The Assertion of Liberty of Conscience By the Independents at the Westminster Assembly of Divines. Painted by John Rogers Herbert, R.A. (1810-1890)

The members of the Westminster Assembly of Divines, sometimes known collectively as the Westminster Divines, are those clergymen who participated in the Assembly that drafted the Westminster Confession of Faith. The Long Parliament's initial ordinance creating the Westminster Assembly appointed 121 ministers of the Church of England to the Assembly, as well as providing for participation on the part of 30 lay assessors (10 nobles and 20 commoners), as well as six Commissioners representing the Church of Scotland. Of the original 121 divines, approximately 25 never took their seats in the Assembly. The Parliament subsequently added 21 additional ministers to the Assembly (the additions being known to history as the Superadded Divines) to replace those ministers who did not attend, or who had died or become ill since the calling of the Assembly.

Note: In the list below, members of the Assembly without dates beside their names are mainly Royalists who did not take their seats in the Assembly because King Charles I instructed all loyal subjects not to participate in the Westminster Assembly.

Divines

Members of the Clergy (English and Welsh)
(in alphabetical order)
Dates of Participation Name Town County Notes
1643–1649 John Arrowsmith, D. D. (1602–1659) King's Lynn Norfolk Master of St John's College, Cambridge from 1644
1643–1649 Simeon Ashe (d. 1662) Cardiganshire
1643–1649 Theodore Bathurst (c.1587–1651)[1] Overton Wetsville Huntingdonshire
1643–1649 Thomas Baylie, B. D. (1581/2–1663) Manningford Bruce Wiltshire
1647–1649 Samuel Bolton (1605/6–1654) Middlesex
1644–1652 John Bond (1612–1676) Oxford University
1643–1644 Oliver Bowles,[2] B. D. (c.1577–1644) Sutton (near Biggleswade) Bedfordshire
1643–1649 William Bridge (1600/01–1671) Yarmouth Cumberland
Ralph Brownrigg, D. D. (1592–1659) Cambridge University Bishop of Exeter
Richard Buckley (c.1608–1653) Anglesey
1643–1649 Anthony Burges (d. 1664) Sutton Coldfield Warwickshire
1643–1649 Cornelius Burges, D. D. (d. 1665) Watford Hertfordshire
1643–1646 Jeremiah Burroughs (bap. 1601?, d. 1646) Stepney Middlesex
1643–1652 Adoniram Byfield (d. 1660) non-voting scribe
1645–1649 Richard Byfield (bap. 1598, d. 1664) Surrey
1643–1649 Edward Calamy, B. D. (1600–1666) London
Richard Capel (1586–1656) Pitchcombe Gloucestershire
1643–1645/6 John Carter (d. 1645/6) Yorkshire
1643–1652 Thomas Carter[3] (b. c.1585) Oxford
1643–1652 William Carter (1605–1658) Dynton Northumberland
1643–1652 Joseph Caryl (1602–1673) London of Lincoln's Inn
1643–1649 Thomas Case (bap. 1598, d. 1682) Cheshire
1643–1649 Daniel Cawdrey (1587/8–1664) Monmouthshire
1643–1649 Humphrey Chambers (bap. 1599?, d. 1662) Claverton Somerset
1643–1649 Francis Cheynell, D. D. (bap. 1608, d. 1665) Petworth Pembrokeshire
1643–1649 Peter Clark[4](b. c.1606) Carnaby Yorkshire
1643–1649 Richard Clayton (1597–1671) Shawell Leicestershire
Thomas Clendon (d. 1677) Carmarthenshire
Francis Coke (c.1600–1682) Yoxhall Staffordshire
1643–1646 Thomas Coleman (1597/8–1646) Blyton Lincolnshire
1643–1652 John Conant, D. D. (1608–1694) Lymington Somerset
1645–1649 Edward Corbet (b. 1590/91) Westmorland
1643–1652 Edward Corbet (1601x3–1658) Shropshire of Merton College, Oxford
