Ofspring Blackall (26 April 1655 (
baptised
Baptism (from grc-x-koine, βάπτισμα, váptisma) is a form of ritual purification—a characteristic of many religions throughout time and geography. In Christianity, it is a Christian sacrament of initiation and adoption, almost inv ...
) – 29 November 1716),
Bishop of Exeter and religious controversialist, was born in London.
Early life and education
Baptized on 26 April 1655 at
St Gregory by Paul's, he was the son of Thomas Blackall (bapt. 1621; died 1688), freeman of the
Haberdashers' Company
The Worshipful Company of Haberdashers, one of the Great Twelve City Livery Companies, is an ancient merchant guild of London, England associated with the silk and velvet trades.
History and functions
The Haberdashers' Company follows the ...
and later
alderman of the City of London, and his wife, Martha (bapt. 1625; d. 1701?), daughter of Charles Ofspring, rector of
St Antholin, Budge Row, and trier of the second
presbyterian
Presbyterianism is a part of the Reformed tradition within Protestantism that broke from the Roman Catholic Church in Scotland by John Knox, who was a priest at St. Giles Cathedral (Church of Scotland). Presbyterian churches derive their nam ...
classis (or eldership) of London. Blackall's father owned land in several counties as well as property in the city, and although he conformed to the established church may have retained some
puritan
The Puritans were English Protestants in the 16th and 17th centuries who sought to purify the Church of England of Roman Catholic practices, maintaining that the Church of England had not been fully reformed and should become more Protestant. ...
sympathies.
During Blackall's youth his parents resided in Lordshold Manor, an 'ancient brick house' in
Dalston
Dalston () is an area of East London, in the London Borough of Hackney. It is northeast of Charing Cross. Dalston began as a hamlet on either side of Dalston Lane, and as the area urbanised the term also came to apply to surrounding areas includ ...
,
Middlesex
Middlesex (; abbreviation: Middx) is a historic county in southeast England. Its area is almost entirely within the wider urbanised area of London and mostly within the ceremonial county of Greater London, with small sections in neighbour ...
(
VCH Middlesex, 10.89). He was educated in nearby Hackney, perhaps at the free school of which Robert Skingle was master, before being admitted as a pensioner to
St Catharine's College, Cambridge, on 26 April 1671. He graduated BA in 1675, proceeded
MA in 1678, and was elected in 1679 (by the interest, it was rumoured, of
William Wake
William Wake (26 January 165724 January 1737) was a priest in the Church of England and Archbishop of Canterbury from 1716 until his death in 1737.
Life
Wake was born in Blandford Forum, Dorset, and educated at Christ Church, Oxford. He took ...
) to a fellowship, which he resigned in 1687. He was ordained deacon on 11 March 1677 and priest on 19 December 1680. The university awarded him the degree of DD in 1700.
Cleric
On 14 January 1690 Blackall was instituted to the rectory of
South Ockendon
South Ockendon is a town, former civil parish and Church of England parish within the Thurrock borough in Essex in the East of England, United Kingdom. It is located on the border with Greater London, just outside the M25 motorway. The area to t ...
, Essex; he resigned this for the rectory of
St Mary Aldermary
The Guild Church of St Mary Aldermary a contraction of St Mary Aldermanbury (or St Mary Elder Mary) is an Anglican church located in Watling Street at the junction with Bow Lane, in the City of London. Of medieval origin, it was rebuilt from 15 ...
,
London, to which he was presented by the dean and chapter of St Paul's on 6 November 1694. He also held the city lectureships of
St Olave Jewry from 1695 to 1698, and
St Dunstan-in-the-West from 1698. He was appointed chaplain to William and Mary, although it was later alleged that he had been a
nonjuror and had refused to swear allegiance to the new monarchs for two years.
Blackall was nominated to the bishopric of Exeter by the personal determination of Queen Anne,
upon the recommendation of
John Sharp,
archbishop of York
The archbishop of York is a senior bishop in the Church of England, second only to the archbishop of Canterbury. The archbishop is the diocesan bishop of the Diocese of York and the metropolitan bishop of the province of York, which covers th ...
