal...
, at St. Margaret's, Westminster
St. Margaret's, Westminster
The Anglican church of St. Margaret, Westminster Abbey is situated in the grounds of Westminster Abbey on Parliament Square, and is the parish church of the House of Commons of the United Kingdom in London...
, and his sermon was printed by request of the house. He died before the Restoration
English Restoration
The Restoration of the English monarchy began in 1660 when the English, Scottish and Irish monarchies were all restored under Charles II after the Interregnum that followed the Wars of the Three Kingdoms...
, and his successor at Collingbourne-Ducis was instituted in 1660. He was buried in the church there, in a tomb that has been removed. He married Elizabeth, daughter of George Hunt, for fifty years rector of Collingbourne-Ducis. She died when little over twenty. Her sister married William Whately, Scudder's fellow-student at Christ's College, and subsequently vicar of Banbury, whose life Scudder wrote in 1639-40. A daughter married John Grayle
John Grayle
John Grayle or Graile , was a puritan minister.Grayle was the son of John Grayle, priest, of Stone, Gloucestershire, where he was born in 1614. At the age of eighteen he entered Magdalen Hall, Oxford, as a batler, and proceeded B.A. in 1634 and M.A. on 15 June 1637...
in 1645.
Works
Scudder was author of a devotional work entitled The Christian's Daily Walke in Holy Securitie and Peace. The sixth edition, issued in 1635, has an 'Epistle to the Header,' by John Davenport, dated from Coleman Street, 25 April 1627. The title-page describes it as first intended for private use. A German translation by Theodore HaakTheodore Haak
Theodore Haak was a German Calvinist scholar, resident in England in later life. Haak’s communications abilities and interests in the new science provided the backdrop for convening the “1645 Group,” a precursor of the Royal Society.Although not himself known as a natural philosopher, Haak's...
appeared at Frankfurt in 1636. The book as frequently reissued, The editions of 1690 and 1761 have commendations by John Owen
John Owen (theologian)
John Owen was an English Nonconformist church leader, theologian, and academic administrator at the University of Oxford.-Early life:...
and Richard Baxter
Richard Baxter
Richard Baxter was an English Puritan church leader, poet, hymn-writer, theologian, and controversialist. Dean Stanley called him "the chief of English Protestant Schoolmen". After some false starts, he made his reputation by his ministry at Kidderminster, and at around the same time began a long...
. A fifteenth edition was issued in 1813. The edition of 1820, containing Davenport's epistle and Owen and Baxter's recommendations, has an introductory essay by Thomas Chalmers
Thomas Chalmers
Thomas Chalmers , Scottish mathematician, political economist, divine and a leader of the Free Church of Scotland, was born at Anstruther in Fife.-Overview:...
.
Scudder also published:
- 'A Key of Heaven: the Lord's Prayer opened and applied,' 1682; dedicated to 'Mr. Thomas Crew, and to all his hopeful children,' and has a preface by Richard SibbesRichard SibbesRichard Sibbes was an English theologian. He is known as a Biblical exegete, and as a representative, with William Perkins and John Preston, of what has been called "main-line" Puritanism.-Life:...
. - 'Prototypes, or the Primarie Precedent Presidents out of the Booke of Genesis. With Mr. Whatelye's Life and Death,' 1640, fol., and 1647. Scudder had the assistance of Edward LeighEdward Leigh (writer)Edward Leigh was a versatile English lay writer, known particularly for his works on religious topics, and a politician who sat in the House of Commons from 1645 to 1648. He fought for the Parliamentary army in the English Civil War...
, like himself one of Whately's executors.