1643–1649 Robert Crosse, B. D. (1604/5–1683) Oxfordshire of Lincoln College
1645–1649 Philippé Delmé (d. 1653)
Calybute Downing, D. D. (1606–1644) Hackney Middlesex
William Dunning (b. 1599) Godalston
1645–1652 John Dury (1596–1680) Middlesex
John Earle (1598x1601–1665) Bishopston Bristol became Bishop of Worcester in 1662 and was translated to the See of Salisbury 10 months later
Edward Ellis, B. D. (b. c.1603, d. in or after 1650) Gilsfield Montgomeryshire
1643 Daniel Featley, D. D. (1582–1645) Surrey of Lambeth
1645–1649 Thomas Ford (1598–1674) Bedfordshire
1643–1649 John Foxcraft[5] (1595–1662) Gotham Nottinghamshire
1643–1649 Hannibal Gammon (bap. 1582, d. 1650/51) Maugan Cornwall
1643–1649 Thomas Gataker, B. D. (1574–1654) Rotherhithe Carnarvonshire
1643–1649 John Gibbon (b. c.1587) Waltham
1643–1649 George Gibbs (c.1590–1654) Aylestone Leicestershire
1643–1649 Samuel Gibson (b. c.1580) Burley Rutland
1644–1649 William Good (b. 1600)
1643–1649 Thomas Goodwin, D. D. (1600–1680) Cambridgeshire
1643–1649 William Gouge, D. D. (1575–1653) Derbyshire of Blackfriars
1643–1649 Stanley Gower (bap. 1600?, d. 1660) Brampton Bryan Herefordshire
1643–1649? John Greene (fl. 1641–1647) Pencombe Herefordshire
1643–1649 William Greenhill (1597/8–1671) Stepney Durham
John Hacket, D. D. (1592–1670) Radnorshire of St. Andrew's London; Bishop of Lichfield and Coventry from 1661
1643–1644 Henry Hall,[6] B. D. (c.1604–1644) Norwich Westmorland
Henry Hammond, D. D. (1605–1660) Penshurst Kent
1644–1649 Humphrey Hardwick (b. 1602)
John Harris, D. D. (1587/8–1658) Monmouthshire Warden of Winchester College
1643–1652 Robert Harris, B. D. (1580/81–1658) Hanwell Oxfordshire
1643–1649 Charles Herle (1597/8–1659) Winwick Lancashire
1643–1649 Richard Heyrick (1600–1667) Manchester Lancashire
1643–1649 Gaspar Hickes (1605–1677) Lawrick Cornwall
Samuel Hildersham[7] (1594?–1674) Fetton Shropshire
1643–1649 Thomas Hill, B. D. (d. 1653) Tickmarsh Northamptonshire
1643–1649 Thomas Hodges[8] (c.1600–1672) Kensington
Richard Holdsworth, D. D. (1590–1649) of Cambridge
1643–1649 Joshua Hoyle, D. D. (bap. 1588, d. 1654) Cumberland of Dublin, Ireland
Henry Hutton (d. 1671) Westmorland
1643–1648 John Jackson[9] (1600–1648) Marsac Northumberland
1646–1652 Robert Johnston[10] (d. 1670) Yorkshire
1643–1649 John Langley (d. 1657) West-Tuderly Hampshire
William Launce (c.1588–1666) Harrow London
1643–1649 John Ley (1584–1662) Budworth Cheshire
1643–1652 John Lightfoot, D. D. (1602–1675) Ashley, Staffordshire Staffordshire
Richard Love, D. D. (1596–1661) Ekington Derbyshire
William Lyford (1597?–1653) Sherbourne
1643–1651 Jean de la Marche (1585–1651) Guernsey of the French Congregations
1643–1649 Stephen Marshall, B. D. (1594/5?–1655) Finchingfield Essex
1643–1649 John Maynard (1600–1665) Sussex
1643–1649 William Mew, B. D. (1602–1659) Eastington Gloucestershire
1643–1649 Thomas Micklethwaite[11] (d. 1663) Cherryburton
William Moreton (d. 1643) Newcastle upon Tyne Durham
George Morley, D. D. (1598?–1684) Monmouthshire of Minden Hall; later he became Bishop of Worcester, then Bishop of Winchester
1643–1649 Matthew Newcomen (d. 1669) Dedham Essex
William Nicholson, D. D. (1591–1672) Carmarthenshire afterwards Bishop of Gloucester
Henry Nye (1589–1643) Clapham Sussex
1643–1652 Philip Nye (bap. 1595, d. 1672) Kimbolton Huntingdonshire
1643–1644 Henry Painter (c.1583–1644) Exeter Devon
