Robert Harris (President of Trinity)
Encyclopedia
Robert Harris was an English clergyman, known as a Puritan preacher, member of the Westminster Assembly
, and President of Trinity College, Oxford
.
, Gloucestershire
. He was educated at the free schools of Chipping Campden
and Worcester
. He matriculated, aged 15, at Magdalen Hall, Oxford, 10 June 1597, when his relative Robert Lyster aka Lyson was principal. In order to obtain tuition in philosophy, he taught Greek and Hebrew. He graduated B.A. on 5 June 1600, and though originally intended for the law, decided to enter the church.
When in 1604 the university was dissolved on account of the plague
, Harris went home and preached his first sermon at Chipping Campden. In 1606 he married Joan Whateley, the sister of his friend and vicar of Banbury
, William Whateley and subsequently raised a large family of at least a dozen children, including Dr. Malachi Harris M.A. D.D. who was, amongst other things, chaplain to Mary Princess of Orange
and Charles II
.
Returning to Oxford Robert studied theology for ten years, and graduated B.D. on 5 May 1614. In 1614 Sir Anthony Cope
offered him the living of Hanwell, Oxfordshire
, and Hanwell parsonage became a resort for Oxford students.
Harris won fame as a preacher at St. Paul's Cathedral, St. Saviour's Southwark, and other London churches, as well as in his own neighbourhood. He was a staunch Puritan and Parliamentarian. On 25 April 1642 he was chosen one of the lovely divines to be consulted by Parliament, and on the occasion of a public fast (25 May) preached before the House of Commons.
After the battle of Edgehill
the royalist troopers quartered at Hanwell turned out Harris and his family, and he was finally ejected from his living and obliged to go to London (September 1642). He was there made one of the Westminster Assembly, and received the living of St. Botolph's, Bishopsgate. In 1646 the committee of Hampshire presented him to Petersfield
, but before he could take possession he was ordered to Oxford (10 September) as one of the six divines commissioned to preach there. From May 1647 to 1652, and again from 1654 to 1658, he was visitor to the university, and on 4 June 1647 preached at the University Church of St Mary the Virgin
his first visitation sermon, in which he defended himself from the charge of pluralism
.
On 12 April 1648 the chancellor of the University of Oxford, Philip Herbert, 4th Earl of Pembroke
, admitted Harris to the degree of D.D., and at the same time he was made President of Trinity College in the place of Hannibal Potter
, whom he had assisted to eject. The living of Garsington
, Oxfordshire, went with the headship. He lectured once a week at All Souls' College, and preached on Sundays at Garsington. He died on 1 December 1658, at the age of 77 and was buried at Trinity College chapel.
He was satirised by the royalists as a notorious pluralist, but there is no proof that he enjoyed all his livings at the same time. John Wilkins
describes him as one of the most eminent divines for preaching and practical theology. He published a large number of separate sermons. The chief authority is a eulogistic life by a friend, William Durham, Harris's kinsman and minister of Tredington
.
Durham described Harris thus:- "Dr Harris was a man of admirable prudence, profound judgement, eminent gifts and graces, furnished with all the singular qualifications which might render him a complete man, a wise governor, a profitable preacher and a good Christian"
Westminster Assembly
The Westminster Assembly of Divines was appointed by the Long Parliament to restructure the Church of England. It also included representatives of religious leaders from Scotland...
, and President of Trinity College, Oxford
Trinity College, Oxford
The College of the Holy and Undivided Trinity in the University of Oxford, of the foundation of Sir Thomas Pope , or Trinity College for short, is one of the constituent colleges of the University of Oxford in England. It stands on Broad Street, next door to Balliol College and Blackwells bookshop,...
.
Life
He was born into a large family to parents John Harris, yeoman, (whose family had originally come from Shropshire ) and Elizabeth Hyron at Broad CampdenBroad Campden
Broad Campden is a village in Gloucestershire, England....
, Gloucestershire
Gloucestershire
Gloucestershire is a county in South West England. The county comprises part of the Cotswold Hills, part of the flat fertile valley of the River Severn, and the entire Forest of Dean....
. He was educated at the free schools of Chipping Campden
Chipping Campden
Chipping Campden is a small market town within the Cotswold district of Gloucestershire, England. It is notable for its elegant terraced High Street, dating from the 14th century to the 17th century...
and Worcester
Worcester
The City of Worcester, commonly known as Worcester, , is a city and county town of Worcestershire in the West Midlands of England. Worcester is situated some southwest of Birmingham and north of Gloucester, and has an approximate population of 94,000 people. The River Severn runs through the...
. He matriculated, aged 15, at Magdalen Hall, Oxford, 10 June 1597, when his relative Robert Lyster aka Lyson was principal. In order to obtain tuition in philosophy, he taught Greek and Hebrew. He graduated B.A. on 5 June 1600, and though originally intended for the law, decided to enter the church.
When in 1604 the university was dissolved on account of the plague
Black Death
The Black Death was one of the most devastating pandemics in human history, peaking in Europe between 1348 and 1350. Of several competing theories, the dominant explanation for the Black Death is the plague theory, which attributes the outbreak to the bacterium Yersinia pestis. Thought to have...