, but without the knowledge of her ministers, whose politically expedient recommendations the queen, mindful of the royal prerogative, deemed insufficiently orthodox. It was consequently remarked wittily that he was the 'queen's bishop'. He was consecrated at
Lambeth on 8 February 1708. To supplement his episcopal revenues he was permitted to hold, in addition to his bishopric, the
deanery of
St Buryan
St Buryan ( kw, Pluwveryan) is a village and former civil parish, now in the parish of St Buryan, Lamorna and Paul in Cornwall, England, United Kingdom.
The village of St Buryan is situated approximately west of Penzance along the B3283 to ...
, Cornwall, the rectory of
Shorbrook, Devon, and the offices of archdeacon and treasurer of Exeter. He was a diligent bishop in his
diocese
In church governance, a diocese or bishopric is the ecclesiastical district under the jurisdiction of a bishop.
History
In the later organization of the Roman Empire, the increasingly subdivided provinces were administratively associa ...
, and he was also instrumental in the institution of
charity school
Charity schools, sometimes called blue coat schools, or simply the Blue School, were significant in the history of education in England. They were built and maintained in various parishes by the voluntary contributions of the inhabitants to ...
s in Exeter. He lived to see the establishment of two such schools for boys and two for girls, of fifty pupils each.
Blackall was consecrated a bishop at
Lambeth on 8 February, 1708 by the
Bishop of London
A bishop is an ordained clergy member who is entrusted with a position of authority and oversight in a religious institution.
In Christianity, bishops are normally responsible for the governance of dioceses. The role or office of bishop is ca ...
. By a strange twist of fate,
Sir William Dawes was on the same date consecrated a bishop at nearby Westminster by the
Bishop of Winchester. Dawes later edited and published a posthumous two-volume edition of Blackall's sermons.
Public life and works
Blackall came to public prominence in 1699 when he engaged in a controversy with the Irish
deist
Deism ( or ; derived from the Latin '' deus'', meaning "god") is the philosophical position and rationalistic theology that generally rejects revelation as a source of divine knowledge, and asserts that empirical reason and observation ...
and
pamphleteer
Pamphleteer is a historical term for someone who creates or distributes pamphlets, unbound (and therefore inexpensive) booklets intended for wide circulation.
Context
Pamphlets were used to broadcast the writer's opinions: to articulate a poli ...
John Toland
John Toland (30 November 167011 March 1722) was an Irish rationalist philosopher and freethinker, and occasional satirist, who wrote numerous books and pamphlets on political philosophy and philosophy of religion, which are early expressions o ...
. In his ''Life'' of
John Milton (1699), Toland had disputed Charles I's authorship of ''
Eikon Basilike
The ''Eikon Basilike'' (Greek: Εἰκὼν Βασιλική, the "Royal Portrait"), ''The Pourtraicture of His Sacred Majestie in His Solitudes and Sufferings'', is a purported spiritual autobiography attributed to King Charles I of England. ...
''. In a brief aside Toland remarked that if such a recent deception could remain undiscovered, it was not surprising that the dubious authorship of some ancient Christian writings had likewise gone undetected. Blackall understood that Toland had slyly insinuated that parts of the
New Testament
The New Testament grc, Ἡ Καινὴ Διαθήκη, transl. ; la, Novum Testamentum. (NT) is the second division of the Christian biblical canon. It discusses the teachings and person of Jesus, as well as events in first-century Chri ...
were forgeries. In a sermon before the House of Commons on 30 January 1699, Blackall called on the Commons to act against this denial of the authenticity of the revelation of God, which if left unchecked would undermine public morality as well as Christian doctrine. Toland replied with ''Amyntor, or, A Defence of Milton's Life'' (1699), which attacked Blackall in a highly personal manner and accused him of theological ignorance. Toland disingenuously claimed he had disputed the authenticity not of the New Testament, but of 'spurious'
apocryphal Christian works, of which he provided an extensive catalogue. Blackall's response, ''Mr Blackall's Reasons for not Replying to a Book Lately Published Entitled Amyntor'' (1699), ably demonstrated that Toland's words should most naturally have been taken to have referred to the New Testament, but Blackall nevertheless acknowledged Toland's apparent retraction. Blackall's altercation with Toland had brought him to prominence as a defender of revealed religion against the attacks of the deists. Consequently, he was chosen to deliver the
Boyle Lectures
The Boyle Lectures are named after Robert Boyle, a prominent natural philosopher of the 17th century and son of Richard Boyle, 1st Earl of Cork. Under the terms of his Will, Robert Boyle endowed a series of lectures or sermons (originally eight e ...
in 1700. These consisted of seven sermons, which he preached at St Paul's Cathedral, on the theme 'The sufficiency of a standing revelation'.
