Chaderton, Laurence

CHADERTON, LAURENCE: Puritan; b. near Oldham (8 m. n.e. of Manchester), Lancashire, Sept. 14, 1536 or 1538; d. at Cambridge Nov. 13, 1640. He studied at Christ's College, Cambridge (B.A., 1567; B.D., 1578; D.D., 1613), and there embraced the Protestant religion, for which his father threatened to disinherit him. He became fellow, dean, tutor, and lecturer of his college, and as afternoon lecturer of St. Clement's Church, Cambridge, for nearly fifty years acquired fame as a preacher and exerted a far-reaching influence. When Sir Walter Mildmay founded Emmanuel College in 1584 he insisted on Chaderton's becoming master, and the latter filled the office with much ability and success till 1622, when he resigned. From 1598 to 1640 he was prebendary of Lincoln. Though a Puritan he was moderate in views and conciliatory in manners. He was a member of the Hampton Court Conference, and was one of the Cambridge committee of Bible translators. He appears to have published nothing except an anonymous tract, De justificatione, and a single sermon.

Bibliography: W. Dillingham, Vita Chadertoni, ed. J. Dillingham, Cambridge, 1700, Eng. transl. by E. S. Schuckburgh, ib. 1884; DNB, ix. 430–432.