William Fuller (bishop)

William Fuller (1608–1675) was an English churchman.

He was dean of St Patrick's Cathedral, Dublin (1660), bishop of Limerick (1663), and bishop of Lincoln (1667). He was also the friend of Samuel Pepys and John Evelyn.

Life

He was son of Thomas Fuller, a merchant of London, by his wife, Lucy, daughter of Simon Cannon, citizen and merchant taylor. He was born in London, and was educated at

During the time he was dean of St. Patrick's he spent most of his time in England, but took interest in the repair of the Lincoln Cathedral. He successfully intrigued for a vacancy, and was elected Bishop of Lincoln on 17 September 1667. The episcopal palace at Lincoln had been ruined during the civil wars, so he occupied a mansion-house in the cathedral close during his visits to Lincoln. He worked to repair the cathedral and was buried there, after he died at Kensington. Fuller was not married. One of his sisters, Catherine, married John Bligh, citizen and salter of London, afterwards of Rathmore, co. Meath, M.P. for Athboy, the founder of the family of the Earls of Darnley.

Settings

Several poems by Fuller were set by Henry Purcell. His 1688 song An Evening Hymn (Z.193) is one of the most well-known.

Now that the sun has veil'd his Light,
And bid the World good Night;
To the soft Bed my Body I dispose,
But where shall my Soul repose?
Dear God, even in thy Arms, and can there be
Any so sweet Security?
Then to thy Rest, O my Soul, and singing, praise
The Mercy that prolongs thy Days.
Hallelujah.

The first four lines were also used by the 1980s punk band Crass as the opening for their song Mother Earth with the last four lines being quoted at the end.

References

•  This article incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain: "Fuller, William (1608-1675)". Dictionary of National Biography. London: Smith, Elder & Co. 1885–1900.

External links

• Twickenham Museum page