Samuel Annesley and the Cripplegate Morning Exercises

Chapter One: An Eminently Useful Man “A Son Asked of God” Little is known today of seventeenth-century Puritan divine, Dr. Samuel Annesley, and yet his role as spiritual guide and leader in the seventeenth-century English church, racked with political and social dilemmas, is worthy of study. We shall see that Samuel Annesley was a scholar of considerable ability, possessing ample leadership gifts, administrative abilities, and counselling skills. These he zealously used in in efforts to guide the church towards holy Biblical living, vigorously applying the tools of casuistical research to the application of moral theology in the church and the pursuit of holiness for seventeenth-century Christians who sought to identify the fine line between living “in the world but not of the world” During his ministry at St. Giles, Cripplegate, Samuel Annesley cast his lot with those who were not able to conscientiously submit to the terms of the 1662 Act of Uniformity, which required English pastors to comply with the administration of prayers and rites of the Church of England as prescribed in the 1662 Book of Common Prayer. Resolute and resilient, Annesley was a man of eminent integrity who rendered much useful service to dissenting brethren who turned to him for direction and help, a “Puritan casuist of ability…who deserves to be known not only as the father of Susanna Wesley but as a stalwart and scholarly leader of Nonconformity.” It is the goal of this academic study to come to an understanding of him as such, in light of the historical, intellectual, and ecclesiastical milieu in which he lived and labored. A basic sketch of Annesley’s birth and background is provided for us by Alexander B. Grosart in his biographical article on Samuel Annesley: ANNESLEY, SAMUEL (1620? -1696), one of the most eminent of the later puritan nonconformists, was the son of John Aneley [sic] of Harley, in Warwickshire…Annesley was born “about the year 1620” at Kellingworth, near Warwick. Deprived of his father in his fourth year, the care of his education devolved on his mother, who was ‘a very prudent and religious woman.’ In Michaelmas term, 1635, he was admitted a student in Queen’s College, Oxford, and there he proceeded successively B.A. and M.A…Like others he must have had a twofold ordination. First, Anthony A Wood informs us “he took holy orders from a bishop.” Secondly, Calamy adduces a certificate of Presbyterian ordination, dated 18 Dec. 1644, and subscribed by seven Presbyterian ministers…’ Supplementing and confirming the above information is the testimony from a contemporary and parishioner of Annesley’s, Daniel Williams: He was born of very godly Parents, at Kellingworth near Warwick, Anno 1620. And their only Child. The name Samuel was appointed for him by his eminently Pious Grand-mother, who died before his Birth, and gave this reason for her desire that he should be so called, I can say I have asked him of God. His infancy was strangely impressed with thoughts of being a Minister, (to which his Parents dedicated him from the Womb) which so transported him from 5 or 6 years old, as to engage him in unusual industry in what improv’d him in order to it; then it was he took up a custom which he always observed, viz. Reading 20 chapters in the Bible every day. Regarding Annesley’s subsequent path to the ministry, Grosart goes on to provide the following information: In process of time his own behaviour and the great interest he had with such as were then in power” [sic] procured him one of the prizes of the church., viz. Cliffe in Kent. Here he succeeded Dr. Griffith Higges, who was ejected for his loyalty to the king and treason to the Commonwealth… The parishioners were devoted to their ejected clergyman and were disposed to show their esteem by rude and rough misconduct towards his successor. Annesley told them “that if they conceived him to be iased by the value of so considerable a living, they were exceedingly mistaken; that he came among them with an intent to do good to their souls, and that he was resolved to stay, how ill soever they used him, till he had fitted them for the reception of a better minister; which whenever it happened, he would leave them, notwithstanding the great value of the living”. In July 1648 he preached the fast sermon before the House of Commons…. About this time” [sic] he was “honored with the title of Doctor of Laws by the university of Oxford. The parishioners of Cliffe being not only reconciled, but greatly attached, to Annesley, he resigned the living that he might keep the promise that he had made to them “when they were in another disposition.” In 1657 he was nominated directly by Cromwell to be “lecturer of St. Paul’s,” and in 1658 was presented by Richard Cromwell to the vicarage of St. Giles, Cripplegate, London.