Henry Denne
Encyclopedia
Henry Denne was an English Anglican clergyman and controversialist, later a prominent Baptist
.
, educated at Latton
, Essex
under his uncle, Thomas Denne. He matriculated as a sizar
at Sidney Sussex College, Cambridge
in 1621, graduating B.A. in 1625 and M.A. 1628. In 1630 he was ordained by Theophilus Feild, Bishop of St. David's, and soon afterwards became curate of Pirton, Hertfordshire
, a preaching position he held for more than ten years.
In 1641 he was one of the ministers selected by the committee of the House of Commons for preferment; in the same year he preached at Baldock
at the visitation held there, giving offence by attacking the vices of the clergy. This sermon was subsequently published as ‘The Doctrine and Conversation of John Baptist’ (1642). Soon after the outbreak of the First English Civil War
Denne became convinced of the unscriptural nature of the baptism of infants, and publicly professing himself a baptist was received by immersion in 1643, when he joined the congregation at the meeting-house in Bell Alley, London and helped to lead it along with Thomas Lambe
and Samuel Oates. He frequently preached both there and in the country.
His change of opinion brought persecution, and in 1644 he was apprehended in Cambridgeshire
, by order of the ‘committee’ for that county, for preaching against infant baptism. After he had lain in Cambridge gaol for some time, his case, through the intercession of some friends, was referred to a committee of the House, and he was sent to London, where he was confined in Lord Petre
's house in Aldersgate Street until, his case having been investigated, the committee ordered his release. Among his fellow-prisoners was Dr. Daniel Featley
, the opponent of the baptists, whose book, The Dippers Dipt was brought to Denne's notice. As soon as he was released he challenged Featley to a disputation. Featley, pleading the danger of publicly disputing without a license, declined to continue with it. Denne then wrote The Foundation of Children's Baptism discovered and rased; an answer to Dr. Featley, &c. (1645), which was for a time a standard authority among the baptists.
Shortly after his release Denne obtained the living of Eltisley
in Cambridgeshire, and, though strongly opposed to both presbyterians and prelatists, managed to retain it for several years. The committee of the county endeavoured to prevent his preaching at St Ives
, but on being interrupted he left the building, and going into a neighbouring churchyard preached from under a tree to a large congregation. In June 1646 he was apprehended by the magistrates at Spalding
for baptising in the river, but was released. He was, however, persecuted by the neighbouring ministers, and he resigned his living and became a soldier in the parliamentary army. At the conclusion of the civil war he again became a preacher.
In 1658 he held a public dispute, lasting two days, concerning infant baptism with Peter Gunning
in St Clement Danes
.
Baptist
Baptists comprise a group of Christian denominations and churches that subscribe to a doctrine that baptism should be performed only for professing believers , and that it must be done by immersion...
.
Life
He is identified as the son of David Denne of KentKent
Kent is a county in southeast England, and is one of the home counties. It borders East Sussex, Surrey and Greater London and has a defined boundary with Essex in the middle of the Thames Estuary. The ceremonial county boundaries of Kent include the shire county of Kent and the unitary borough of...
, educated at Latton
Latton
Latton may refer to: * Latton, Harlow, a village now situated in Harlow New Town, Essex, England* Latton, Wiltshire, a village near Cricklade in Wiltshire, England...
, Essex
Essex
Essex is a ceremonial and non-metropolitan county in the East region of England, and one of the home counties. It is located to the northeast of Greater London. It borders with Cambridgeshire and Suffolk to the north, Hertfordshire to the west, Kent to the South and London to the south west...
under his uncle, Thomas Denne. He matriculated as a sizar
Sizar
At Trinity College, Dublin and the University of Cambridge, a sizar is a student who receives some form of assistance such as meals, lower fees or lodging during his or her period of study, in some cases in return for doing a defined job....
at Sidney Sussex College, Cambridge
Sidney Sussex College, Cambridge
Sidney Sussex College is a constituent college of the University of Cambridge in England.The college was founded in 1596 and named after its foundress, Frances Sidney, Countess of Sussex. It was from its inception an avowedly Puritan foundation: some good and godlie moniment for the mainteynance...
in 1621, graduating B.A. in 1625 and M.A. 1628. In 1630 he was ordained by Theophilus Feild, Bishop of St. David's, and soon afterwards became curate of Pirton, Hertfordshire
Pirton, Hertfordshire
Pirton is a small village and civil parish three miles north-east of Hitchin in Hertfordshire, England. The church, rebuilt in 1877, but with the remains of its 12th-century tower, is built within the bailey of a former castle...
, a preaching position he held for more than ten years.
In 1641 he was one of the ministers selected by the committee of the House of Commons for preferment; in the same year he preached at Baldock
Baldock
Baldock is a historic market town in the local government district of North Hertfordshire in the ceremonial county of Hertfordshire, England where the River Ivel rises. It lies north of London, southeast of Bedford, and north northwest of the county town of Hertford...
at the visitation held there, giving offence by attacking the vices of the clergy. This sermon was subsequently published as ‘The Doctrine and Conversation of John Baptist’ (1642). Soon after the outbreak of the First English Civil War
First English Civil War
The First English Civil War began the series of three wars known as the English Civil War . "The English Civil War" was a series of armed conflicts and political machinations that took place between Parliamentarians and Royalists from 1642 until 1651, and includes the Second English Civil War and...
