عنوان

An investigation into the possible transfer of theology and practice from continental Anabaptists to the first Quakers

Number

TLets567747

Title Proper

An investigation into the possible transfer of theology and practice from continental Anabaptists to the first Quakers

General Material Designation

[Thesis]

First Statement of Responsibility

Wright, StephenWright, Stephen

Name of Publisher, Distributor, etc.

University of Birmingham

Date of Publication, Distribution, etc.

2013

Dissertation or thesis details and type of degree

Thesis (Ph.D.)

Text preceding or following the note

2013

Text of Note

This thesis explores the hypothesis that, in view of some similarities in theology and practice, early Quakers, or proto-Quakers had knowledge of, or direct contact with continental Anabaptists prior to their first documented visit to the Netherlands in 1655. The five main findings of this research are: there is no evidence of contact between proto- Quakers and continental Anabaptists before 1655; there is evidence of much contact between early Quakers and English Baptist congregations in England, but uncertainty exists as to the theology of those Baptist groups; there is no evidence that the first Quaker visitors to the Netherlands had any prior knowledge of Dutch Anabaptist groups; alleged similarities between the writings of the Quaker leader George Fox and Jacob Böhme are coincidental; and it is likely that Fox's 'Uncle Pickering' was not a General Baptist as had previously been proposed. Subsidiary findings of this research are: there is no evidence that Fox's mother was 'of the stock of the martyrs'; Margaret Fell was not related to the Maryan martyr Anne Askew; Fox did positively acquire some of his theology from his parish priest Nathanial Stephens; 'Priest Boys' was either William Boys, perpetual curate at Goathland, or Roger or Thomas Boys of Lockton.

University of Birmingham

University of Birmingham

Electronic name

p

[Thesis]

276903

a

Y