Henry Stebbing
Encyclopedia
Henry Stebbing was an English churchman and controversialist, who became archdeacon of Wiltshire.
on 19 August 1687, he was the fourth son of John Stebbing (1647–1728), a grocer of Walton, by his wife Mary (died 1721), daughter and coheiress of Richard Kenington. Henry entered St Catharine Hall, Cambridge, as a sizar on 24 February 1705, graduating B.A. in 1708, M.A. in 1712, and D.D. in 1730. On 19 October 1710 he was elected a fellow, and on 27 June 1738 was incorporated at Oxford.
On Lady day
1713 he resigned his fellowship on being presented to the parish of Lower Rickinghall in Suffolk, and on 31 May 1726 he was instituted rector of Garboldisham
in Norfolk
. On 14 July 1731 he was elected preacher to the Society of Gray's Inn
, and in the following year was appointed chaplain in ordinary to the king. On 19 July 1735 he was installed archdeacon of Wiltshire, and in 1739 became chancellor of Sarum. In 1748 he became rector of Redenhall in Norfolk, and retained the charge for the rest of his life. He died at Gray's Inn on 2 January 1763, and was buried in Salisbury Cathedral
, where a monument was erected to his memory. His portrait, painted in 1757 by Joseph Highmore
, hangs in the National Portrait Gallery, London.
orthodoxy. Among others he wrote against George Whitefield
and Benjamin Hoadly
, bishop of Bangor
. His chief antagonist, however, was William Warburton
, with whom he carried on a dispute for many years. Its origin was Stebbing's attack on Warburton's Divine Legation of Moses.
Stebbing's major works were:
A collected edition of his earlier writings appeared in 1737, entitled ‘The Works of Henry Stebbing,’ London. He has also been credited with an anonymous satire entitled ‘The Fragment,’ published at Cambridge in 1751, which assailed several leading statesmen and ecclesiastics of the time.
, Stebbing had a son, Henry Stebbing (1716–1787), a fellow of St. Catharine Hall, who became in 1749 rector of Gimingham
and Trunch
in Norfolk, and, on the resignation of his father in 1750, was appointed preacher to the Society of Gray's Inn. He died at Gray's Inn on 13 November 1787. He was the author of a collection of ‘Sermons on Practical Subjects,’ London, 1788–90, published by his son, Henry Stebbing, a barrister, with a memoir.
Life
Baptised at Walton, SuffolkWalton, Suffolk
Walton is a small village in Suffolk, between the rivers Orwell and Deben. It is often confused as being part of Felixstowe, although it is a separate village and is mentioned in the Domesday Book...
on 19 August 1687, he was the fourth son of John Stebbing (1647–1728), a grocer of Walton, by his wife Mary (died 1721), daughter and coheiress of Richard Kenington. Henry entered St Catharine Hall, Cambridge, as a sizar on 24 February 1705, graduating B.A. in 1708, M.A. in 1712, and D.D. in 1730. On 19 October 1710 he was elected a fellow, and on 27 June 1738 was incorporated at Oxford.
On Lady day
Lady Day
In the western Liturgical year, Lady Day is the traditional name of the Feast of the Annunciation of the Blessed Virgin in some English speaking countries. It is the first of the four traditional English quarter days. The "Lady" was the Virgin Mary. The term derives from Middle English, when some...
1713 he resigned his fellowship on being presented to the parish of Lower Rickinghall in Suffolk, and on 31 May 1726 he was instituted rector of Garboldisham
Garboldisham
Garboldisham is a village and civil parish, part of Guiltcross in the Breckland district, in Norfolk, England, near the boundary with Suffolk. In the 2001 census the parish had a population of 721.- Origin of name :...
in Norfolk
Norfolk
Norfolk is a low-lying county in the East of England. It has borders with Lincolnshire to the west, Cambridgeshire to the west and southwest and Suffolk to the south. Its northern and eastern boundaries are the North Sea coast and to the north-west the county is bordered by The Wash. The county...
. On 14 July 1731 he was elected preacher to the Society of Gray's Inn
Gray's Inn
The Honourable Society of Gray's Inn, commonly known as Gray's Inn, is one of the four Inns of Court in London. To be called to the Bar and practise as a barrister in England and Wales, an individual must belong to one of these Inns...
, and in the following year was appointed chaplain in ordinary to the king. On 19 July 1735 he was installed archdeacon of Wiltshire, and in 1739 became chancellor of Sarum. In 1748 he became rector of Redenhall in Norfolk, and retained the charge for the rest of his life. He died at Gray's Inn on 2 January 1763, and was buried in Salisbury Cathedral
Salisbury Cathedral
Salisbury Cathedral, formally known as the Cathedral Church of the Blessed Virgin Mary, is an Anglican cathedral in Salisbury, England, considered one of the leading examples of Early English architecture....
