chambers_search-1

Search Chambers

Consult Chambers 21st Century Dictionary, The Chambers Thesaurus (1996) or Chambers Biographical Dictionary (1997 edition with amendments). Enter your search and choose your title from the drop-down menu.

Baxter, Richard 1615-91
English nonconformist churchman

Born in Rowton, Shropshire, he acquired great knowledge by private study, and in 1638 was made a deacon. He adopted nonconformist views, and during the English Civil War was army chaplain for the Puritans. At the Restoration he was appointed a royal chaplain, but the Act of Uniformity (1662) drove him out of the English Church. He returned to London in 1672, where he preached and wrote, arguing for the toleration of dissent within the Church. His controversial opinions led him in 1685 to be brought before Judge Jeffreys for alleged sedition, and he was imprisoned for 18 months.