Francis Bampfield
Encyclopedia
Francis Bampfield was an English divine who was imprisoned for his convictions.
, of Poltimore House
, Devon
. He was from his birth designed for the ministry by his parents. In 1631, at about the age of sixteen, he entered Wadham College, Oxford
, where he remained seven or eight years, taking his M.A. degree in 1638. He was ordained in 1641, and preferred to a living in Dorsetshire, worth about 100l. a year. This sum he spent upon his parishioners, supplying his own wants out of a small private income. He was also collated to a prebend in Exeter Cathedral
, in which he was reinstated at the Restoration. A conviction that the church stood in urgent need of reform induced him to take steps distasteful to his parishioners, and, after much solicitation, he accepted the less valuable living of Sherborne. Here he remained until, in 1662, the Act of Uniformity
drove him from his preferments. In the September of that year he was arrested at home, and compelled to find sureties for his good behaviour. Soon afterwards he was again arrested, and detained for nearly nine years in Dorchester Jail.
At his discharge in 1675, he travelled through several counties preaching, and finally settled in London. After ministering in private for some time, he gathered a congregation of Sabbatarian Baptists at Pinners' Hall, Broad Street. Whilst conducting service there, in February 1682–3, he was arrested and carried before the lord mayor. After several appearances at the Old Bailey
sessions, Bampfield was convicted and returned to Newgate
, where he died on 16 February 1683. Large crowds of sympathisers attended his funeral at the Anabaptists' burial-ground in Aldersgate Street.
Biography
Bampfield was the third son of John BampfieldJohn Bampfield
John Bampfield was an English politician who sat in the House of Commons at various times between 1621 and 1629....
, of Poltimore House
Poltimore House
Poltimore House is a sixteenth century listed Grade II* manor house just outside Exeter, Devon and originally the Bampfylde family seat. It was a finalist in the first series of BBC Television's Restoration series in 2003.-Visiting:...
, Devon
Devon
Devon is a large county in southwestern England. The county is sometimes referred to as Devonshire, although the term is rarely used inside the county itself as the county has never been officially "shired", it often indicates a traditional or historical context.The county shares borders with...
. He was from his birth designed for the ministry by his parents. In 1631, at about the age of sixteen, he entered Wadham College, Oxford
Wadham College, Oxford
Wadham College is one of the constituent colleges of the University of Oxford in the United Kingdom, located at the southern end of Parks Road in central Oxford. It was founded by Nicholas and Dorothy Wadham, wealthy Somerset landowners, during the reign of King James I...
, where he remained seven or eight years, taking his M.A. degree in 1638. He was ordained in 1641, and preferred to a living in Dorsetshire, worth about 100l. a year. This sum he spent upon his parishioners, supplying his own wants out of a small private income. He was also collated to a prebend in Exeter Cathedral
Exeter Cathedral
Exeter Cathedral, the Cathedral Church of Saint Peter at Exeter, is an Anglican cathedral, and the seat of the Bishop of Exeter, in the city of Exeter, Devon in South West England....
, in which he was reinstated at the Restoration. A conviction that the church stood in urgent need of reform induced him to take steps distasteful to his parishioners, and, after much solicitation, he accepted the less valuable living of Sherborne. Here he remained until, in 1662, the Act of Uniformity
Act of Uniformity
Over the course of English parliamentary history there were a number of acts of uniformity. All had the basic object of establishing some sort of religious orthodoxy within the English church....
drove him from his preferments. In the September of that year he was arrested at home, and compelled to find sureties for his good behaviour. Soon afterwards he was again arrested, and detained for nearly nine years in Dorchester Jail.
At his discharge in 1675, he travelled through several counties preaching, and finally settled in London. After ministering in private for some time, he gathered a congregation of Sabbatarian Baptists at Pinners' Hall, Broad Street. Whilst conducting service there, in February 1682–3, he was arrested and carried before the lord mayor. After several appearances at the Old Bailey
Old Bailey
The Central Criminal Court in England and Wales, commonly known as the Old Bailey from the street in which it stands, is a court building in central London, one of a number of buildings housing the Crown Court...
sessions, Bampfield was convicted and returned to Newgate
Newgate
Newgate at the west end of Newgate Street was one of the historic seven gates of London Wall round the City of London and one of the six which date back to Roman times. From it a Roman road led west to Silchester...
, where he died on 16 February 1683. Large crowds of sympathisers attended his funeral at the Anabaptists' burial-ground in Aldersgate Street.
Works
His works include:- The Judgment of Mr. Francis Bampfield for the Observation of the Jewish or Seventh-day Sabbath, 1672.
- All in One: All Useful Sciences and Profitable Arts in the One Book of Jehovah Elohim, 1677.
- A Name, an After One, 1681.
- The House of Wisdom, 1681.
- The Lord's Free Prisoner, 1683.
- A Just Appeal from the Lower Courts on Earth to the Highest Court in Heaven, 1683.
- A Continuation of the former Just Appeal, 1683.
- The Holy Scripture the Scripture of Truth, 1684.