Ken, Thomas

1637 - Thomas Ken, born in Little Berkhampstead, Hertfordshire, SE England, UK on the month of July. He English churchman, was the most eminent of the English non-juring bishops, and one of the fathers of modern English hymnology

1652 - He entered Winchester College.

1656 - Became a student of Hart Hall, Oxford.

1657 - He gained a fellowship at New College.

1662 - Ordained, he successively held the livings of Little Easton in Essex, Brighstone (sometimes called Brixton) in the Isle of Wight, and East Woodhay in Hampshire.

1669 - He became a prebendary of Winchester cathedral.

1672 - He resigned and returned to Winchester, being by this time a prebendary of the cathedral, and chaplain to the bishop, as well as a fellow of Winchester College.

1674 - His Manual of Prayers for the use of the Scholars of Winchester College was first published and started composing hymns.

1680 - Became the royal chaplain to Charles II.

1685 - Appointed Bishop of Bath and Wells.

1688 - He refused to publish in his diocese the Declaration of Indulgence issued by James II.

       - With seven other bishops he was imprisoned, tried for sedition, and acquitted. After the Revolution he refused to swear allegiance to William of Orange, and was deprived of his bishopric.

1691 - He took his place among the non-jurors, and, as he stood firm to his refusal, he was, in August, superseded in his bishopric by Dr Richard Kidder, dean of Peterborough.

1711 - Died on the 19th of March in Long­bridge Deverill, Wiltshire, England.