John Gother
Encyclopedia
John Gother also known as John Goter, was an English Roman Catholic convert, priest and controversialist.
, England, Gother was educated a strict Presbyterian, but part at least of his mother's family were Catholics. Gother himself was converted to Catholicism as a boy and on 10 January 1668 entered the English College at Lisbon, a seminary for the formation of Catholic clergy.
Ordained priest in 1676, he returned to England in 1681 to work on the mission in London, where at least from 1685 he began to devote time to controversial writings. Gother was something of an eirenicist, trying to present in clear language the tenets of the Christian faith as belonging to Catholicism, with a view to convincing Protestants that (at very least) Catholic doctrine was not a hotch-potch of unscriptural superstititions; and by often emphasizing prayer and spiritual experience. Naturally, he worked in the hope of encouraging conversions to the Catholic Church. In later life he wrote many works of a devotional character, which were popular for well over a century and important in keeping up Catholic spirits in the grey years after 1688.
Later, at an unknown date (possibly 1688), Gother became chaplain to the recusant family of George Holman of Warkworth, Northamptonshire
, at the Castle or Manor. It was there that he instructed and received into the Catholic Church a boy called Richard Challoner
, son of the housekeeper, who was later to become a Bishop and Vicar Apostolic of the London District
. Challoner, one of the most impressive characters of the period of English persecution of Catholics, made his own not a few aspects of Gother's eirenicism and programme of spiritual promotion.
Gother is said to have been put forward as a possible successor to Bishop Philip Michael Ellis
(OSB), who had been appointed the first Vicar Apostolic of the Western District in 1688, but almost immediately imprisoned by the Revolution and then forced to take refuge first at Saint-Germain
and afterwards in Rome, resigning the post as Vicar Apostolic in 1704. However that may be, Gother was sent in 1704 to be President of the College at Lisbon
.
Already ill at his departure, Gother died at sea, probably on October 1704, after receiving the last rites from another Catholic priest on board. Unusually, his body was preserved and brought to port. It was said this was because of the impression Gother had made by his saintliness on the ship's captain. On arrival at Lisbon it was conveyed to the English College, where it was interred in the chapel. The College remained in function until the last quarter of the 20th century.
, later Anglican Bishop of Worcester
, in a prolonged series of rejoinders and counter-rejoinders.
The principal among John Gother's many works, some translated into other languages, are:
William Crathorne edited The Spiritual Works of Rev. John Gother in 1718 (16 vols.).
Life
Born at SouthamptonSouthampton
Southampton is the largest city in the county of Hampshire on the south coast of England, and is situated south-west of London and north-west of Portsmouth. Southampton is a major port and the closest city to the New Forest...
, England, Gother was educated a strict Presbyterian, but part at least of his mother's family were Catholics. Gother himself was converted to Catholicism as a boy and on 10 January 1668 entered the English College at Lisbon, a seminary for the formation of Catholic clergy.
Ordained priest in 1676, he returned to England in 1681 to work on the mission in London, where at least from 1685 he began to devote time to controversial writings. Gother was something of an eirenicist, trying to present in clear language the tenets of the Christian faith as belonging to Catholicism, with a view to convincing Protestants that (at very least) Catholic doctrine was not a hotch-potch of unscriptural superstititions; and by often emphasizing prayer and spiritual experience. Naturally, he worked in the hope of encouraging conversions to the Catholic Church. In later life he wrote many works of a devotional character, which were popular for well over a century and important in keeping up Catholic spirits in the grey years after 1688.
Later, at an unknown date (possibly 1688), Gother became chaplain to the recusant family of George Holman of Warkworth, Northamptonshire
Warkworth, Northamptonshire
Warkworth is a small village and civil parish in the English county of Northamptonshire.It is in the far west of the county, between Banbury and Middleton Cheney. The Jurassic Way long distance footpath runs through the village. It is administered as part of South Northamptonshire district.-...
