16 Facts About Nicholas Ferrar

Nicholas Ferrar was an English scholar, courtier and businessman, who was ordained a deacon in the Church of England.

Nicholas Ferrar lost much of his fortune in the Virginia Company and retreated with his extended family in 1626 to the manor of Little Gidding, Huntingdonshire, for his remaining years, in an informal spiritual community following High Anglican practice.

Nicholas Ferrar was born in the City of London, England the third son and fifth child of Nicholas Ferrar and his wife Mary Ferrar.

Nicholas Ferrar was confirmed by the Bishop of London in 1598, contriving to have the bishop lay hands on him twice.

Nicholas Ferrar was elected a fellow-commoner at the end of his first year, took his BA in 1610 and elected a fellow the following year.

Nicholas Ferrar suffered from poor health and was advised to travel to continental Europe, away from the damp air of Cambridge.

Nicholas Ferrar studied at Leipzig and especially at Padua, where he continued his medical studies.

Nicholas Ferrar met Anabaptists and Roman Catholics, including Jesuits and Oratorians, as well as Jews, broadening his religious education.

The Nicholas Ferrar family was deeply involved in the Virginia Company of London.

Nicholas Ferrar entered the Parliament of England, serving briefly as Member of Parliament for Lymington in 1624, and worked with Sir Edwin Sandys.

In 1633 the poet George Herbert, on his deathbed, sent the manuscript of The Temple to Nicholas Ferrar, telling him to publish the poems if he thought they might "turn to the advantage of any dejected poor soul", and otherwise, to burn them.

Puritans criticised the life of the Nicholas Ferrar household, denouncing them as Arminians, and saying they lived as in a "Protestant nunnery".

The fame of the Nicholas Ferrar household was widespread, and attracted many visitors.

Nicholas Ferrar briefly took refuge there in 1645 after the Battle of Naseby.

The Pilsdon Community in Dorset was based on Nicholas Ferrar's Little Gidding model.

Nicholas Ferrar is regarded as patron of the Oratory of the Good Shepherd, an international Anglican religious community.