Ten years after his exchange with Toland, Blackall found himself embroiled in controversy again, this time with a fellow clergyman. On 8 March 1709, the anniversary of
Queen Anne's accession, Blackall preached a sermon before the queen in St James's Chapel, on the text Romans 13:4. It was later published, with the title ''The Divine Institution of Magistracy'' (1709). Its themes echoed those of a sermon which Blackall had preached on the same occasion in 1705, at St Dunstan's, and which had also been published. It was a strong attack on the doctrines of popular sovereignty and the
right of resistance
The right to resist is a nearly universally acknowledged human right, although its scope and content are controversial. The right to resist, depending on how it is defined, can take the form of civil disobedience or armed resistance against a tyra ...
, in which Blackall maintained that the magistrate's authority was a 'Portion of the Divine Authority ... entrusted with him by God' (p. 3). It also maintained the independent ''
jure divino'' basis of clerical authority in spiritual matters.
Benjamin Hoadly, in ''Some Considerations Humbly Offered to the … Bishop of Exeter'' (1709), took offence to both sermons, which, he alleged, condemned the
revolution of 1688–9. Hoadly claimed that the revolution had involved resistance to James II, but that such resistance was justified by the necessity of self-preservation. Blackall, in ''The Lord Bishop of Exeter's Answer to Mr Hoadly's Letter'', dismissed Hoadly's premise that civil authority derived from an original contract. He undertook to reply again to Hoadly only if he kept to issues of scriptural interpretation, and avoided speculations concerning matters such as an alleged 'State of Nature' about which the scriptures were silent. Hoadly's subsequent ''Humble Reply'' failed to comply with Blackall's conditions, and he did not therefore respond to it. The numerous pamphlets which were published on either side during the ensuing controversy included an anonymous work in support of Blackall, entitled ''The Best Answer Ever was Made'' (1709), by the Irish nonjuror and formidable controversialist
Charles Leslie. As Blackall was by now a bishop, Hoadly's attack on him was later cited to justify the forthright treatment Hoadly received in the
Bangorian controversy, after he himself had been elevated to the episcopal bench.
Ironically Blackall's same accession-day sermon of 1705, ''The Subjects Duty'', had been attacked on its first publication by
tory
A Tory () is a person who holds a political philosophy known as Toryism, based on a British version of traditionalism and conservatism, which upholds the supremacy of social order as it has evolved in the English culture throughout history. The ...
patriarchalist writers, who accused him of being a republican. The anonymous work ''An essay upon government: wherein the republican schemes reviv'd by Mr. Lock, Dr. Blackal &c. are fairly consider'd and refuted'' (1705), as well as linking Blackall's name with that of
John Locke, took Blackall to task for contending that the precise form of government in any nation was a matter of human, and not divine, institution. Blackall suffered further abuse in a pamphlet entitled ''Dr Blackall's Offspring'' (1705).
Despite being attacked from both sides Blackall was considered by contemporaries to have distinct
high church
The term ''high church'' refers to beliefs and practices of Christian ecclesiology, liturgy, and theology that emphasize formality and resistance to modernisation. Although used in connection with various Christian traditions, the term originate ...
and tory principles.
