Copies of Prayers

Anthony Sparrow (1612-1685) was born at Depden, near Bury St Edmunds. He matriculated at Queens' College, Cambridge, in 1625 (B.A., 1629; M.A., 1632; B.D., 1639; D.D., 1661), where he was a fellow, 1633-1644. He became rector of Hawkedon, Suffolk, in 1647, but was ejected after only five weeks for preaching the Book of common prayer. He was restored to the rectorship in 1660, and that year became archdeacon of Sudbury. Sparrow was a prebendary of Ely, 1661-1667, president of Queens' College, 1662-1667, and vice-chancellor of Cambridge University, 1664-1665. He became bishop of Exeter in 1667, and bishop of Norwich in 1676. In 1657 he wrote a Rationale upon the book of common prayer. He died at Norwich on 19 May 1685.

A copy of the Psalter taken from Robert Barker's edition of the Book of common prayer (London, 1633), interleaved with copies of prayers made by Anthony Sparrow after 1650, taken mostly from Bishop Jeremy Taylor, 136 folios: (fo. 2) 'Thomas & Agnes Preist 1763 This was my Dear Great Grandfather Sparrow's Books, & the Manuscripts prayers writt by him'; (fo. 132v) 'Thomas Preist His Book 1709 Thomas Preist His Hand 1711'. On the inside cover is the bookplate of George Belcher Blomfield and 'From the library of Guy Fielden, Esq., 10/10/06'.

Purchased 1913.

Please cite as Cambridge University Library, Department of Manuscripts and University Archives, Copies of Prayers, MS Add.5355