, Harris went home and preached his first sermon at Chipping Campden. In 1606 he married Joan Whateley, the sister of his friend and vicar of Banbury
Banbury
Banbury is a market town and civil parish on the River Cherwell in the Cherwell District of Oxfordshire. It is northwest of London, southeast of Birmingham, south of Coventry and north northwest of the county town of Oxford...
, William Whateley and subsequently raised a large family of at least a dozen children, including Dr. Malachi Harris M.A. D.D. who was, amongst other things, chaplain to Mary Princess of Orange
Mary, Princess Royal and Princess of Orange
Mary, Princess Royal, Princess of Orange and Countess of Nassau was the eldest daughter of King Charles I of England, Scotland, and Ireland and his queen, Henrietta Maria of France...
and Charles II
Charles II of England
Charles II was monarch of the three kingdoms of England, Scotland, and Ireland.Charles II's father, King Charles I, was executed at Whitehall on 30 January 1649, at the climax of the English Civil War...
.
Returning to Oxford Robert studied theology for ten years, and graduated B.D. on 5 May 1614. In 1614 Sir Anthony Cope
Sir Anthony Cope, 1st Baronet
-Life:He was a grandson of Anthony Cope the author. He was member of Parliament for Banbury in seven parliaments , and then represented Oxfordshire from 1606 until 1614...
offered him the living of Hanwell, Oxfordshire
Hanwell, Oxfordshire
Hanwell is a village and civil parish in Oxfordshire, northwest of Banbury.-Early history:Remains of a substantial Roman villa have been found just west of the B4100 main road....
, and Hanwell parsonage became a resort for Oxford students.
Harris won fame as a preacher at St. Paul's Cathedral, St. Saviour's Southwark, and other London churches, as well as in his own neighbourhood. He was a staunch Puritan and Parliamentarian. On 25 April 1642 he was chosen one of the lovely divines to be consulted by Parliament, and on the occasion of a public fast (25 May) preached before the House of Commons.
After the battle of Edgehill
Battle of Edgehill
The Battle of Edgehill was the first pitched battle of the First English Civil War. It was fought near Edge Hill and Kineton in southern Warwickshire on Sunday, 23 October 1642....
the royalist troopers quartered at Hanwell turned out Harris and his family, and he was finally ejected from his living and obliged to go to London (September 1642). He was there made one of the Westminster Assembly, and received the living of St. Botolph's, Bishopsgate. In 1646 the committee of Hampshire presented him to Petersfield
Petersfield
Petersfield can refer to any of the following places:*Petersfield, Hampshire, a market town in England*Petersfield, Jamaica, a small town in the parish of Westmoreland*Petersfield, Manitoba, in Canada*Petersfield, an area of Cambridge, England...
, but before he could take possession he was ordered to Oxford (10 September) as one of the six divines commissioned to preach there. From May 1647 to 1652, and again from 1654 to 1658, he was visitor to the university, and on 4 June 1647 preached at the University Church of St Mary the Virgin
University Church of St Mary the Virgin
The University Church of St Mary the Virgin is the largest of Oxford's parish churches and the centre from which the University of Oxford grew...
his first visitation sermon, in which he defended himself from the charge of pluralism
Religious pluralism
Religious pluralism is a loosely defined expression concerning acceptance of various religions, and is used in a number of related ways:* As the name of the worldview according to which one's religion is not the sole and exclusive source of truth, and thus that at least some truths and true values...
.
On 12 April 1648 the chancellor of the University of Oxford, Philip Herbert, 4th Earl of Pembroke
Philip Herbert, 4th Earl of Pembroke
Philip Herbert, 4th Earl of Pembroke and 1st Earl of Montgomery KG was an English courtier and politician active during the reigns of James I and Charles I...
, admitted Harris to the degree of D.D., and at the same time he was made President of Trinity College in the place of Hannibal Potter
Hannibal Potter
Hannibal Potter was an English clergyman and college head in Oxford during the First English Civil War. He was removed as President of Trinity College, Oxford in 1648 by the Parliamentary visitors, regaining the position in 1660.-Life:...
, whom he had assisted to eject. The living of Garsington
Garsington
Garsington is a village and civil parish about southeast of Oxford in Oxfordshire.-Notable Garsington buildings:The earliest part of the Church of England parish church of Saint Mary is the Norman tower, built towards the end of the 12th century. The Gothic Revival architect Joseph Clarke restored...
, Oxfordshire, went with the headship. He lectured once a week at All Souls' College, and preached on Sundays at Garsington. He died on 1 December 1658, at the age of 77 and was buried at Trinity College chapel.
He was satirised by the royalists as a notorious pluralist, but there is no proof that he enjoyed all his livings at the same time. John Wilkins
John Wilkins
John Wilkins FRS was an English clergyman, natural philosopher and author, as well as a founder of the Invisible College and one of the founders of the Royal Society, and Bishop of Chester from 1668 until his death....
describes him as one of the most eminent divines for preaching and practical theology. He published a large number of separate sermons. The chief authority is a eulogistic life by a friend, William Durham, Harris's kinsman and minister of Tredington
Tredington
Tredington is a small village near Tewkesbury in Gloucestershire, England.The village has a school and a church, St John the Baptist. The steps, base and shaft of the churchyard cross are 14th century; the cross is modern...
.
Durham described Harris thus:- "Dr Harris was a man of admirable prudence, profound judgement, eminent gifts and graces, furnished with all the singular qualifications which might render him a complete man, a wise governor, a profitable preacher and a good Christian"