Edward Reynolds (November 1599 – 28 July 1676) was a
bishop of Norwich in the
Church of England and an author.[1] He was born in
Holyrood parish in
Southampton, the son of Augustine (Austin) Reynolds, one of the customers of the city, and his wife, Bridget.
Career
In 1615, Reynolds became postmaster of
Merton College and in 1620, probationer fellow. In 1622 he was appointed Preacher at
Lincoln's Inn (where he is memorialised by his arms sculpted on a corbel supporting the roof of a Hall) from 1627 to 1628 served as the thirty-seventh vicar of
All Saints' Church, Northampton, and in 1631 rector of
Braunston, also in
Northamptonshire; but with the outbreak of the English Civil War in 1642, he sided with the
Presbyterians.[1]
In 1643 he was one of the
Westminster Assembly divines, and took the covenant in 1644. In 1648 he became dean of
Christ Church, Oxford and
vice-chancellor of the University of Oxford. He refused the
engagement (1651) and despite his promise of obedience to the law, but not subscription to the oath in Humble Proposals of Sundry Learned and Pious Divines (1649), this was insufficient to save him; he lost the vice-chancellorship in September 1650. He was ejected from his deanery the following March, despite a last minute pledge to subscribe in a limited sense.[2] He preached before parliament in January 1657, and the same year he became vicar of
St Lawrence Jewry, London, but was restored to his deanery in 1659.[1]
After the death of
Oliver Cromwell, he and other presbyterians sought an accommodation with
Richard Cromwell, and on 11 October 1658, on behalf of himself and other London presbyterian ministers, Reynolds delivered an oral address to the new protector. In 1659 he preached at the opening session of parliament, and his sermons to parliament and London notables throughout 1659 and 1660 became increasingly pointed about the need for peace, unity, and moderation, codes for the restoration of the monarchy and a moderate
episcopacy.[2]
After the Restoration
At the
Restoration in 1660, he was made chaplain to
Charles II. In the same year he was elected warden of
Merton College, Oxford, and made bishop of Norwich. He was
elected to the See on 28 November 1660,
confirmed 24 December, and consecrated a bishop on 13 January 1661.[3] His contribution to the
Book of Common Prayer is The General Thanksgiving prayer which is part of the office of
Morning Prayer.[1] His collected works were published in 1658, again in 1679 and, with a memoir of his life by Alexander Chambers, in 1826.[2]
Later years and death
In his later years Reynolds was severely affected by
the stone and
strangury, and he died on 28 July 1676 at his bishop's palace. He was buried on 9 August in the bishop's chapel he had newly built at Norwich. He was survived by his wife Mary.[2] Their daughter Elizabeth married
John Conant.
Works
An explication of the hundred and tenth Psalm (1837 printing)
An explication of the hundred and tenth Psalm : wherein the several heads of Christian religion therein contained, touching the exaltation of Christ, the scepter of his kingdom, the character of his subjects, his priesthood, victories, sufferings, and resurrection, are largely explained and applied : being the substance of several sermons preached at Lincolns Inne (1642)
^
abcdCyclopaedia of Biblical, Theological, and Ecclesiastical Literature. Prepared by the Rev. John M'Clintock, D.D., and James Strong, S.T.D. 1891. Vol. VIII:1078.