Richard Kidder
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Richard Kidder (1633- 1703) was an English Anglican churchman, Bishop of Bath and Wells from 1691 to his death. He was a noted theologian.
He was educated at Emmanuel College, Cambridge, where he was a sizar, from 1649, graduating 1652. He became a Fellow there in 1655, and vicar of Stranground, Huntingdonshire, in 1659.[1] He was deprived in 1662 [2].
He was rector of Rayne Parva, Essex, from 1664 to 1674, having conformed to the Act of 1662. He was later vicar of St. Martin Outwich, London, and in 1689 a royal chaplain[3], and dean of Peterborough.
His A Demonstration of the Messias[4] has been identified as a significant influence on the librettist Charles Jennens, in writing the words for the Messiah of Handel[5]. This book also took up suggestions of Joseph Mede on multiple authorship of the Book of Zechariah[6].
He was killed in the major storm of 26/7 November 1703[7]; he was in bed with his wife in the episcopal palace at Wells when the chimney fell on both of them[8].
[edit] Notes
- ^ Concise Dictionary of National Biography.
- ^ [1], CNDB.
- ^ CNDB
- ^ A Demonstration of the Messias. In which the Truth of the Christian Religion is proved, against all the Enemies thereof; but especially against the Jews. In three volumes, published 1684, 1699, 1700.
- ^ [2]; Michael Marissen, Rejoicing against Judaism in Handel's Messiah, Journal of Musicology, Spring 2007, Vol. 24, No. 2, Pages 167-194.
- ^ Bible Survey: The Book of Zechariah
- ^ November 27, Every-Day Book
- ^ Newsletter 35
