Bull, Episcopalian Conformists, and the Cromwellian Church: Robert Nelson's 'Life of Dr. George Bull'
After recounting how Bull received holy orders from Skinner, the deprived Bishop of Oxford, Robert Nelson - in his The Life of Dr. George Bull - tells of how the newly-ordained Bull began to minister in a parish: When he was furnished with those Sacerdotal Powers, which are the Characteristick of a Presbyter, he embraced the first Opportunity the Providence of God offered for the exercising of them according to his Commission. A small Living near Bristol, called St. George's, presenting itself, he the rather accepted it, because the Income was very inconsiderable; it being very likely, that upon that account he would be suffered to reside without Disturbance from the Men of those Times, who would not think it worth their pains to persecute and dispossess him for 301. a Year. Now this, to say the least, is rather interesting, because Bull was now ministering within the Cromwellian state church. Two matters are not mentioned by Nelson. Firstly, we are not told how the living was se...