Robert Browne
Encyclopedia
Robert Browne was the founder of the Brownists, a common designation for early Separatists from the Church of England
before 1620.
in Rutland
, England
. In 1572 he took a degree from Corpus Christi College, Cambridge
. He served as Headmaster of St Olave's Grammar School
, Southwark 1586-89 and is also reputed to have been Master of Stamford School
.
It was while Browne was at Corpus Christi, that he probably first met Robert Harrison (154?-1585?) who came from Norwich. They were both influenced by Professor Thomas Cartwright (1535-1603), puritan theologian. Cambridge University during this period had a decidedly pro-puritan leaning in its philosophy.
Browne became a Lecturer
at St Mary's Church, Islington
, where his dissident preaching against the doctrines and disciplines of the Church of England began to attract attention.
During 1578, Browne returned to Cambridge University and came under the influence of Richard Greenham
, puritan rector of Dry Drayton, near Cambridge. Browne may have been encouraged to complete his ordination
and serve at a parish church. Browne was offered a lecturer position at St Bene't's Church
, Cambridge possibly through Greenham, but his tenure there was short lived. Browne may have come to reject the puritan view of reform from within the Church, and started to look outside the established Church.
Browne was the first seceder from the Church of England
and the first to found a Church of his own on Congregational
principles. By 1580 Browne had attempted to set up a separate church in Norwich
. He was arrested but released on the advice of William Cecil
, his kinsman. Browne and his companions left England and moved to Middelburg
in the Netherlands
in 1581. There they organized a church on what they conceived to be the New Testament model, but the community broke up within two years owing to internal dissensions.
His most important works, A Treatise of Reformation without Tarying for Anie, in which he asserted the right of the church to effect necessary reforms without the authorisation of the civil magistrate; and A Booke which sheweth the life and manners of all True Christians which set out the theory of Congregational independency, were published at Middelburg in 1582. The following year two men were hanged at Bury St Edmunds for circulating them.
Browne was only an active Separatist from 1579-1585 and returned to the Church of England. In particular, he had the benefice of Achurch
Church from 1591 to 1631, and lived at that time on the Lilford
estate until shortly before his death. He was much engaged in controversy with some of those who occupied his own earlier separatist position, and now looked upon him as a renegade. In particular he several times replied to John Greenwood and Henry Barrowe
; one of his replies, entitled A Reproofe of certaine schismatical persons and their doctrine touching the hearing and preaching of the word of God (1587-1588) sheds light upon the development of Browne's later views.
He died in jail at Northampton
, where he was imprisoned for assaulting a constable. He was buried in St Giles's churchyard, Northampton.
He may be considered the father of the Congregational body in 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...
before 1620.
Biography
Browne was born at Tolethorpe HallTolethorpe Hall
Tolethope Hall in the parish of Little Casterton, Rutland, England, PE9 4BH is a country house near Stamford, Lincolnshire at . It is now the location of the Rutland Theatre of the Stamford Shakespeare Company....
in Rutland
Rutland
Rutland is a landlocked county in central England, bounded on the west and north by Leicestershire, northeast by Lincolnshire and southeast by Peterborough and Northamptonshire....
, 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...
. In 1572 he took a degree from Corpus Christi College, Cambridge
Corpus Christi College, Cambridge
Corpus Christi College is a constituent college of the University of Cambridge. It is notable as the only college founded by Cambridge townspeople: it was established in 1352 by the Guilds of Corpus Christi and the Blessed Virgin Mary...
. He served as Headmaster of St Olave's Grammar School
St Olave's Grammar School
St Olave's and St Saviour's Grammar School is a super-selective boys' secondary school in Orpington, Greater London, England. The school is consistently one of the top achieving state schools in the UK and it was The Sunday Times State School of the Year in 2008...
, Southwark 1586-89 and is also reputed to have been Master of Stamford School
Stamford School
Stamford School is an English independent school situated in the market town of Stamford, Lincolnshire, England. It has been a member of the Headmasters' and Headmistresses' Conference since 1920.-History:...
.
It was while Browne was at Corpus Christi, that he probably first met Robert Harrison (154?-1585?) who came from Norwich. They were both influenced by Professor Thomas Cartwright (1535-1603), puritan theologian. Cambridge University during this period had a decidedly pro-puritan leaning in its philosophy.
Browne became a Lecturer
Lecturer
Lecturer is an academic rank. In the United Kingdom, lecturer is a position at a university or similar institution, often held by academics in their early career stages, who lead research groups and supervise research students, as well as teach...
at St Mary's Church, Islington
St Mary's Church, Islington
The Church of St Mary the Virgin is the historic parish church of Islington, in the Church of England Diocese of London. The present parish is a compact area centered on Upper Street between Angel and Highbury Corner, bounded to the west by Liverpool Road, and to the east by Essex Road/Canonbury...
, where his dissident preaching against the doctrines and disciplines of the Church of England began to attract attention.
During 1578, Browne returned to Cambridge University and came under the influence of Richard Greenham
Richard Greenham
Richard Greenham was an English clergyman of Puritan views, known as a Sabbatarian writer.-Life:He was probably born about 1535, and went at a late age to the University of Cambridge where he matriculated as a sizar of Pembroke Hall on 27 May 1559. He graduated B.A. early in 1564, and was...
