Sic olim suos discipulos admonuit Salvator Hominum, D[ominus] Jesus Christus. Sic spectatissimum virum Fr[anciscum] P[ariz] Papaj, ad suos rediturum, Contra Veritatis Evangelicae Hostes hortatur, consolatur, Illique Omnia prospera atque felicia apprecatur Gul[ielmu]s provid[entia] divin[a] Cantuar[iensis] Arch[iepiscopu]s &er. Idibus Januar A. D. 1718. Stilo Anglic[o]    * Mt 10:28: Vulgate: “et nolite timere eos qui occidunt corpus animam autem non possunt occidere sed potius eum timete qui potest et animam et corpus perdere in gehennam” .

p. 469. [London], January 24, 1719

Wake, William
(1657-1737), English theologian, Archbishop of Canterbury

William Wake was born on January 26, 1656/57 in Blandford, Dorset county, the son of the local gentleman William Wake. After the local school in 1672 he immatriculated in Christ Church of Oxford, where he graduated M.A. in 1679. In 1682 he went to Paris as a chaplain of the English ambassador Vicomte Preston, and from then on he was engaged in the cause of the French Protestant church. In Paris, on commission of the Bishop of Oxford, he studied the Greek codices of the New Testament. After his return to England in 1688 he was the pastor of the famous college of jurists Gray’s Inn in London. He published pamphlets against the Catholic church. In 1689 he graduated doctor of theology (D.D.), and was appointed one of the court preachers of William III (1688-1702) and Queen Mary. From 1689 he was canon of Christ Church in Oxford, from 1694 pastor of St. James of Westminster in London, and from February of 1702/03 Archdeacon of Exeter. In 1705 he became Bishop of Lincoln, and in January 1715/16, after the death of Thomas Tenison (1636-1715), Archbishop of Canterbury. He died on January 24, 1736/37 in Lambeth's Palace, the see of the archbishops of Canterbury in London. He was an erudite and active, liberal and patient personality. He kept relations with the theologians of the Sorbonne and other French ecclesiastical personalities who disapproved certain papal measures. He made efforts for reconciliation and even unity between different Protestant factions, what is more, between the French and Anglican church. He left his numismatic collection and valuable library to Christ Church of Oxford. Some of his works, besides his sermons and pamphlets: An exposition of the doctrine of the Church of England … London, 1686. – Of our obligation to put our trust in God … In a sermon preached before the Honourable Society of Grayes-Inn, upon the occasion of the death of our late Royal Sovereign Queen Mary. By William Wake, D.D. Chaplain in Ordinary to his Majesty, and preacher to the same Society. London, 1695. – A short vindication of the Ld. Archbishop of Canterbury from the imputation of being the author of a letter lately printed at Zurich [in a pamphlet entitled Oratio historica de beneficiis a Deo in Ecclesiam Tigurinam], concerning the state of religion in England. London, 1719. – Preparation for death, being a letter sent to a young gentlewomen in France, in a dangerous distemper, of which she died, Ao 1684. Eighth ed. London, 1723. – The principles of the Christian religion explained, in a brief commentary upon the church catechism. London, 1699. – The doctrine of the Holy Eucharist. In: Gibson, Edmund: A preservative against Popery …, vol. 10. London, 1848. – Sure and honest means for the conversion of all hereticks … translated from the French … London, 1688.

Ferenc Pápai wrote from London on September 25, 1715 to Count Sándor Teleki, without mentioning names, that the old Archbishop of Canterbury (Thomas Tenison) did not even understand their cause; and on March 14, 1716 he related that the new Archbishop (William Wake), when having received them on audience before his promotion, “offered himself to our service with great benevolence” [Jankovics]. Following the appeal of George I on March 23, 1716, Archbishop William issued a circular on June 10, inviting the believers in his archbishoprics to support with their donations the Protestant churches of the continent in need [Gömöri: Adalékok]. Two and a half years later, on January 24, 1718/19 he wrote the words of Jesus in the album of Pápai Páriz: “And fear not them which kill the body…”, exhorting and consoling the owner of the album in the middle of the tribulations of his fatherland. – David Wilkins, Librarian of Lambeth Palace and later archiepiscopal chaplain wrote in the same day in the next page of the album (p. 471).

• DNB • Jöcher • Michaud