William Burkitt
William Burkitt (25 July 1650 in Hitcham, Suffolk, England – 24 October 1703 in Essex) was a biblical expositor, educational pioneer, rector of Milden, Suffolk, and vicar and lecturer of Dedham, Essex, in England. Life His father was Michael, usually called Miles, Burkitt (otherwise Birkhead), of St. Edmund Hall, Oxford, a clergyman who began his career as a zealous high-churchman, and ended his days in nonconformity. At the Restoration, Miles Burkitt lost the well-endowed rectory of Hitcham. Some time afterwards he was presented to the rectories of Irstead and Neatishead, Norfolk, but was ejected within three months by the Act of Uniformity (1662). He also lost the manor of Monks Eleigh, Suffolk, belonging to the dean and chapter of Canterbury, which he had purchased from the Commonwealth Commissioners, and which cost him, with improvements, £2500, he continued to live at Monks Eleigh, and ultimately prospered; ‘Though,' he said, ‘I have lost many scores of pounds by my nonconformity, yet, blessed be God, I never wanted.' His wife was a Sparrow, of Rede (Reade), Suffolk. He was buried in Monks Eleigh on 24 Sep. 1669. William Burkitt’s tradition was that of a reformed Anglican churchman. His early training was under John Goffe, an alumnus of Pembroke Hall, Cambridge, at Bildeston, Suffolk, and then at the grammar school of Stowmarket and the Perse School, Cambridge, under George Griffiths. He dated his religious conversion from an attack of small-pox, while at the latter school. On 28 January 1665 he was admitted a sizar at Pembroke Hall, Cambridge, his tutor being William Gibbs. In 1666, when Cambridge was visited with the plague, he was one of the few students who remained in residence. He graduated B.A. in 1668, M.A. in 1672; but was never a fellow, as has been stated. He left the university to become chaplain at Bildeston Hall, and after this was ordained by Bishop Reynolds at a very early age; for either in 1671, the year of his majority, or at the beginning of 1672, he was settled at Milden, Suffolk, first as curate in charge, afterwards as rector. In December 1692, he was preferred to the vicarage and lectureship of Dedham, Essex, where he ended his days. While at Milden he was intimate with William Gurnall, rector of the neighbouring parish of Lavenham, the author of ‘The Christian in Compleat Armour,’ and in 1679 preached his funeral sermon. He preached also in 1691 a violent sermon at Lavenham against some Baptists, who, under one Tredwell from London, were ‘making proselytes by rebaptising them in a nasty horsepond.' Burkitt went to the barn in which the Baptist meeting was held, and repeated his exhortation there. More commendable was his attitude towards the French protestant exiles. His generous efforts in their behalf, begun at midsummer 1687, and continued till 1692, resulted in the raising of £216. 17s., which he personally distributed to needy refugees in Suffolk and Essex. He exhibited also a zeal for foreign missions; by his great care, pains, an