1. Thomas Bray was an English clergyman and abolitionist who helped formally establish the Church of England in Maryland, as well as the Society for the Propagation of Christian Knowledge and Society for the Propagation of the Gospel in Foreign Parts.
Mr Thomas Bray knew that the clergy willing to accept positions overseas were often among the poorest, unable to bring or obtain religious books, so he conditioned his acceptance upon having funds to supply the parishes with books, which educational mission was expanded to deaneries in England and Wales as the Society for Promoting Christian Knowledge.
In 1699 Thomas Bray sailed to Maryland, along with two recruited priests.
Thomas Bray had started his library work by establishing seaport libraries at Gravesend, Deal, and Plymouth on his outward journey.
Thomas Bray took a great interest in colonial missions, especially among the slaves and Native Americans, writing and preaching vigorously against slavery and the oppression of Indians.
Thomas Bray left swiftly after securing the establishment of the Church of England in the colony pursuant to an Act of the Assembly in 1700, because the colony's Quakers had lobbyists in England attempting to secure the law's veto, as had happened twice before.
Rev Thomas Bray did not manage to get a bishop authorized for the colony.
In 1706, Thomas Bray accepted the position as rector of St Botolph's, Aldgate, a position which he had refused before his Maryland voyage.
Thomas Bray's last publication was a memoir of John Rawlet of Newcastle, another friend of John Kettlewell.
In 1723, Thomas Bray became seriously ill, and worried that his evangelistic work in rural deaneries and among Africans and Native Americans might lapse.
Thomas Bray formed a group of 'associates' to succeed him.
Thomas Bray has been referred to as the Father of the Modern Lending Library.