, where a monument was erected to his memory. His portrait, painted in 1757 by Joseph Highmore
Joseph Highmore
Joseph Highmore was an English portrait and historical painter, illustrator and author.-Life:Highmore was born in London, the third son of Edward Highmore, a coal merchant, and nephew of Thomas Highmore, Serjeant Painter to William III. He displayed early ability but was discouraged by his family...
, hangs in the National Portrait Gallery, London.
Works
Stebbing was known by contemporaries as a champion of Church of EnglandChurch of England
The Church of England is the officially established Christian church in England and the Mother Church of the worldwide Anglican Communion. The church considers itself within the tradition of Western Christianity and dates its formal establishment principally to the mission to England by St...
orthodoxy. Among others he wrote against George Whitefield
George Whitefield
George Whitefield , also known as George Whitfield, was an English Anglican priest who helped spread the Great Awakening in Britain, and especially in the British North American colonies. He was one of the founders of Methodism and of the evangelical movement generally...
and Benjamin Hoadly
Benjamin Hoadly
Benjamin Hoadly was an English clergyman, who was successively Bishop of Bangor, Hereford, Salisbury, and Winchester. He is best known as the initiator of the Bangorian Controversy.-Life:...
, bishop of Bangor
Bishop of Bangor
The Bishop of Bangor is the Ordinary of the Church in Wales Diocese of Bangor.The diocese covers the counties of Anglesey, most of Caernarfonshire and Merionethshire and a small part of Montgomeryshire...
. His chief antagonist, however, was William Warburton
William Warburton
William Warburton was an English critic and churchman, Bishop of Gloucester from 1759.-Life:He was born at Newark, where his father, who belonged to an old Cheshire family, was town clerk. William was educated at Oakham and Newark grammar schools, and in 1714 he was articled to Mr Kirke, an...
, with whom he carried on a dispute for many years. Its origin was Stebbing's attack on Warburton's Divine Legation of Moses.
Stebbing's major works were:
- ‘A Rational Enquiry into the proper methods of supporting Christianity, so far as it concerns the Governors of the Church,’ London, 1720.
- ‘An Essay concerning Civil Government, considered as it stands related to Religion,’ London, 1724; reprinted in ‘The Churchman armed against the Errors of the Times,’ vol. iii., London, 1814.
- ‘An Apology for the Clergy of the Church of England,’ London, 1734.
- ‘A Brief Account of Prayer and the Sacrament of the Lord's Supper, and other religious duties appertaining to Christian Worship,’ London, 1739; 4th edit. 1771.
- ‘A Caution against Religious Delusion,’ London, 1739; this work, against the Methodists, ran through six editions within a year.
- ‘Christianity justified upon the Scripture Foundation,’ London, 1750. Boyle LecturesBoyle LecturesThe Boyle Lectures were named after Robert Boyle, a prominent English/Irish natural philosopher of the 17th century. Boyle endowed a series of lectures in his will, which were designed as a forum where prominent academics could discuss the existence of God....
. - ‘Sermons on Practical Christianity,’ London, 1759–60.
A collected edition of his earlier writings appeared in 1737, entitled ‘The Works of Henry Stebbing,’ London. He has also been credited with an anonymous satire entitled ‘The Fragment,’ published at Cambridge in 1751, which assailed several leading statesmen and ecclesiastics of the time.
Family
By his wife, a daughter of Robert Camel of Eye, SuffolkEye, Suffolk
Eye is a small market town in the county of Suffolk, East Anglia, England, south of Diss, and on the River Dove.Eye is twinned with the town of Pouzauges in the Vendée Departement of France.-History:An island...
, Stebbing had a son, Henry Stebbing (1716–1787), a fellow of St. Catharine Hall, who became in 1749 rector of Gimingham
Gimingham
Gimingham is a village and civil parish in the English county of Norfolk. The village is north of North Walsham and east of Cromer. It is north of the city of Norwich. Nearby road communications with Gimingham are the A140 to Norwich, the A148 and A149 to King's Lynn, and the A149 into the...
and Trunch
Trunch
Trunch is a village and parish in Norfolk, England, situated three miles north of North Walsham and two miles from the coast at Mundesley. At the Census 2001 the village had a population of 805, and 388 households. The parish covers an area of ....
in Norfolk, and, on the resignation of his father in 1750, was appointed preacher to the Society of Gray's Inn. He died at Gray's Inn on 13 November 1787. He was the author of a collection of ‘Sermons on Practical Subjects,’ London, 1788–90, published by his son, Henry Stebbing, a barrister, with a memoir.