, puritan rector of Dry Drayton, near Cambridge. Browne may have been encouraged to complete his ordination
Ordination
In general religious use, ordination is the process by which individuals are consecrated, that is, set apart as clergy to perform various religious rites and ceremonies. The process and ceremonies of ordination itself varies by religion and denomination. One who is in preparation for, or who is...
and serve at a parish church. Browne was offered a lecturer position at St Bene't's Church
St Bene't's Church
St Bene't's is an Anglican church in central Cambridge, England, noted for its Anglo-Saxon tower. The church is on the south side of Bene't Street adjacent to Corpus Christi College. Bene't is a contraction of Benedict, hence the unusual apostrophe in the name...
, Cambridge possibly through Greenham, but his tenure there was short lived. Browne may have come to reject the puritan view of reform from within the Church, and started to look outside the established Church.
Browne was the first seceder from 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...
and the first to found a Church of his own on Congregational
Congregational church
Congregational churches are Protestant Christian churches practicing Congregationalist church governance, in which each congregation independently and autonomously runs its own affairs....
principles. By 1580 Browne had attempted to set up a separate church in Norwich
Norwich
Norwich is a city in England. It is the regional administrative centre and county town of Norfolk. During the 11th century, Norwich was the largest city in England after London, and one of the most important places in the kingdom...
. He was arrested but released on the advice of William Cecil
William Cecil, 1st Baron Burghley
William Cecil, 1st Baron Burghley , KG was an English statesman, the chief advisor of Queen Elizabeth I for most of her reign, twice Secretary of State and Lord High Treasurer from 1572...
, his kinsman. Browne and his companions left England and moved to Middelburg
Middelburg
Middelburg is a municipality and a city in the south-western Netherlands and the capital of the province of Zeeland. It is situated in the Midden-Zeeland region. It has a population of about 48,000.- History of Middelburg :...
in the Netherlands
Netherlands
The Netherlands is a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, located mainly in North-West Europe and with several islands in the Caribbean. Mainland Netherlands borders the North Sea to the north and west, Belgium to the south, and Germany to the east, and shares maritime borders...
in 1581. There they organized a church on what they conceived to be the New Testament model, but the community broke up within two years owing to internal dissensions.
His most important works, A Treatise of Reformation without Tarying for Anie, in which he asserted the right of the church to effect necessary reforms without the authorisation of the civil magistrate; and A Booke which sheweth the life and manners of all True Christians which set out the theory of Congregational independency, were published at Middelburg in 1582. The following year two men were hanged at Bury St Edmunds for circulating them.
Browne was only an active Separatist from 1579-1585 and returned to the Church of England. In particular, he had the benefice of Achurch
Achurch
Achurch is a village in Northamptonshire, England. It was called Asechirce in the Domesday Book....
Church from 1591 to 1631, and lived at that time on the Lilford
Lilford Hall
Lilford Hall is a Grade 1 listed stately 100-room home having a Jacobean exterior and Georgian interior with a floor area, located in the eastern part of the County of Northamptonshire in the United Kingdom, south of Oundle and north of Thrapston. A Grade 1 listed building is considered by the UK...
estate until shortly before his death. He was much engaged in controversy with some of those who occupied his own earlier separatist position, and now looked upon him as a renegade. In particular he several times replied to John Greenwood and Henry Barrowe
Henry Barrowe
Henry Barrowe was an English Puritan and Separatist, executed for his views.-Life:He was born about 1550, in Norfolk, of a family related by marriage to Nicholas Bacon, and probably to John Aylmer, Bishop of London. He matriculated at Clare Hall, Cambridge, in November 1566, and graduated B.A. in...
; one of his replies, entitled A Reproofe of certaine schismatical persons and their doctrine touching the hearing and preaching of the word of God (1587-1588) sheds light upon the development of Browne's later views.
He died in jail at Northampton
Northampton
Northampton is a large market town and local government district in the East Midlands region of England. Situated about north-west of London and around south-east of Birmingham, Northampton lies on the River Nene and is the county town of Northamptonshire. The demonym of Northampton is...
, where he was imprisoned for assaulting a constable. He was buried in St Giles's churchyard, Northampton.
He may be considered the father of the Congregational body in England.
Works
- A True and Short Declaration (1581)
- A Treatise of Reformation without Tarrying for any and of the Wickedness of those Preachers which will not reform till the Magistrate command or compel them (1582) -- The church had a right to effect necessary reforms without permission of civil magistrate
- A Book which sheweth the Life and Manners of all true Christians (1582) -- defines congretional autonomy
- An answere to master Cartwright his letter for ioyning with the English Church (1583)
- A true and short declaration, both of the gathering and ioyning together of certaine persons, and also of the lamentable breach and division which fell amongst them (1583)
- A Reproof of Certain Schismatical Persons (15??)
- A New Year's Guift (1589)
External links
- English dissenters – Brownists — this ExLibris article has considerably more biographical detail about Robert Browne.