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John Tillotson

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John Tillotson

Former Archbishop of Canterbury

John Tillotson
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John Tillotson
Position Former Archbishop of Canterbury
Birth and Death Years 1630-1694

Overview

This page details the life of John Tillotson.


Background


John Tillotson (1630-1694) was one of the most renowned preachers of his time. He became Dean of Saint Paul's Cathedral in 1689, then Archbishop of Canterbury in 1691. He was married in St. Lawrence Jewry, and is buried in one of the vaults which is now sealed.

Life of John Tillotson


Early Life and Education

John Tillotson was born in a small village Sowerby, Yorkshire during 1630. [1][2] However very little is known about his early childhood other than the fact that his father was a Puritan clothier named Robert Tillotson. The fact that Tillotson grew up under a Puritan father would have distanced him from Catholics at an early age and develop a strong sense of religion. His mother, Mary Tillotson, was known for her great virtue but it was said that she "became unhappy for many years of her life in her loss of understanding".[3] This suggests Mary may have had some kind of mental illness unable to be diagnosed properly at the time. Tillotson was said to have received his early education from his father Robert before attending grammar school.[4] The next commonly acknowledged event in Tillotson's life is his studies at Clare Hall, Cambridge where he would become a fellow and graduate with his bachelors of the arts in 1650.[5] He went on to receive his masters of the arts in 1654.[6]

Early Religious Career

Tillotson was ordained into the Church of England in 1661.[7] He would begin his preaching career at Lincon's Inn in London.[8] Later in 1664 he became a preacher at St. Lawrence Jewry where he would gain notice for his talents giving sermons.[9] In 1661 Tillotson would attend the Savory Conference which was aimed at reconciling the different religious groups in England at the time.[10] This occurred shortly before the act of uniformity united the Church of England in 1662.[11] Tillotson agreed to the act of uniformity, but it is important to note that many of his mentors would refuse.[12] Tillotson would also be married in St. Lawrence Jewry during the year 1664 to Elizabeth French the niece of Oliver Cromwell a man who had been the monarch in England from 1653-1658.[13] In the 1660's Tillotson had developed a great zeal against the Catholic Church in Rome and published a work titled "Rule of Faith" in response to recent works from Rome.[14]

Dean of Canterbury

Tillotson became the Dean of Canterbury by the order of Charles II in 1672.[15] In 1676 John Tillotson's brother, Joshua Tillotson, would die suddenly and Tillotson would dispatch Timothy Bentley to inform his father Robert of his passing.[16] It was at this time that Tillotson published "A Discourse Against Transubstantiation" and "A Discourse Against Purgatory" in 1685.[17] By the year 1689 Tillotson had confidence with English Monarchs William and Mary, and preached directly to them on two occasions including one at Hampton Court Palace.[18] Tillotson was also appointed Clerk of the closet to the king in this time.[19]

Dean of St. Paul's

Appointed by William and Mary, Tillotson became the Dean of St. Paul's Cathedral in 1689.[20] It is important to know however that St. Paul's Cathedral had been destroyed in the "Great Fire of 1666" and the new St. Paul's would not be completed until 1697 three years after Tillotson's death. William Sancroft, Tillotson's predecessor, as Dean of St. Paul's was mainly responsible for beginning the process of the new cathedral's construction as he was Dean during the "Great Fire". However it is unclear as to what extent John Tillotson played a role in the rebuilding process in his two year stint as Dean.

Archbishop of Canterbury

Tillotson became the Archbishop of Canterbury in 1691 appointed by William and Mary after the suspension and deprivation of his predecessor William Sancroft.[21] The reason Sandcroft was deprived as his role was that he refused to acknowledge William and Mary as Monarchs after the "Glorious Revolution" in 1688. Jonh Tillotson would serve in this position leading the Church of England until his death.

Death and Legacy

John Tillotson died on November 18th, 1694 when he suddenly became ill and was aware but having trouble speaking.[22] His funeral was held at St. Lawrence Jewry is now buried in the Church in London. At his funeral it was remarked by English monarch William III that Tillotson "had the brightest thoughts and the most correct style of all our divines, and was esteemed the best preacher of his age."[23] After his death Tillotson's work, mostly sermons, were compiled into three volumes by Ralph Baker.[24] Tillotson's wife sold the sermons for enough wealth to live out her life no longer having John to provide for her.



