John Grayle
Encyclopedia
John Grayle or Graile was a puritan minister.
Grayle was the son of John Grayle, priest, of Stone, Gloucestershire
, where he was born in 1614. At the age of eighteen he entered Magdalen Hall, Oxford, as a batler, and proceeded B.A. in 1634 and M.A. on 15 June 1637. Wood states that in 1645 he succeeded George Holmes as master of the free school, Guildford, but this is erroneous. The John Grayle who then became master held the post until his death, at the age of eighty-eight, in January 1697-8, and was buried in Guildford Church. Brook states that Grayle, having married, in the end of 1645, a daughter of one Henry Scudder, went in the next year, probably as minister, to live at Colling-bourne-Ducis, Wiltshire. He subsequently became rector of Tidworth
in the same county, 'where,' says Wood, 'he was much followed by the precise and godly party.'
He was a man of much erudition, and a 'pious, faithful, and laborious minister,' much beloved by his parishioners. While a strict presbyterian Grayle was apparently charged with Arminianism
, and defended his principles in a work, which was published after his death with a preface by Constantine Jessop, minister at Wimborne, Dorsetshire, entitled ‘A Modest Vindication of the Doctrine of Conditions in the Covenant of Grace and the Defenders thereof from the Aspersions of Arminianism and Popery which Mr. W. Eyre cast on them,’ London, 1655. The preface (dated 15 Sept, 1654) says that the book had been delivered to Eyre in the author's lifetime. Grayle died, aged 40, early in 1654, after a lingering illness. He was buried in Tidworth Church, and a neighbouring minister, Dr. Humphry Chambers, preached his funeral sermon ‘before the brethren, who were present in great numbers.’ It is published with the ‘Modest Vindication.’
A son of the same names, educated at Exeter College, Oxford
, was rector of Blickling
, Norfolk, and published many sermons.
Grayle was the son of John Grayle, priest, of Stone, Gloucestershire
Stone, Gloucestershire
Stone is a small village in Alkington parish, Gloucestershire, England. It is located on the A38 road, just south-west of its crossing of the Little Avon River, roughly halfway between Bristol and Gloucester. It is adjacent to the county boundary with South Gloucestershire. The part of the...
, where he was born in 1614. At the age of eighteen he entered Magdalen Hall, Oxford, as a batler, and proceeded B.A. in 1634 and M.A. on 15 June 1637. Wood states that in 1645 he succeeded George Holmes as master of the free school, Guildford, but this is erroneous. The John Grayle who then became master held the post until his death, at the age of eighty-eight, in January 1697-8, and was buried in Guildford Church. Brook states that Grayle, having married, in the end of 1645, a daughter of one Henry Scudder, went in the next year, probably as minister, to live at Colling-bourne-Ducis, Wiltshire. He subsequently became rector of Tidworth
Tidworth
Tidworth is a town in south-east Wiltshire, England with a growing civilian population. Situated at the eastern edge of Salisbury Plain, it is approximately 10 miles west of Andover, 12 miles south of Marlborough, 24 miles south of Swindon, 15 miles north by north-east of Salisbury and 6 miles east...
in the same county, 'where,' says Wood, 'he was much followed by the precise and godly party.'
He was a man of much erudition, and a 'pious, faithful, and laborious minister,' much beloved by his parishioners. While a strict presbyterian Grayle was apparently charged with Arminianism
Arminianism
Arminianism is a school of soteriological thought within Protestant Christianity based on the theological ideas of the Dutch Reformed theologian Jacobus Arminius and his historic followers, the Remonstrants...
, and defended his principles in a work, which was published after his death with a preface by Constantine Jessop, minister at Wimborne, Dorsetshire, entitled ‘A Modest Vindication of the Doctrine of Conditions in the Covenant of Grace and the Defenders thereof from the Aspersions of Arminianism and Popery which Mr. W. Eyre cast on them,’ London, 1655. The preface (dated 15 Sept, 1654) says that the book had been delivered to Eyre in the author's lifetime. Grayle died, aged 40, early in 1654, after a lingering illness. He was buried in Tidworth Church, and a neighbouring minister, Dr. Humphry Chambers, preached his funeral sermon ‘before the brethren, who were present in great numbers.’ It is published with the ‘Modest Vindication.’
A son of the same names, educated at Exeter College, Oxford
Exeter College, Oxford
Exeter College is one of the constituent colleges of the University of Oxford in England and the fourth oldest college of the University. The main entrance is on the east side of Turl Street...
, was rector of Blickling
Blickling
Blickling is a village and civil parish in the Broadland district of Norfolk, England, about north-west of Aylsham on the B1354 road. According to the 2001 census it had a population of 136 and covers . Since the 17th century the village has been concentrated in two areas, around the church and...
, Norfolk, and published many sermons.