Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900/Warren, Thomas

734661Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900, Volume 59 — Warren, Thomas1899Alexander Gordon

WARREN, THOMAS (1617?–1694), nonconformist divine, was born about 1617. He was educated at Cambridge, and graduated M.A. In 1650 he was presented by parliament to the rectory of Houghton, Hampshire, sequestered from Francis Alexander. On 22 Dec. 1660 he was ordained deacon and priest in Scotland by Thomas Sydserff [q. v.]; he was instituted (1 Feb. 1661) to his rectory by Brian Duppa [q. v.], and inducted 7 Feb. He resigned in consequence of the Uniformity Act of 1662. According to his papers, which came into the hands of his grandson, Henry Taylor (1711–1785) [q. v.], he was offered a choice of the bishoprics of Salisbury and Winchester. Under the indulgence of 1672 he took out a license (1 July) as a presbyterian preacher in the house of Thomas Burbank at Romsey, Hampshire. He appears to have had doubts about availing himself of James II's declaration for liberty of conscience in 1687. He continued his labours at Romsey for eighteen years. Latterly he became almost blind. He died at Romsey on 27 Jan. 1693–4, aged 77, and was buried in the parish church. His portrait belongs to the independent congregation at Romsey. Besides several sermons, he published, in reply to William Eyre (d. 1670) of Salisbury, ‘Unbeleevers no Subjects of Justification,’ 1654, 4to.

[Calamy's Account, 1713, pp. 339, 756; Calamy's Continuation, 1727, i. 508; Walker's Sufferings of the Clergy, 1714, ii. 77; Palmer's Nonconformist's Memorial, 1802, ii. 268; Bogue and Bennett's Hist. of Dissenters, 1833, i. 457.]

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