John Wilkins, D.D., was born in 1614; and in 1627 was entered of New Inn, Oxford, but removed to Magdalen Hall, where he graduated. On the breaking out of the rebellion he took the covenant; and in 1648 was created B.D., and made warden of Wadham College by the Presbyterian Committee for the Reformation of the University. He afterwards subscribed to the engagement, and complied with the various changes of the times, though apparently steadily attached to the monarchy. About 1656, he married Robina, sister of Oliver Cromwell, by whom he had no issue; and in 1659 he was appointed master of Trinity College, Cambridge. On the restoration he took the required oaths, and was appointed Dean of Ripon, afterwards Dean of Exeter; and also preached to the Honourable Society of Gray’s Inn. Through the influence of George, Duke of Buckingham, he obtained the Bishopric of Chester, and was consecrated November 15th, 1668, holding with it the rectory of Wigan. He died at the house of Dr. Tillotson, who had married his daughter-in-law, on November 19th, 1672, and was buried in the church of St. Lawrence, Jewry, London. He was one of the founders of the Royal Society, to which he bequeathed £400, and a pious, learned, and scientific man. Calamy says “many ministers were brought in by Bishop Wilkins’ soft interpretation of the terms of conformity.” “He was no great read man,” says Aubrey, “but one of much and deepe thinkeing, and of a working head, and a prudent man as well as ingeniose. He was a lustie, strong growne, well sett, broad shouldered person; cheerful and hospitable. He was extremely well beloved in his diocese.” Bishop Wilkins wrote several curious and learned works, which are now scarce and of considerable value.
John Pearson, D.D., F.R.S., born at Snoring (or Creake), in Norfolk, February 12th, 1612, educated at Eton, admitted of King’s College, Cambridge, B.A. 1635, M.A. 1639, and shortly afterwards Prebendary of Sarum. During the civil war he was chaplain to Lord Goring, and afterwards in the same capacity in the family of Sir Robert Cook in London. In 1650, he was minister of St. Clement’s, Eastcheap, London, at which Church, he preached his incomparable lectures on the Creed, and afterwards published them, as he states in the dedication to his parishioners, at their request. At the Restoration, he was nominated one of the king’s chaplains, installed Prebendary of Ely, September 22nd, 1660, and on the 26th of the same month and year, appointed Archdeacon of Surrey, and admitted Master of Trinity College, on the 14th April, 1662. Elected F.R.S. 1667.
This great and learned man was consecrated Bishop of Chester, February 9th, 1672–3. He died July 16th, 1686, and was buried in his own Cathedral without any memorial. Burnet says he was in all respects the greatest divine of the age; a man of great learning, strong reason, and a clear judgment. He was a judicious and grave preacher, more instructive than affective, and a man of a spotless life, and of an excellent temper. He was not active in his diocese, but too remiss and easy in his episcopal functions, and was a much better divine than a Bishop. He was a speaking instance of what a great man may fall to, for his memory went from him so entirely that he became a child some years before he died.—Hist. Own Times, Vol. 3, p. 109–10.
Bishop Pearson has achieved for himself a splendid fame by his able work on the Creed, which will long perpetuate his memory.