1643–1647 Herbert Palmer, B. D. (1601–1647) Ashwell Bedfordshire
1643 Edward Peale (1583–1645) Compton Dorsetshire
1643–1649 Andrew Perne (c.1595–1654) Wilby Northamptonshire
1643–1649 John Philips[12] (c.1585–1663) Wrentham Suffolk
1643–1649 Benjamin Pickering (fl. 1620–1649) East Hoatly Sussex
1643–1649 Samuel de la Place (1576/7–1658) Jersey of the French Congregations
1643–1649 William Price (d. 1666) of St. Paul's Covent Garden
1643–1649 Nicholas Prophet (c.1599–1669) Marlborough Wiltshire
John Pyne (bap. 1600, d. 1678) Bereferrars Devon
1643–1644 William Rathbone (d. 1644) Monmouthshire
1643–1652 William Rayner[13] (c.1595–1666) Egham Berkshire
1643–1649 Edward Reynolds (1599–1676) Brampton Northamptonshire became Bishop of Norwich at The Restoration (1660)
1643–1649 Henry Roborough (d. 1649) non-voting scribe
1643–1652 Arthur Sallaway (b. 1606) Severn Stoake Worcestershire
Robert Sanderson, D. D. (1587–1663) Boothby-Pagnell Lincolnshire
1643–1649 Henry Scudder (d. 1652) Colingbourne Wiltshire
1643–1649 Lazarus Seaman, B. D. (d. 1675) London
1643–1649 Obadiah Sedgwick, B. D. (1599/1600–1658) Coggeshall Essex
Josias Shute, B. D. (bap. 1588, d. 1643) Lombard Street, London Cardiganshire
1643–1652 Sidrach Simpson (c.1600–1655) Worcestershire some sources say he was of London
1643–1649 Peter Smith, D. D. (1586–1653) Barkway Hertfordshire also known as Brocket Smith
1643–1649 William Spurstowe, D. D. (d. 1666) Hampden Merioneth
1643–1649 Edmund Staunton, D. D. (1600–1671) Kingston Surrey
1643–1652 Peter Sterry (1613–1672) London
1643–1649 Matthias Stiles or Styles[14] (1591–1652) Eastcheap Oxford University, London
1644–1652 John Strickland (bap. 1601?, d. 1670) Cambridge University
1646–1649 William Strong (d. 1654) Dorset
1643–1649 Francis Taylor[15] (1589–1656) Yalding Kent
1643–1649 Thomas Temple,[16] B. D. (c.1601–1661) Battersey Brecknockshire
1643–1649 Thomas Thorowgood[17] (c.1595–1669) Massingham Norfolk
1643–1649 Christopher Tesdale (1592–1655) Uphurstbourne Hampshire
1643–1649 Henry Tozer, B. D. (c.1601–1650) Glamorganshire of Oxford
1643–1649 Anthony Tuckney, D. D. (1599–1670) Boston Lincolnshire
1643–1646 William Twisse, D. D. (1577/8–1646) Newbury Berkshire Prolocutor of the Assembly from its beginning until his death
James Ussher (1581–1656) Oxford University Archbishop of Armagh
1643–1649 Thomas Valentine,[18] B. D. (1586–1665) Chalfent Giles Buckinghamshire
1643–1649 Richard Vines (1599/1600–1656) Calcot Warwickshire
1643–1649 George Walker, B. D. (bap. 1582?, d. 1651) London
1643–1649 John Wallis (1616–1703) non-voting scribe; also a mathematician
1645 John Ward (d. 1665)
Samuel Ward, D. D. (1572–1643) Cambridge University Master of Sidney Sussex College, Cambridge
1643–1649 James Welby (fl. 1643–1649) Sylatten Denbighshire
1643 Thomas Westfield, D. D. (1573–1644) Bishop of Bristol
Francis Whiddon (c.1599–1656/7) Moretonhampstead Devon
1643–1649 Jeremiah Whitaker (1599–1654) Stretton Rutland
1643–1648 John White (1575–1648) Dorchester Dorset
1643–1649 Henry Wilkinson the younger, B. D. (1610–1675) Stepney London of St. Dunstan's
1643–1647 Henry Wilkinson the elder, B. D. (1566–1647) Waddesden Buckinghamshire
1643–1649 Thomas Wilson (c.1601–1653) Otham Kent
1643–1647 John Wincop,[19] D. D. (c.1602–1647) Elesworth of St Martin-in-the-Fields
1643–1649 Francis Woodcock (1614–1649×51) Durham
1643–1649 Thomas Young (c.1587–1655) Stowmarket Suffolk