  1. ↑ Cannon, J.(2009). Tillotson, John. In A Dictionary of British History. : Oxford University Press. Retrieved 31 May. 2017, from http://www.oxfordreference.com/view/10.1093/acref/9780199550371.001.0001/acref-9780199550371-e-3412.
  2. ↑ 1911 Encyclopædia Britannica/Tillotson, John. (n.d.). Retrieved May 31, 2017, from https://en.wikisource.org/wiki/1911_Encyclop%C3%A6dia_Britannica/Tillotson,_John
  3. ↑ Tillotson, J., Birch, T., & Barker, R. (1752). The Works of the Most Reverend Dr. John Tillotson, Lord Archbishop of Canterbury.. (Vol. 1). Printed for J. and R. Tonson. P.P. i
  4. ↑ Tillotson, J., Birch, T., & Barker, R. (1752). The Works of the Most Reverend Dr. John Tillotson, Lord Archbishop of Canterbury.. (Vol. 1). Printed for J. and R. Tonson. P.P. i
  5. ↑ (2015). Tillotson, John. In The Oxford Companion to British History. : Oxford University Press. Retrieved 31 May. 2017, from http://www.oxfordreference.com/view/10.1093/acref/9780199677832.001.0001/acref-9780199677832-e-4201.
  6. ↑ Tillotson, J., Birch, T., & Barker, R. (1752). The Works of the Most Reverend Dr. John Tillotson, Lord Archbishop of Canterbury.. (Vol. 1). Printed for J. and R. Tonson.
  7. ↑ (2015). Tillotson, John. In The Oxford Companion to British History. : Oxford University Press. Retrieved 31 May. 2017, from http://www.oxfordreference.com/view/10.1093/acref/9780199677832.001.0001/acref-9780199677832-e-4201.
  8. ↑ Bellenger, D. A., & Fletcher, S. (2013). The Mitre and the Crown A History of the Archbisops of Canterbury. Stroud: The History Press. P.P. 127
  9. ↑ (2015). Tillotson, John. In The Oxford Companion to British History. : Oxford University Press. Retrieved 31 May. 2017, from http://www.oxfordreference.com/view/10.1093/acref/9780199677832.001.0001/acref-9780199677832-e-4201.
  10. ↑ Tillotson, J., Birch, T., & Barker, R. (1752). The Works of the Most Reverend Dr. John Tillotson, Lord Archbishop of Canterbury.. (Vol. 1). Printed for J. and R. Tonson. P.P. v
  11. ↑ Tillotson, J., Birch, T., & Barker, R. (1752). The Works of the Most Reverend Dr. John Tillotson, Lord Archbishop of Canterbury.. (Vol. 1). Printed for J. and R. Tonson. P.P. v
  12. ↑ Tillotson, J., Birch, T., & Barker, R. (1752). The Works of the Most Reverend Dr. John Tillotson, Lord Archbishop of Canterbury.. (Vol. 1). Printed for J. and R. Tonson. P.P. v
  13. ↑ Bellenger, D. A., & Fletcher, S. (2013). The Mitre and the Crown A History of the Archbisops of Canterbury. Stroud: The History Press. P.P. 125
  14. ↑ Tillotson, J., Birch, T., & Barker, R. (1752). The Works of the Most Reverend Dr. John Tillotson, Lord Archbishop of Canterbury.. (Vol. 1). Printed for J. and R. Tonson. P.P. x
  15. ↑ Bellenger, D. A., & Fletcher, S. (2013). The Mitre and the Crown A History of the Archbisops of Canterbury. Stroud: The History Press. P.P. 127
  16. ↑ Tillotson, J., Birch, T., & Barker, R. (1752). The Works of the Most Reverend Dr. John Tillotson, Lord Archbishop of Canterbury.. (Vol. 1). Printed for J. and R. Tonson. P.P. xv
  17. ↑ Tillotson, J., Birch, T., & Barker, R. (1752). The Works of the Most Reverend Dr. John Tillotson, Lord Archbishop of Canterbury.. (Vol. 1). Printed for J. and R. Tonson. P.P. xxxv
  18. ↑ Tillotson, J., Birch, T., & Barker, R. (1752). The Works of the Most Reverend Dr. John Tillotson, Lord Archbishop of Canterbury.. (Vol. 1). Printed for J. and R. Tonson. P.P. xlii
  19. ↑ Tillotson, J., Birch, T., & Barker, R. (1752). The Works of the Most Reverend Dr. John Tillotson, Lord Archbishop of Canterbury.. (Vol. 1). Printed for J. and R. Tonson. P.P. xlii
  20. ↑ Bellenger, D. A., & Fletcher, S. (2013). The Mitre and the Crown A History of the Archbisops of Canterbury. Stroud: The History Press. P.P. 127
  21. ↑ Bellenger, D. A., & Fletcher, S. (2013). The Mitre and the Crown A History of the Archbisops of Canterbury. Stroud: The History Press. P.P. 127
  22. ↑ Tillotson, J., Birch, T., & Barker, R. (1752). The Works of the Most Reverend Dr. John Tillotson, Lord Archbishop of Canterbury.. (Vol. 1). Printed for J. and R. Tonson. P.P. xcv
  23. ↑ Bellenger, D. A., & Fletcher, S. (2013). The Mitre and the Crown A History of the Archbisops of Canterbury. Stroud: The History Press. P.P. 127
  24. ↑ Tillotson, J., Birch, T., & Barker, R. (1752). The Works of the Most Reverend Dr. John Tillotson, Lord Archbishop of Canterbury.. (Vol. 1). Printed for J. and R. Tonson.
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