, at the Castle or Manor. It was there that he instructed and received into the Catholic Church a boy called Richard Challoner
Richard Challoner
Richard Challoner was an English Roman Catholic bishop, a leading figure of English Catholicism during the greater part of the 18th century. He is perhaps most famous for his revision of the Douay Rheims translation of the Bible.-Early life:Challoner was born in the Protestant town of Lewes,...
, son of the housekeeper, who was later to become a Bishop and Vicar Apostolic of the London District
Vicar Apostolic of the London District
The Vicar Apostolic of the London District was the title given to the bishop who headed an ecclesiastical jurisdiction of the Roman Catholic Church in England, the Vicariate Apostolic of the London District, from 1688 to 1850.-Background:...
. Challoner, one of the most impressive characters of the period of English persecution of Catholics, made his own not a few aspects of Gother's eirenicism and programme of spiritual promotion.
Gother is said to have been put forward as a possible successor to Bishop Philip Michael Ellis
Philip Michael Ellis
Philip Michael Ellis was an English Benedictine, the first Vicar Apostolic of the Western District of England and Wales, and subsequently Bishop of Segni, Italy....
(OSB), who had been appointed the first Vicar Apostolic of the Western District in 1688, but almost immediately imprisoned by the Revolution and then forced to take refuge first at Saint-Germain
Château de Saint-Germain-en-Laye
The Château de Saint-Germain-en-Laye is a royal palace in the commune of Saint-Germain-en-Laye, in the département of Yvelines, about 19 km west of Paris, France. Today, it houses the Musée d'Archéologie Nationale ....
and afterwards in Rome, resigning the post as Vicar Apostolic in 1704. However that may be, Gother was sent in 1704 to be President of the College at Lisbon
Lisbon
Lisbon is the capital city and largest city of Portugal with a population of 545,245 within its administrative limits on a land area of . The urban area of Lisbon extends beyond the administrative city limits with a population of 3 million on an area of , making it the 9th most populous urban...
.
Already ill at his departure, Gother died at sea, probably on October 1704, after receiving the last rites from another Catholic priest on board. Unusually, his body was preserved and brought to port. It was said this was because of the impression Gother had made by his saintliness on the ship's captain. On arrival at Lisbon it was conveyed to the English College, where it was interred in the chapel. The College remained in function until the last quarter of the 20th century.
Works
His work, A Papist Misrepresented and Represented, lists at length commonly held errors as to Catholic doctrine and practice. All such errors are duly "refuted" in the manner of the time, but courteously and in an English style that was well regarded. Various Anglican divines made reply, including notably Edward StillingfleetEdward Stillingfleet
Edward Stillingfleet was a British theologian and scholar. Considered an outstanding preacher as well as a strong polemical writer defending Anglicanism, Stillingfleet was known as "the beauty of holiness" for his good looks in the pulpit, and was called by John Hough "the ablest man of his...
, later Anglican Bishop of Worcester
Bishop of Worcester
The Bishop of Worcester is the Ordinary of the Church of England Diocese of Worcester in the Province of Canterbury, England. He is the head of the Diocese of Worcester in the Province of Canterbury...
, in a prolonged series of rejoinders and counter-rejoinders.
The principal among John Gother's many works, some translated into other languages, are:
- ''A Papist Misrepresented and Represented, or a two-fold Character of Popery (London, 1665 but often republished into the 20th century)
- Nubes Testium, or a Collection of the Primitive Fathers (London, 1686)
- The Sincere Christian's Guide in the Choice of a Religion (London, 1804)
- Instructions of the Epistles and Gospels of the Whole Year (London, 1780)
- The Sinner's Complaint to God' ' (London, 1839)
- Principles and Rules of the Gospel (London, 1718
- A Practical Catechism
- Instructions and Devotions for Hearing Mass (London, 1767)
- Instructions for Confession, Communion and Confirmation (Dublin, 1825).
William Crathorne edited The Spiritual Works of Rev. John Gother in 1718 (16 vols.).