William Spurstowe (Spurstow) (c. 1605–1666) was an English clergyman, theologian, and member of the

Westminster Assembly The Westminster Assembly of Divines was a council of divines (theologians) and members of the English Parliament appointed from 1643 to 1653 to restructure the Church of England. Several Scots also attended, and the Assembly's work was adopt ...

. He was one of the

Smectymnuus Smectymnuus was the ''nom de plume'' of a group of Puritan clergymen active in England in 1641. It comprised four leading English churchmen, and one Scottish minister ( Thomas Young). They went on to provide leadership for the anti-episcopal forces ...

group of Presbyterian clergy, supplying the final WS (read as UUS) of the acronym.

Life

His father

William Spurstow William Spurstowe (Spurstow) (c. 1605–1666) was an English clergyman, theologian, and member of the Westminster Assembly. He was one of the Smectymnuus group of Presbyterian clergy, supplying the final WS (read as UUS) of the acronym. Life H ...

was a mercer in London. The son studied at Emmanuel College, Cambridge. He became a Fellow of St. Katherine's Hall College, Cambridge in 1638, during the Mastership of Ralph Brownrigg, and succeeded as Master in 1645. At the time it was strongly Puritan in tone, with John Arrowsmith, John Bond,

Thomas Goodwin Thomas Goodwin (Rollesby, Norfolk, 5 October 160023 February 1680), known as "the Elder", was an English Puritan theologian and preacher, and an important leader of religious Independents. He served as chaplain to Oliver Cromwell, and was impos ...

, Andrew Perne and William Strong as other Fellows. In the late 1630s he was an associate of

John Hampden John Hampden (24 June 1643) was an English landowner and politician whose opposition to arbitrary taxes imposed by Charles I made him a national figure. An ally of Parliamentarian leader John Pym, and cousin to Oliver Cromwell, he was one of t ...

, and in 1638 he became vicar of Great Hampden. Later he was chaplain to Hampden's troops. He became vicar of Hackney in 1643, and was made Master of his college. He was deprived of the mastership, in 1650. After the Restoration, he was consulted on the ''

Declaration of Indulgence The Declaration of Indulgence, also called Declaration for Liberty of Conscience, was a pair of proclamations made by James II of England and Ireland and VII of Scotland in 1687. The Indulgence was first issued for Scotland on 12 February and t ...

''. He was ejected from his parish of Hackney for nonconformity, in 1662. He remained in Hackney, welcomed

Richard Baxter Richard Baxter (12 November 1615 – 8 December 1691) was an English Puritan church leader, poet, hymnodist, theologian, and controversialist. Dean Stanley called him "the chief of English Protestant Schoolmen". After some false starts, he ...

, employed Ezekiel Hopkins, and provided a focus for numerous other ejected ministers. He built six almshouses there, work starting shortly before his death.

Works

* ''Englands Patterne and Duty in Its Monthly Fasts'' (1643) * ''Englands eminent judgments, caus'd by the abuse of Gods eminent mercies'' (1644) * ''The Magistrate's Dignity and Duty'' (1653) * * ''Death and the Grave No Bar to Believers Happinesse'' (1656) * ''A Crown of Life, the Reward of Faithfulnesse'' (1662) * * *

Notes

{{DEFAULTSORT:Spurstowe, William 1605 births 1666 deaths Westminster Divines Participants in the Savoy Conference Ejected English ministers of 1662 Masters of St Catharine's College, Cambridge Alumni of Emmanuel College, Cambridge