Thomas Cartwright, D.D. son of a schoolmaster of the same name, was born at Southampton, 1st Sept. 1634, and was educated by presbyterian parents. He was admitted of Magdalen college, Oxford, but removed to Queen’s college by the parliamentary visitors in 1649; he afterwards became chaplain of his college and vicar of Walthamstow, in Essex, and in 1659, preacher at St. Mary Magdelene’s, in Fish-street, and an active promoter of the popular faction. At the Restoration, he turned round and distinguished himself by his extravagant zeal for the royal cause. He had many valuable preferments bestowed upon him, and was created D.D. although not standing for it. In 1672, being chaplain to the king, he was installed Prebendary of Durham, and in 1675, nominated Dean of Ripon, and was consecrated, October 17th, 1686, Bishop of Chester, “not by constraint but willingly.” James the Second found him a ready and expert agent, and appointed him one of the three commissioners to eject the President and Fellows of Magdelen college, Oxford, for nobly resisting the king’s arbitrary attempts to restore popery. Cartwright being an unpopular man, found it necessary to leave the kingdom on the arrival of the Prince of Orange in 1688. He escaped in disguise, and joined James II. at St. Germains, whom he shortly afterwards accompanied to Ireland, where, being seized with a dysentery, he died on the 15th April, 1689, aged 54, and was buried the next night by the Bishop of Meath, in the choir of Christ Church, Dublin. He died in communion with the Church of England, although attempts were made by the Romanists, in his last moments, to shake his creed, which his previous inconsistency and constant intercourse with the agents of the Church of Rome had rendered questionable. His diary, from August 1686, to October 1687, has been edited for the Camden Society by Mr. Hunter, and will increase the unfavourable estimate which posterity has formed of the vacillating principles of this unhappy prelate; although there still appears to be insufficient evidence to conclude with Ormerod that the bishop, on his death-bed, expressed his faith in equivocal terms, leaving it doubtful whether he died in communion of the protestant or popish churches; for even Burnet, who says he was “one of the worst of men,” adds, “bad as he was, he never made that step, even in the most desperate state of his affairs;” and Antony á Wood rescues him from a similar charge.
Nicholas Stratford, D.D., was consecrated Bishop of Chester at Fulham, on 15th September, 1689. He was a firm supporter of the polity and principles of the English Church, and was esteemed a learned and primitive ecclesiastic. It is recorded of him that he never admonished or reproved others, but in the spirit of meekness and conciliation, a testimony which appears sufficiently confirmed by the christian tone which pervades his “Dissuasion against Revenge,” which he addressed to the conflicting parties in Manchester on leaving that parish. He was appointed one of the governors of the bounty of the Queen Anne in the first charter. He died February 12th, 1706–7, aged 74, and was buried in his own cathedral, his whole diocese witnessing that in simplicity and godly sincerity he had had his conversation in the world; he was charitable and benevolent, humble and devout. Chester Blue Coat Hospital was founded by this excellent bishop, and the Infirmary was founded by his son, who bequeathed £300 to the charity.
Sir William Dawes, Bart., D.D., was appointed Dean of Bocking by Dr. Tenison, Archbishop of Canterbury, and about 1697 was nominated chaplain to King William III., whose favour he secured by a sermon he preached on the 5th November. Being disappointed of the Bishopric of Lincoln in 1705, the queen nominated him without application to that of Chester, and on the 8th February 1707, he was consecrated. He was very bountiful to the poor clergy of the diocese, and augmented several small livings. In 1714 he was translated to York; Archbishop Sharpe, who died at Bath February 2nd, 1713–14, having obtained a promise from Queen Anne that Sir William Dawes should be his successor, because his grace thought that he would be diligent in executing the duties of his laborious office.
Francis Gastrell, D.D., was consecrated Bishop of Chester in 1714, a learned and pious man, who laboured with untiring energy, and whose episcopate was characterized by great benevolence, prudence, and wisdom. He compiled a most valuable MSS. concerning the benefices of the diocese, entitled “Notitia Cestriensis,” which is considered “the noblest document extant on the subject of the ecclesiastical antiquities of the diocese.” He is also the author of a very useful work, entitled “The Christian Institutes.” He died November 24th, 1725.
Samuel Peploe, S.T.P., was appointed to the see of Chester April 12th, 1726. He died February 21st, 1752, was buried in the cathedral near the altar, where a monument was erected to his memory.
Dr. Edmund Keene, master of St. Peter’s, Cambridge, and rector of Stanhope, succeeded Peploe, and held the rectory of Stanhope in commendam. He was consecrated March 22nd, 1752. The present episcopal palace was re-built by him out of his own fortune, at an expense of £2,200. On his installation to the see of Ely in 1771—