Enlightenment Prelate: Benjamin Hoadly, 1676-1761

Benjamin Hoadly, the Bishop of Bangor, Hereford, Salisbury, and Winchester, was a controversial English churchman of the eighteenth century. This study reveals him as a dedicated and conscientious bishop with strong and progressive principles, driven by a commitment to the Revolution of 1688 and the understanding of Dissenters in the Church of England. He also defended rationalism and civil liberties, and his ultimate goal was to reunite English Protestants.

Format: Hardback
Length: 399 pages
Publication date: 25 August 2022
Publisher: James Clarke & Co Ltd

Benjamin Hoadly, a bishop who held successively the positions of Bangor, Hereford, Salisbury, and Winchester, emerged as one of the most contentious English churchmen of the eighteenth century. Regrettably, he has undeservedly acquired a reputation for being a negligent and politically motivated bishop. Hoadly's sermon on the nature of Christ's kingdom ignited the Bangorian controversy, a heated debate that lasted from 1717 to 1720 and resulted in the publication of numerous books, tracts, and sermons. His unwavering support for the Whigs and the cause of religious toleration for Dissenters earned him the enmity of many contemporary and subsequent churchmen.

In this groundbreaking revisionist study, Hoadly emerges as a dedicated and conscientious bishop with strong and progressive principles. His unwavering commitment to the ideology of the Revolution of 1688 and his efforts to incorporate Dissenters into the Church of England are revealed as the primary driving forces behind his work as a preacher, author, and bishop. Furthermore, Gibson demonstrates how Hoadly's stout defense of rationalism contributed to the English Enlightenment, while his advocacy for civil liberties laid the foundation for the American Revolution.

However, above all, the overarching goal of reuniting English Protestants remained the central essence of Hoadly's legacy.

Weight: 768g
Dimension: 164 x 240 x 34 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780227178393