Lay Assessors

Nobles

Members of the House of Lords who served as
Lay Assessors at the Westminster Assembly
(in alphabetical order by family name)
Dates of Participation Name
1643–1649 William Cecil, 2nd Earl of Salisbury (1591–1668)
Edward Conway, 2nd Viscount Conway (bap. 1594, d. 1655)
1644–1646 Robert Devereux, 3rd Earl of Essex (1591–1646)
Basil Feilding, 2nd Earl of Denbigh (c.1608–1675)
1643–1649 William Fiennes, 1st Viscount Saye and Sele (1582–1662)
William Grey, 1st Baron Grey of Werke (1593/4–1674)
1643–1649 Philip Herbert, 4th Earl of Pembroke (1584–1650)
1643–1649 Edward Howard, 1st Baron Howard of Escrick (d. 1675)
1643–1649 Edward Montagu, 2nd Earl of Manchester (1602–1671)
1643–1649 Algernon Percy, 10th Earl of Northumberland (1602–1668)
Henry Rich, 1st Earl of Holland (1591–1668)
c.1644–1649 Robert Rich, 2nd Earl of Warwick (1587–1658)
Oliver St John, 1st Earl of Bolingbroke (c.1584–1646)
1643–1649 Philip Wharton, 4th Baron Wharton (1613–1696)

Commoners

Members of the House of Commons who served as
Lay Assessors at the Westminster Assembly
(in alphabetical order)
Dates of Participation Name Notes
1644 Sir Thomas Barrington (c.1585–1644)
1643–1647 John Clotworthy, 1st Viscount Massereene (d. 1665)
1643–1649 John Cooke (bap. 1608, d. 1660) one of the regicides
1643–1649 Sir John Evelyn (1601–1685)
1643?–1649 Nathaniel Fiennes (1607/8–1669)
1643?–1649 Sir Gilbert Gerard (1587–1670)
1643?–1649 Sir John Glynne (1603–1666)
1644–1649 Sir Robert Harley (bap. 1579, d. 1656)
1643–1649 Arthur Haselrig (1601–1661)
1644–1649 William Masham (1615/16–1654/5)
1643?–1649 Sir John Maynard (1602–1690)
1643–1649 William Pierrepont (1607/8–1678)
1643–1649 Edmond Prideaux (1601–1659)
1643–1649 Sir Robert Pye (bap. 1585, d. 1662)
1643 John Pym (1584–1643)
1644–1649 Sir Robert Reynolds (1600/01–1678)
1643–1649 Francis Rous (1580/81–1659)
1643–1649 Sir Benjamin Rudyerd (1572–1658)
1643–1649 Oliver St John (c.1598–1673)
1643–1649 Humphrey Salwey (c.1575–1652)
1643–1649 John Selden (1584–1654)
1645 William Strode (bap. 1594, d. 1645)
1644?–1649 Zouch Tate (1606–1650)
1643–1649 Sir Henry Vane the Younger (1613–1662)
1643–1649 Sir Henry Vane the Elder (1589–1655)
1643–1649 William Wheeler (c.1601–1666)
1643–1645 John White (1590–1645)
1643–1649 Bulstrode Whitelocke (1605–1675)
John Wilde (1590–1669)
Walter Yonge (bap. 1579, d. 1649)

