LOVE, CHRISTOPHER (1618 - 1651), Presbyterian minister

Name: Christopher Love
Date of birth: 1618
Date of death: 1651
Parent: Christopher Love
Gender: Male
Occupation: Presbyterian minister
Area of activity: Religion
Author: Robert Tudur Jones

Born at Cardiff, the youngest son of Christopher Love. He attributed his conversion to the agency of William Erbery. His father was opposed to his religious convictions, so his mother and Erbery paid for his education. He studied at New Inn Hall, Oxford, and graduated B.A. 2 May 1639, and M.A. 26 June 1642.

His remaining years he spent outside Wales. He favoured an ultra-Presbyterian point of view. First, he was family chaplain to sheriff Warner in London; then he became lecturer at S. Ann's, Aldersgate. He tried unsuccessfully to get Presbyterian ordination in Scotland. He returned to England in 1641, and was imprisoned at Newcastle for attacking the Book of Common Prayer. After being removed to London he was tried at the King's Bench and found innocent. In the Civil War he was chaplain to Venn's regiment. He preached before Parliament, 25 November 1645. In 1647 he was minister of S. Ann's, Aldersgate, and later at S. Lawrence Jewry. From 1648 he was minister of S. Bartholomew's, Exchange.

Arrested on 14 May 1651 he was accused of treason against the Commonwealth, by corresponding with the exiled Charles Stuart. The trial ended 5 July and he was condemned to death. The execution took place on Tower Hill, 22 August 1651, and he was buried in the church of S. Lawrence.

Author

Published date: 1959

Article Copyright: http://rightsstatements.org/page/InC/1.0/

The Dictionary of Welsh Biography is provided by The National Library of Wales and the University of Wales Centre for Advanced Welsh and Celtic Studies. It is free to use and does not receive grant support. A donation would help us maintain and improve the site so that we can continue to acknowledge Welsh men and women who have made notable contributions to life in Wales and beyond.

Find out more on our sponsorship page.