Archbishop, theologian and statesman. Supporter of King William III. Short biography and "Pointers for Prayer".

William King 1650-1729

William King was born in County Antrim to Scottish Presbyterians parents. He received his preliminary education at Dungannon. He converted to Anglicanism and grduated from Trinity College, Dublin in 1673, and in the same year was ordained. He became one of the most influential ecclesiastical and political figures of his day. in 1679 was appointed to the chancellorship of St. Patrick's, and next year was made Dean of the Cathedral.

King was friends with a number of the leading Tory satirists of the day, including Jonathan Swift, John Gay, Alexander Pope, John Arbuthnot, and their political allies, including Francis Atterbury, Robert Harley (Earl of Oxford), and Henry St. John (Viscount Bolingbroke). Much of his correspondence survives and provides a key historic resource for the study of the Ireland of his time.

King envisaged a key place for the Church of Ireland in Anglo-Irish society. He took an acute interest in political and social developments. He supported King William III against King James II and on James's accession to power in Ireland, was imprisoned for several months. Eventually he was liberated. At this period he prepared the materials for one of his great works in which he sought to justify his stance. ”The State of the Protestants of Ireland under the late King James's Government” was published in London in 1691. It was widely regarded as one of the best commentaries on the situation in Ireland. The word ‘Protestant’ in his time was used specifically to describe Anglicans.

William III attended worship in St Patrick’s Cathedral after his victory at the Boyne. King was the preacher. He was appointed by William III to the bishopric of Derry, left vacant by the death of Bishop Walker at the battle of the Boyne.He became Bishop of Derry in 1690. In his diocese he did much to repair churches burned or dilapidated during the war; he improved the episcopal palace, established a library, and was altogether untiring in the affairs of the diocese, and in improving the basic living conditions of his clergy.

He was appointed Archbishop of Dublin in 1703. He established a lectureship in divinity at Trinity College in 1718, and the post still carries his name.

He voted against most of the Penal Laws which were first enacted in 1695 and which were meant to deny rights to Roman Catholics. However, he was strongly opposed to Presbyterians and he regarded the English parliament as being sympathetic to non-conformists and increasingly secular.

King’s aim was to ensure that the Church of Ireland’s role was both as an arbiter and enforcer of what he saw as the common moral and social good in Ireland. To this end he championed the rights and privileges of the Irish parliament which in tandem with the monarch, would protect the Anglican character of Anglo-Irish society.

Undoubtedly King was a man of many talents and abilities, demonstrated by his keen interest in both astronomy and theology. However, viewed through the lenses of a much later perspective in history, his desire to protect a privileged position for the Church of Ireland seems at odds with current views on the Church’s role in society.

Perhaps one lesson which can be drawn from King’s undoubted life of service and involvement in the affairs of church and state, is that while the church must be involved in discussing the forces which shape society, its members must be aware that the specific and apparently legitimate aims of one’s time and generation, may not in the fullness of time be as relevant in God’s longer term purposes as they may seem to be presently. Even an archbishop can be faithful to what he perceives as God’s vision for the world and misread the situation!

POINTERS FOR PRAYER

+ Thank God for those who have the prayerful courage to attempt to critique society by using Christian values as a yardstick.

+ Thank God that the Church has developed other biblical models of being the Church such “as the Servant church”.

+ Pray for church members involved in politics and in the just administration of the affairs of State.

Text - Copyright, Dean of Belfast, 2005.