Thomas Ken 			March 22
Bishop of Bath and Wells, Poet
Thomas Ken’s long life spanned a period of many changes in England and within the Church of England. He was born in 1637. In 1657 he became a fellow of New College, Oxford, and was a teacher at Winchester College from 1672. He was a man of real moral strength and devotion, whose commitment to God and the church was the foundation of his life. His well-known hymns, “Awake my soul and with the sun”, and “Glory to thee, my God, this night”, show the simple clarity of his faith. The doxology he appended to both hymns has been a source of inspiration to many.
In 1683 Thomas became chaplain to King Charles II. To a man of Thomas’ devout simplicity, the licentious court life was a painful experience, but he maintained his integrity, going so far as to refuse the king’s mistress, Nell Gwynne, the use of his house. The king respected him for this and in 1684 appointed him bishop of Bath and Wells. The link of affection must have remained strong, for in 1685 Bishop Thomas gave the king absolution on his death-bed.
After Charles II’s death, James II came to the throne. James, as a Roman Catholic, wished by Royal Declaration of Indulgence to suspend the penal laws of the Restoration Settlement of 1660 against Nonconformists in England (including Roman Catholics). Thomas Ken and six other bishops refused the king’s demand to read the indulgence in church. All were arrested and tried, but acquitted. The king’s orders were generally disobeyed throughout the country, such was the feeling against the king’s intentions.
When in 1688 James abandoned the throne, and William and Mary were offered the crown, Bishop Thomas felt that he could not in good conscience swear allegiance to them. He had already sworn to James and could not ignore or recall the oath. The authorities would not accept this, and Thomas was deposed from his see in 1689. He then lived quietly without complaint, refusing reinstatement after the death of his successor. He died in 1711.
For Liturgical Use
Thomas Ken was born in 1637 and became bishop of Bath and Wells in 1684. Thomas opposed moves by James II to permit Roman Catholic and Nonconformist worship in England. For this he was, with six other bishops, arrested and tried, but acquitted. When James fled, Bishop Ken refused to swear allegiance to William and Mary because he had already sworn to James. For this he was deposed from his see. He was a devout, austere man, whose hymns, “Awake, my soul, and with the sun”, and “Glory to thee, my God, this night”, are still sung. He died in 1711.
Sentence
Your steadfast love, O Lord, is ever before my eyes, and I walk in the way of your faithfulness.				Psalm 26:3
Collects
God of love and goodness,
your servant Thomas Ken
bore witness to the truth before kings
and willingly suffered for conscience’ sake;
give us grace to follow Christ
in brave obedience and simplicity of life,
to the glory of your name;
through Jesus Christ our Saviour.
God, from whom all blessings flow,
we thank you for Thomas the bishop,
for his sincerity and his sense of the divine;
give us, we pray,
the patience to persevere in your truth as he did.
Psalms	15	34:1-10
Readings
Jeremiah 9:23-24		What pleases the Lord
Philippians 4:4-9		God’s peace
Luke 6:17-23		True happiness
Post Communion Sentence
Happy are those whose helper is the God of Jacob, whose hope is in the Lord their God.	
				Psalm 146:5