Denne became convinced of the unscriptural nature of the baptism of infants, and publicly professing himself a baptist was received by immersion in 1643, when he joined the congregation at the meeting-house in Bell Alley, London and helped to lead it along with Thomas Lambe
Thomas Lambe
Commonly referred to as the "soapboiler" – Thomas Lambe was the leader of one of the first Baptist Churches in England and a highly influential figure in the earliest years of the Baptist movement both in terms of practice and belief....
and Samuel Oates. He frequently preached both there and in the country.
His change of opinion brought persecution, and in 1644 he was apprehended in Cambridgeshire
Cambridgeshire
Cambridgeshire is a county in England, bordering Lincolnshire to the north, Norfolk to the northeast, Suffolk to the east, Essex and Hertfordshire to the south, and Bedfordshire and Northamptonshire to the west...
, by order of the ‘committee’ for that county, for preaching against infant baptism. After he had lain in Cambridge gaol for some time, his case, through the intercession of some friends, was referred to a committee of the House, and he was sent to London, where he was confined in Lord Petre
William Petre, 4th Baron Petre
William Petre, 4th Baron Petre was an English peer, a victim of the Popish Plot.Petre was the eldest son of Robert Petre, third Baron Petre , and Mary , daughter of Anthony-Maria Browne, second Viscount Montagu, who had been arrested in connection with the Gunpowder Plot in 1605.Petre was openly a...
's house in Aldersgate Street until, his case having been investigated, the committee ordered his release. Among his fellow-prisoners was Dr. Daniel Featley
Daniel Featley
Daniel Featley, also called Fairclough and sometimes called Richard Fairclough/Featley , was an English theologian and controversialist...
, the opponent of the baptists, whose book, The Dippers Dipt was brought to Denne's notice. As soon as he was released he challenged Featley to a disputation. Featley, pleading the danger of publicly disputing without a license, declined to continue with it. Denne then wrote The Foundation of Children's Baptism discovered and rased; an answer to Dr. Featley, &c. (1645), which was for a time a standard authority among the baptists.
Shortly after his release Denne obtained the living of Eltisley
Eltisley
Eltisley is a village and civil parish in South Cambridgeshire, England, on the A428 road about 5.5 miles east of St Neots and about 11 miles west of the city of Cambridge. The population in 2001 was 421 people.-History:...
in Cambridgeshire, and, though strongly opposed to both presbyterians and prelatists, managed to retain it for several years. The committee of the county endeavoured to prevent his preaching at St Ives
St Ives, Cambridgeshire
St Ives is a market town in Cambridgeshire, England, around north-west of the city of Cambridge and north of London. It lies within the historic county boundaries of Huntingdonshire.-History:...
, but on being interrupted he left the building, and going into a neighbouring churchyard preached from under a tree to a large congregation. In June 1646 he was apprehended by the magistrates at Spalding
Spalding
-Places:Australia* Spalding, South Australia, a town north of the Clare Valley* Spalding, Western Australia, a suburb of GeraldtonCanada* Spalding, Saskatchewan, a village* Spalding No...
for baptising in the river, but was released. He was, however, persecuted by the neighbouring ministers, and he resigned his living and became a soldier in the parliamentary army. At the conclusion of the civil war he again became a preacher.
In 1658 he held a public dispute, lasting two days, concerning infant baptism with Peter Gunning
Peter Gunning
Peter Gunning was an English Royalist church leader, Bishop of Chichester and later of Ely.-Life:He was born at Hoo St Werburgh, in Kent, and educated at The King's School, Canterbury, and Clare College, Cambridge, where he became a fellow in 1633. Having taken orders, he advocated the Royalist...
in St Clement Danes
St Clement Danes
St Clement Danes is a church in the City of Westminster, London. It is situated outside the Royal Courts of Justice on the Strand. The current building was completed in 1682 by Sir Christopher Wren and it now functions as the central church of the Royal Air Force.The church is sometimes claimed to...
.
Works
Although a partisan, his views were moderate: by some he was reproached for being an antinomian, and by others as an Arminian. Besides the works already mentioned, he wrote:- ‘The Man of Sin discovered, whom the Lord will destroy with the brightness of His Coming,’ 1645.
- ‘The Drag-Net of the Kingdom of Heaven; or Christ's drawing all Men,’ 1646.
- ‘The Levellers' Design discovered,’ 1649.
- ‘A Contention for Truth; in two several Disputations at St. Clement's Church, between Dr. Gunning and Henry Denne, concerning Infant Baptism,’ 1658.
- ‘The Quaker no Papist, in answer to The Quaker Disarmed,’ 1659.
- ‘An Epistle recommended to all Prisons in this City and Nation. To such as chuse Restraint rather than the Violation of their Consciences, wherein is maintained: (1) The Lawfulness of an Oath; (2) The Antiquity of an Oath; (3) The Universality of it. With the most material Objections answered,’ 1660.
- ‘Grace, Mercy, and Truth.’