Arms of Edward Reynolds, Bishop of Norwich: See of Norwich (Azure, three mitres labelled or) impaling Reynolds (Argent, a chevron chequy gules and azure between three cross-crosslets sable).Lincoln's Inn Chapel, where he served as Preacher
Edward Reynolds (November 1599 – 28 July 1676) was abishop of Norwich in theChurch of England and an author.[1] He was born inHolyrood parish inSouthampton, the son of Augustine (Austin) Reynolds, one of the customers of the city, and his wife, Bridget.
In 1615, Reynolds became postmaster ofMerton College and in 1620, probationer fellow. In 1622 he was appointed Preacher atLincoln'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 ofAll Saints' Church, Northampton, and in 1631 rector ofBraunston, also inNorthamptonshire; but with the outbreak of the English Civil War in 1642, he sided with thePresbyterians.[1]In 1643 he was one of theWestminster Assembly divines, and took the covenant in 1644. In 1648 he became dean ofChrist Church, Oxford andvice-chancellor of the University of Oxford. He refused theengagement (1651) and despite his promise of obedience to the law, but not subscription to the oath inHumble 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 ofSt Lawrence Jewry, London, but was restored to his deanery in 1659.[1]
After the death ofOliver Cromwell, he and other presbyterians sought an accommodation withRichard 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 moderateepiscopacy.[2]
At theRestoration in 1660, he was made chaplain toCharles II. In the same year he was elected warden ofMerton College, Oxford, and made bishop of Norwich. He waselected to the See on 28 November 1660,confirmed 24 December, and consecrated a bishop on 13 January 1661.[3] His contribution to theBook of Common Prayer is The General Thanksgiving prayer which is part of the office ofMorning 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]
In his later years Reynolds was severely affected bythe stone andstrangury, 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 marriedJohn Conant.
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.
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