Scottish Commissioners

Ministers

Church of Scotland Ministers who served as
Commissioners at the Westminster Assembly
 (in alphabetical order)
Dates of Participation Name
1643–1647 Robert Baillie (1602–1662)
Robert Blair (1593–1666)
Robert Douglas (1594–1674)
1643–1647 George Gillespie (1613–1648)
1643–1645 Alexander Henderson (c.1583–1646)
1643–1647 Samuel Rutherford (c.1600–1661)

Elders

Church of Scotland Elders who served as
Commissioners at the Westminster Assembly
 (in alphabetical order by family name)
Dates of Participation Name
1646 Archibald Campbell, 1st Marquess of Argyll (1605x7–1661)
1644–1646 John Campbell, 1st Earl of Loudoun (1598–1662)
1644–1647 John Elphinstone, 2nd Lord Balmerino (d. 1649)
1645 Sir Charles Erskine of Alva (d. 1663)
1644–1646 Archibald Johnston, Lord Warriston (bap. 1611, d. 1663)
John Kennedy, 6th Earl of Cassilis (1601x7–1668)
1643–1648 John Maitland, Viscount Maitland (1616–1682)
Robert Meldrum (fl. 1620–1647)
1647 George Winram, Lord Liberton (d. 1650)

References

Notes

  1. ^ The rector of Orton Waterville, which was then in Huntingdonshire, and now is part of Orton, Cambridgeshire in the Peterborough area, at the time was Theodore Bathurst ("Bathurst, Theodore (BTRT602T)". A Cambridge Alumni Database. University of Cambridge.), otherwise known for a Latin translation made c.1608 of Edmund Spenser's The Shepheardes Calender. The original parliamentary summons is, though, to Theophilus Bathurst, of Orton Watervile.[1].
  2. ^ "Bowles, Oliver (BWLS593O)". A Cambridge Alumni Database. University of Cambridge.; author of De Pastore Evangelico Tractatus [2].
  3. ^ "Carter, Thomas (CRTR604T)". A Cambridge Alumni Database. University of Cambridge.
  4. ^ "Clark, Peter (CLRK622P)". A Cambridge Alumni Database. University of Cambridge.
  5. ^ "Foxcroft, John (FKST611J)". A Cambridge Alumni Database. University of Cambridge.
  6. ^ "Hall, Henry (HL620H)". A Cambridge Alumni Database. University of Cambridge.
  7. ^ "Samuel Hildersham (HLDN609S)". A Cambridge Alumni Database. University of Cambridge.
  8. ^ "Hodges, Thomas (HGS620T)". A Cambridge Alumni Database. University of Cambridge.
  9. ^ "Jackson, John (JK613J)". A Cambridge Alumni Database. University of Cambridge.
  10. ^ "Johnson, Robert (JHN620R)". A Cambridge Alumni Database. University of Cambridge.
  11. ^ "Mickelthwaite, Thomas (MKLT591T)". A Cambridge Alumni Database. University of Cambridge.
  12. ^ "Philip, John (PHLP600J)". A Cambridge Alumni Database. University of Cambridge.
  13. ^ "Rayner, William (RNR611W)". A Cambridge Alumni Database. University of Cambridge.
  14. ^ "Matthias Stiles (STLS614M)". A Cambridge Alumni Database. University of Cambridge.; his church was St George Botolph Lane until 1645, when he was sequestered.
  15. ^ "Taylor, Francis (TLR605F)". A Cambridge Alumni Database. University of Cambridge.
  16. ^ "Temple, Thomas (TML627T)". A Cambridge Alumni Database. University of Cambridge.
  17. ^ "Thurgood, Thomas (THRT611T2)". A Cambridge Alumni Database. University of Cambridge.
  18. ^ "Valentine, Thomas (VLNN603T)". A Cambridge Alumni Database. University of Cambridge.
  19. ^ "Whinncopp, John (WHNP618J)". A Cambridge Alumni Database. University of Cambridge.
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