Richard Towgood (c.1595–1683) was an English royalist churchman,
Dean of Bristol
The Dean of Bristol is the head of the Chapter of the Cathedral Church of the Holy and Undivided Trinity, Bristol, England. The Dean is Mandy Ford, since her installation on 3 October 2020.
List of deans
Early modern
*1542–1551 William Sno ...
from 1667.
Life
He was born near
Bruton, Somerset, about 1595. The family name is spelled also Toogood, Twogood, and Towgard. He entered
Oriel College, Oxford
Oriel College () is a constituent college of the University of Oxford in Oxford, England. Located in Oriel Square, the college has the distinction of being the oldest royal foundation in Oxford (a title formerly claimed by University College, wh ...
, as a servitor in 1610 and matriculated 19 April 1611, at the age of sixteen. He graduated B.A. 1 February 1615, M.A. 4 February 1618, and B.D. 7 November 1633. Having taken orders about 1615, he preached in the neighbourhood of Oxford, till he was appointed master of the grammar school in
College Green, Bristol
College Green is a public open space in Bristol, England. The Green takes the form of a segment of a circle with its apex pointing east, and covers . The road named College Green forms the north-eastern boundary of the Green, Bristol Cathedral m ...
.
In 1619 he was instituted vicar of All Saints', Bristol, and preferred in 1626 to the vicarage of St. Nicholas, Bristol. He was made a chaplain to Charles I about 1633. On 20 February 1645 he was sequestered from his vicarage for opposing the parliamentary government. He was several times imprisoned under severe conditions, was ordered to be shot, and then reprieved. Gaining his liberty, he retired to
Wotton-under-Edge
Wotton-under-Edge is a market town within the Stroud district of Gloucestershire, England. Located near the southern fringe of the Cotswolds, the Cotswold Way long-distance footpath passes through the town. Standing on the B4058, Wotton is ab ...
,
Gloucestershire
Gloucestershire ( abbreviated Glos) 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.
The county town is the city of Gl ...
. After some years, through the mediation of Archbishop
James Ussher
James Ussher (or Usher; 4 January 1581 – 21 March 1656) was the Church of Ireland Archbishop of Armagh and Primate of All Ireland between 1625 and 1656. He was a prolific scholar and church leader, who today is most famous for his ident ...
, he began to preach at Kingswood Chapel, near Wotton, and was soon after presented to the neighbouring rectory of
Tortworth
Tortworth is a small village and civil parish, near Thornbury in Gloucestershire, England. It has a population of 147 as of 2011. It lies on the B4509 road, which crosses the M5 motorway to the west of Tortworth.
History
In the Domesday Book o ...
.
On the
Restoration
Restoration is the act of restoring something to its original state and may refer to:
* Conservation and restoration of cultural heritage
** Audio restoration
** Film restoration
** Image restoration
** Textile restoration
* Restoration ecology
...
he returned to St. Nicholas, Bristol, invited by the parishioners. He was installed, 25 August 1660, in the sixth prebend in
Bristol
Bristol () is a city, ceremonial county and unitary authority in England. Situated on the River Avon, it is bordered by the ceremonial counties of Gloucestershire to the north and Somerset to the south. Bristol is the most populous city in ...
Cathedral, to which he had been nominated before the civil war; and was sworn chaplain to
Charles II. In 1664 he was presented to the vicarage of
Weare,
Somerset
( en, All The People of Somerset)
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. On 1 May 1667 he succeeded
Henry Glemham
Henry Glemham (Glenham) (c.1603 – 17 January 1670) was an English royalist churchman, Dean of Bristol and Bishop of St Asaph.
Life
Glemham was the son of Sir Henry Glemham of Glemham Hall, Suffolk. He was educated at Trinity College, Oxford, ...
as dean of Bristol, and in October 1671 he was offered the bishopric, vacant on the death of
Gilbert Ironside, but declined it. He died on 21 April 1683, in his eighty-ninth year, and was buried in the north aisle of the choir of the cathedral. He published two sermons in 1643, another in 1676.
By his wife Elizabeth he had sons Richard and William; his grandson Richard (son of Richard) was prebendary of Bristol (30 July 1685) and vicar of Bitton (1685), Olveston (1697), and Winterbourne (1698), all in Gloucestershire.
Sources
*
{{DEFAULTSORT:Twogood, Richard
1595 births
1683 deaths
17th-century English Anglican priests
Deans of Bristol