Gilbert Burnet went so far as to judge that, although Blackall claimed to be loyal to the government, 'his notions were all on the other side', that is, the
Jacobite side, and that he 'seemed to condemn the Revolution, and all that had been done pursuant to it'. In fact Blackall was a consistent 'revolution tory' and maintained the high-church
doctrine
Doctrine (from la, doctrina, meaning "teaching, instruction") is a codification of beliefs or a body of teachings or instructions, taught principles or positions, as the essence of teachings in a given branch of knowledge or in a belief syste ...
s of passive obedience and non-resistance to
sovereign powers, while denying the
Filmerian tenet of divine hereditary right. By holding that sovereignty was always absolute, but that it belonged in the English constitution to the monarch in parliament, Blackall was articulating an important theory by which tories reconciled themselves to the revolution.
Sermons
During his lifetime Blackall's reputation as a preacher was considerable, and his ''Works'' were published after his death (2 vols., 1723, edited by Blackall's friend,
William Dawes
William Dawes Jr. (April 6, 1745 – February 25, 1799) was one of several men who in April 1775 alerted colonial minutemen in Massachusetts of the approach of British army troops prior to the Battles of Lexington and Concord at the outset ...
). His major literary work was a series of 87 sermons issued as ''Discourses on the Sermon on the Mount''. These sermons are both expository and pastoral, and in an uncomplicated style; but receded into relative obscurity.
* 1708. Blackall, Offspring. ''The rules and measures of alms-giving, and the manifold advantages of charity schools. A sermon preach'd at St. Peter's in Exeter, 26 September 1708. First preach'd, and now printed, to promote the setting up of charity schools, for the instruction and education of the children of the poor in that city, and other paces in the diocess''. By Offspring, Lord Bishop of Exon. To which is added, his letter to the clergy of his diocess, upon the same subject. – Exon : printed by Sam. Farley, for Phil. Bishop, 1708. – 32p; 4°. – *WSL; Dredge p. 42; Plymouth Athenaeum p. 50; Plymouth Public Library L2897; DUL 4764;
Devon & Exeter Institution, appendix, p. 127.
* ''The divine institution of magistracy, and the gracious design of its institution. A sermon preach'd before the Queen, at St. James's, on Tuesday, 8 March. 1708. … By Ofspring Lord Bishop of Exon. …'' – London: printed by J. R. for W. Rogers, 1709.. – 24p.; 8+.
Family life
Blackall married Anne Dillingham of London (died 1762), probably the daughter of Theophilus and Elizabeth Dillingham. Seven of their children—Theophilus, John, Charles Ofspring, Elizabeth, Ann, Mary, and Jane—survived the death of their father on 29 November 1716 in Exeter. Blackall had fallen from a horse in the spring of that year, and as a consequence he suffered a long and painful illness during which he developed
gangrene. An earnest account of Blackall's life and death, and particularly of the sufferings of his final illness, can be found in William Dawes's preface to Blackall's ''Works''. Blackall was buried on 2 December in
Exeter Cathedral, on the south side of the choir. In accordance with his will, no funeral sermon was preached, and his grave was not marked by any monument or inscription. His will was proved on 26 January 1717.
[National Archives]
Online Document PROB 11/1016
/ref> He was granted Arms.
References
Attribution
External links
Bibliography
*
Bibliographic directory
from Project Canterbury
Biographies
*
Offspring Blackall
''Lives of the Bishops of Exeter'' by the Reverend George Oliver D.D. (1861)
Archival documents
*
(Ofspring OR Offspring) Blackall search
at The National Archives
National archives are central archives maintained by countries. This article contains a list of national archives.
Among its more important tasks are to ensure the accessibility and preservation of the information produced by governments, both ...
*
National Church Institutions Database of Manuscripts and Archives
contains related information on manuscript and archive collections held at Lambeth Palace Library (LPL) and the Church of England Record Centre (CERC).
Portraits
* National Portrait Gallery (London)br>Portraits of Offspring Blackall (Blackhall)
* Devon Libraries Local Studies Servic
{{DEFAULTSORT:Blackall, Ofspring
1655 births
1716 deaths
18th-century Church of England bishops
Alumni of St Catharine's College, Cambridge
English Anglican theologians
Bishops of Exeter
Burials at Exeter Cathedral
Deaths from gangrene
English sermon writers
People from South Ockendon
People from the City of London
People from Dalston
People from the London Borough of Hackney
17th-century Anglican theologians
18th-century Anglican theologians