Thomas Newton

The Right Reverend
Thomas Newton
Bishop of Bristol
Diocese Diocese of Bristol
In office 21 December 1761 (election confirmed)–1782 (died)
Predecessor Philip Yonge
Successor Lewis Bagot
Other posts Canon Precentor of York Minster (Driffield prebend, 16 June 1759–11 February 1761)
Canon of Westminster (22 March 1757–1761)[1]
Canon of St Paul's (Portpool prebend, 20 November 1761–1782)
Dean of St Paul's (8 October 1768–1782)
Personal details
Born (1704-01-01)1 January 1704
Lichfield, Staffordshire, England
Died 14 February 1782(1782-02-14) (aged 78)
City of London
Buried St Paul's Cathedral
Nationality British (prev. English)
Denomination Anglican
Residence The Old Deanery, London (at death)
Parents John Newton & Isabel née Rhodes
Spouse 1. Jane Trebeck (m. 18 August 1747; she died 1754)
2. Elizabeth née Vaughan (m. 5 September 1761; widowed 1782)
Alma mater Trinity College, Cambridge
Ordination history of
Thomas Newton
History
Diaconal ordination
Ordained by Edmund Gibson, Bishop of London
Date 21 December 1729
Priestly ordination
Ordained by Gibson
Date 22 February 1730
Episcopal consecration
Consecrated by Bishops of London, Winchester, Salisbury & Rochester
Date 28 December 1761
Place Lambeth Palace chapel
Source(s): [2][3]

Thomas Newton (1 January 1704 – 14 February 1782) was an English cleric, biblical scholar and author. He served as the Bishop of Bristol from 1761 to 1782.

Biography

Newton was educated at Trinity College, Cambridge and was subsequently elected a fellow of Trinity.[4] He was ordained in the Church of England and continued scholarly pursuits. His more remembered works include his annotated edition of Paradise Lost, including a biography of John Milton, published in 1749. In 1754 he published a large scholarly analysis of the prophecies of the Bible, titled Dissertations on the Prophecies. In his 1761 edition of Milton's poetry, he gave the title On His Blindness to Sonnet XIX, When I Consider How My Light is Spent.

Newton was appointed the Bishop of Bristol in 1761 and in 1768 became the Dean of St Paul's Cathedral in London. He has been considered a Christian universalist.[5][6]

Titlepage of a 1752-1761 edition of Newton's extensively annotated works of John Milton, particularly Paradise Lost and Paradise Regained.

One of Newton's famous quotes concerns the Jewish people:

The preservation of the Jews is really one of the most signal and illustrious acts of divine Providence... and what but a supernatural power could have preserved them in such a manner as none other nation upon earth hath been preserved. Nor is the providence of God less remarkable in the destruction of their enemies, than in their preservation... We see that the great empires, which in their turn subdued and oppressed the people of God, are all come to ruin... And if such hath been the fatal end of the enemies and oppressors of the Jews, let it serve as a warning to all those, who at any time or upon any occasion are for raising a clamor and persecution against them.

References

  1. ↑ Horn, Joyce M. (1992), Fasti Ecclesiae Anglicanae 1541–1857, 7, pp. 83–97
  2. ↑ Ordination Record: Newton, Thomas in "CCEd, the Clergy of the Church of England database" (Accessed online, 31 May 2015)
  3. ↑ Ordination Record: Newton, Thomas in "CCEd, the Clergy of the Church of England database" (Accessed online, 31 May 2015)
  4. ↑ "Newton, Thomas (NWTN723T)". A Cambridge Alumni Database. University of Cambridge.
  5. ↑ Richard Bauckham. "Universalism: a historical survey". Themelios 4.2 (September 1978): 47-54.
  6. ↑ "Plain Guide to Universalism: Who Are Universalists?". Accessed Dec. 5, 2007.

Sources

Church of England titles
Preceded by
Philip Yonge		 Bishop of Bristol
1761–1782		 Succeeded by
Lewis Bagot
Preceded by
Frederick Cornwallis		 Dean of St Paul's
1768–1782		 Succeeded by
Thomas Thurlow


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