Thomas Good
Encyclopedia
Thomas Good was an English
academic and clergyman, and Master of Balliol College, Oxford
. He is known as a moderate in and orthodox apologist for the Church of England
, engaging with Richard Baxter
and urging him to clarify a 'middle way'.
area of Worcestershire
, England
, Good was educated at King’s College
, Worcester
, in the time of Henry Bright
.
He was admitted scholar at Balliol College in 1624, and took the degree of B.A.
in 1628. Next year he was elected probationer-fellow, and in 1630 fellow of his college. He proceeded M.A. in 1631, and B.D.
in 1639. He became vicar
of St Alkmund's in Shrewsbury
, probably in 1642. From this living, he was then ejected; but he continued to hold the rectory of Coreley
in Shropshire, to which he had been instituted before 1647, throughout the Interregnum
, and he submitted to the parliamentary visitors for Oxford, being appointed one of the visitors' delegates on 30 September 1647.
With Thomas Warmestry, he met Richard Baxter and other ministers of the Worcestershire Association in September 1653 at Cleobury Mortimer
, to discuss the question of the Shropshire
clergy joining the association; he signed a paper expressing approval of the articles of agreement. He obtained leave of absence from Balliol College for a large part of the period from 1647 to 1658, and then resigned his fellowship. At the Restoration
he was created doctor of divinity
as a sufferer for the King's cause. He was also appointed prebendary of Hereford on 29 August 1660, and about the same time he was presented to the rectory of Wistanstow
in Herefordshire
. In 1672 he was unanimously elected Master of Balliol College. He died at Hereford
9 April 1678 and was buried in Hereford Cathedral
.
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
academic and clergyman, and Master of Balliol College, Oxford
Balliol College, Oxford
Balliol College , founded in 1263, is one of the constituent colleges of the University of Oxford in England but founded by a family with strong Scottish connections....
. He is known as a moderate in and orthodox apologist for the Church of England
Church 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...
, engaging with 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...
and urging him to clarify a 'middle way'.
Life
Originally from the Tenbury WellsTenbury Wells
Tenbury Wells is a market town and civil parish in the north-western extremity of the Malvern Hills District administrative area of Worcestershire, England. The 2001 census reported a population of 3,316.-Geography:...
area of Worcestershire
Worcestershire
Worcestershire is a non-metropolitan county, established in antiquity, located in the West Midlands region of England. For Eurostat purposes it is a NUTS 3 region and is one of three counties that comprise the "Herefordshire, Worcestershire and Warwickshire" NUTS 2 region...
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
, Good was educated at King’s College
The King's School, Worcester
The King's School, Worcester is an English independent school refounded by Henry VIII in 1541. It occupies a site adjacent to Worcester Cathedral on the banks of the River Severn in the centre of the city of Worcester...
, Worcester
Worcester
The City of Worcester, commonly known as Worcester, , is a city and county town of Worcestershire in the West Midlands of England. Worcester is situated some southwest of Birmingham and north of Gloucester, and has an approximate population of 94,000 people. The River Severn runs through the...
, in the time of Henry Bright
Henry Bright (teacher)
Henry Bright was an Usher, and then Headmaster, at King's College, Worcester. He is mentioned in Worthies of England, by Thomas Fuller as an exceptional teacher...
.
He was admitted scholar at Balliol College in 1624, and took the degree of B.A.
Bachelor of Arts
A Bachelor of Arts , from the Latin artium baccalaureus, is a bachelor's degree awarded for an undergraduate course or program in either the liberal arts, the sciences, or both...
in 1628. Next year he was elected probationer-fellow, and in 1630 fellow of his college. He proceeded M.A. in 1631, and B.D.
Bachelor of Divinity
In Western universities, a Bachelor of Divinity is usually an undergraduate academic degree awarded for a course taken in the study of divinity or related disciplines, such as theology or, rarely, religious studies....
in 1639. He became vicar
Vicar
In the broadest sense, a vicar is a representative, deputy or substitute; anyone acting "in the person of" or agent for a superior . In this sense, the title is comparable to lieutenant...
of St Alkmund's in Shrewsbury
Shrewsbury
Shrewsbury is the county town of Shropshire, in the West Midlands region of England. Lying on the River Severn, it is a civil parish home to some 70,000 inhabitants, and is the primary settlement and headquarters of Shropshire Council...
, probably in 1642. From this living, he was then ejected; but he continued to hold the rectory of Coreley
Coreley
Coreley is a small, dispersed village and civil parish in south Shropshire, England, near to Clee Hill Village....
in Shropshire, to which he had been instituted before 1647, throughout the Interregnum
Interregnum
An interregnum is a period of discontinuity or "gap" in a government, organization, or social order...
, and he submitted to the parliamentary visitors for Oxford, being appointed one of the visitors' delegates on 30 September 1647.
With Thomas Warmestry, he met Richard Baxter and other ministers of the Worcestershire Association in September 1653 at Cleobury Mortimer
Cleobury Mortimer
Cleobury Mortimer is a small rural market town in Shropshire, England. The town's parish has a population of 1,962 according to the 2001 census. Although sometimes regarded as a village, it is in fact the second smallest town in Shropshire , having been granted a town charter in 1253.Several...
, to discuss the question of the Shropshire
Shropshire
Shropshire is a county in the West Midlands region of England. For Eurostat purposes, the county is a NUTS 3 region and is one of four counties or unitary districts that comprise the "Shropshire and Staffordshire" NUTS 2 region. It borders Wales to the west...
clergy joining the association; he signed a paper expressing approval of the articles of agreement. He obtained leave of absence from Balliol College for a large part of the period from 1647 to 1658, and then resigned his fellowship. At 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...
he was created doctor of divinity
Doctor of Divinity
Doctor of Divinity is an advanced academic degree in divinity. Historically, it identified one who had been licensed by a university to teach Christian theology or related religious subjects....
as a sufferer for the King's cause. He was also appointed prebendary of Hereford on 29 August 1660, and about the same time he was presented to the rectory of Wistanstow
Wistanstow
Wistanstow is a village and parish in Shropshire, England.- Location :Wistanstow is located about 8km south of Church Stretton and 14km north of Ludlow. It is about 2½ km north of Craven Arms. It is just off the main Shrewsbury-Hereford road, the A49...
in Herefordshire
Herefordshire
Herefordshire is a historic and ceremonial county in the West Midlands region of England. For Eurostat purposes it is a NUTS 3 region and is one of three counties that comprise the "Herefordshire, Worcestershire and Gloucestershire" NUTS 2 region. It also forms a unitary district known as the...
. In 1672 he was unanimously elected Master of Balliol College. He died at Hereford
Hereford
Hereford is a cathedral city, civil parish and county town of Herefordshire, England. It lies on the River Wye, approximately east of the border with Wales, southwest of Worcester, and northwest of Gloucester...
9 April 1678 and was buried in Hereford Cathedral
Hereford Cathedral
The current Hereford Cathedral, located at Hereford in England, dates from 1079. Its most famous treasure is Mappa Mundi, a mediæval map of the world dating from the 13th century. The cathedral is a Grade I listed building.-Origins:...
.
Works
His published works were:- Firmianus and Dubitantius, certain dialogues concerning Atheism, Infidelity, Popery, and other Heresies and Schismes that trouble the peace of the Church and are destructive of primitive piety, Oxford, 1674. Reflections on the nonconformists contained in this work moved Baxter to write the author a letter of protest, which is printed in Reliquiae Baxterianae, pt. iii. pp. 148–51.
- An appeal for the endowment of fellowships in Balliol College.
- A Brief English Tract of Logick, 1677.